Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-04-11

it. under the late fugitive slave law what these Shra
tics of the federal constitution nave Deem Worih III IN
hands of 4 majority inimca TO men, ASK inc Ste
nan from Marshall the gentleman from hIhcoch .n
gentleman from Monongal ana members rom ',.'c
counties bordering on the ohlo and pennsylvania line
Go to that in this state which has but three slaves
land other cor1c, in which there not more thai
from thirty To- on. hundred and fifty aud yet rs rIci
and fertile and Offering rs many inducements to the EN-
Payment Of slave labor - any otReF part :" H'.
and ask them whether ;ia; property Is s.e UNI. III m
guarantees IF the federal constitution gu VIII ''
that propertv decreasing every year. III those counties
and whv is il There but ons answer Tell inc gen
tlc;u from Eockbri,l-. that i'll lis zeal ana excite
nent when making his attacK upon secti'" VI ''' ~
instead Of looking ~ the great ISSUE mere lie s'''i7 ~
yet To have learned c"nce'ea i'ct. lii'' s'e fof.
is not safe under the guarantees of the federal govern
Hr!!t.
il is true in the history OF governments ttt 'is""i
faction and revolution have otencr resulted from li'
misrulc of the majority than from any "thrr cause
There is more danger that "r peace VIII be u!-t"rpc
Tour security percd hv !: revolution "i co'.cI WIG
shall result from the abuse 81 power By majority thar
can arise from any aln.-, of power b. minority bn
4 muory can lr: magianim"li-. and can safely yIelc
much whilst they protect themselves. rest upon '''
experience ii the world to warn rs that the M lie o.
/ majority has prmucrd more mischief ana If more
iike,y to produce it, Than the abuse OF power by ini
nority
But, before conclude there is another consideration
which will briefly llrirr Whilst slave pr"prrty-a:
land and all nrhcr taxah" property ought |" he, upon
every lust prncplr-un element in the basis Of repre-
-cntation maintain that. looking to the peculiar stat,
Il" things in Virginia it j. Important for the security Z"
the east NJ least that YOU should not take from them
that represent; alton rf property which will give then
he power T." secure thrnsclycs against legislation
There arr ov 4D,uO slave in Virginia. and they
Isl; that Won vii! give them protection (only t" the tx
tent and in the la.rcr have indcatcdl on their -av,
property. hay" heard with regret and alarm. "nln
cpthctS in this br!v, which have been imported
rom northern cline "Slavcocrccv' and negro
,cracv" the rclroarIinI "pr"'s Of norl N vioaror'
of constitutional GUARANTEES, h.. been hrar'! III Nir
snia convention. ! trust they were ulntcntiona.ly
used
What power for mischief would .laye owners have ir
vour government inde: the mixed basis! OF til" 1000,
N the State take ont rnilor and females and there will
he less than that number Of slave nwir$ votrr- out
more thar l0u coo i'll the State II Is Cnr":ls"r
.'lc that t.,v should t" the mai"rty of ""n4C
and ak that majority. in the name Of all that Just
mi prudent and ask taxpaycr- and contributors t" tn,
revenue al the Commonwealth they may b. prot"rt"
Is much i;.. l,cy sl"ald ask If til" nnymnnity
If l, majority that which they can, without risk OF
ia.gcr t. themselves. '-icn-r, and without which all
will be peril and insecurity Ia the minority II wcs'r
render property basis 4" Representations. Ill the State
We adopt Il principle which would he demanded III
he hands OF the South in the c,."ra! CONSTITUTE III
What will be- v"r culi:i'm' We lave protection t.
certain extent under the federal constitution. There
i bona f,c constitutional guarantee. ly giving ri"
rcsrtalon Of thr"ct-. to tio- who hold thi, kin ii
property under the federal government 1t ha, been
deemed unwi>c IL haze Representation i'll Congress upon
numbers. or voters. The ~ruth derive power partly
tram the representation q" slaves. and till they in
ia minority. They arc"pp"-r by the power Of numbers
and ;lna.ci-m combined II ha- been raid by northern
men i'll Congress, that If you will give up the repre-
rraion Of slaves they will trouble about
Il Il. 4.
ton that they have made war upon. If, ;hcl, We
abolish this representation OF property i'll Virginia, and
establish principle That other basis Of repre-
,enton is republican, or just aud equitable, except
voters free white population, what shall We say when
la northern majority demands The principle in the
federal government How would Virginia, repre-
sentative of Virginia, answer the demands How fierce.
lly would the North a-sail lis with organic
principle that rerncn would not submit to M decra
lied b. any other principle tlan that Of white mp,l-
toni Ii remarked by the gentleman last night
hat my cnragir (Mr. WnSrLE) had said that white.
basis man fit To he in Congress. He misInicr.
stood my colleague. Mv colleague takes the same view
Of this subject with myclf that if adopt the white
basis in Virginia, will be- met III Congress with de-
malld for the white basis and committed to it as :,
State and representation of the State.
can meet and rc.i-r. with consistency. the demand.
And now appeal Ia our bret hrcn Of tie west, and
Iask under all hsc circumstances. will they insist that
We shall adopt th'ir pr"l"son When our security
may be thereby endangered. and our interest abused
when dark cloud hangs set the peculiar nstitu-
ilinls Of Virginia anil the South-sall it be demanded
!of surrender that which regard the only
anchor Of hope; with"',t which the minority in illo
South will he d'cncec-- and unprotected against the
assaults ri iaIatc-m and the arcrachmrnt- of
Iiral strength! Did thu. wr-i lave a"rv this
floor, would hope that We might appeal 10 them not
lin vain. They tell they ha.c majority of voters
west of the mountains. r. that majority outside OF
these wall. in the name Of Eirgnia-by her unity her
re"wn, her peace and HONOR will earnestly and con-
Etidngly appeal
Rc7rnrks IF M. JiNNEl, in Committee IF the Whole
IN thc IN anil 18Th March.
Mr. JANNEY. Several uf the reverend gentlemen
VIII" have eretnur" opened the siitngs "f this body.