Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-01

nature free and equal-equl, in the lasas OF LoclA
IN such nauuer, that one has right TO control OIL
other all FREQ all equal therefore one sci of men have
natural right to control another set 1t Is strange its
to lie this to dcduce that when menenter into Il stat
OF society they naturally, what LII state Vi fIstur
they were not If, the other hand you say that IN
state OF nature all men are free and equal, but whe
they enter into state of government, they surrender
portion OF their natural rights and consent to possess AM
exercise such rights by consent they are III
lowed to exercise and that must be such
~ protect that freedom far il consistent with tn
genera! safety; then l very readily understand
what do understand is the object. and end. and mail
princ pie Of government viz that although there IS II,
natural right in Us to prescribe this that form q" gov
erhmcnt although there is natural right in us to
sumo the control over your PERSON your propert,
against your consent, yet it is expcdient to allow
10 So and We advise counsel and persuade and reaSs
Win you IN order TO show You that it is expcdeut ha
It should be done If the argument was put to liz th
form, We can understand it and see what it is W,
are asked to do. And i'll reply, we SAY it is IN
WISE that We should yield this power and therefore,
cannot accord it to you. And this reasonable and JUS
response OF ours is the ground work for the justification
oi the denunclatons that heaped upon lis for tn,
maintenance Of this ancient and time hpnored aud blood
stained principle which We have derived from our fore
fathers, aud which trust in God il we ARE wer.uy OF
those furcfathers, shall maintain nviolate forever
Gentlemen cuncede in their arguments, that our DO
stlo Is right III cotermnous States of tho same confe
eracy, but deny that it ia right when applied to different
sections Of the State. This surrender cf their
whole ground asl will endeavor to show Forit con.
cedes that the principle rght and leaves open to con
test nothing but the proprety OF the application Of the
principle under the altered circumstances which ,isu
guish they say, the Of State from that 81
several cotcrniuuus States. will assume that the
admission is made because the influence aud example
the hl ncs that sanction it, too strong DC resist
ed will admit al that they make the admission
because they perceive think they do distinction be.
It, in ,vhi cpa Ia Ia,
to different portions OF government called State
and to different portions Of one government called differ
e States governed by different Ia VS. part and divided
by real imaginary lines. But in reality what is the
difference, if We MI equal members of this great
coufederacy and entitled under the constitution whick
governs the whole to stand upon equal rights side BY
SIDE and if there be government OF all, above ALL for
the preservation of all This surely comprises all of
natural right natural justice and natural equality that
would obtain in any other government or State. The
very instant you subject the government of the whole
to the just charge OF injustice, inequality and oppres
sion, either, that government will become olo,is to
you. Yet gentlemen say this may be all true in the
federal governnicnt-al true under the constitution OF
the United States and not true but odious and antre-
publican in the constitution Of Virginia. Y"t if this
be true i'll the State government it must be true in the
government Of the United States and that government
must be, its eemies say, odios aud anti republican.
Now upon what does the truth alsy Of the principle
audit application rest II the interests under the govern
can be equally well protected and equally by the
application Of the prncp commended for in the States,
then the rule should apply there that should apply
in the States and rice rersd thav be safe and Sc
cure, theu tie rule should apply in the State that
applies in the federal government. And the moment it
is conceded that principle is necessary to safety in
the federal government you concede that it is repub
aud proper to be applied in tho State government
least where there diversity of interes' How 10 ii
here, III this part OF virginia!
And before proceed further beg leave here to say
that do not mean in any wise to saw word for do
not entertain thought Of that kind which be unkin
or in any way calculated to disturb any gentleman up
uu this floor coming from the remotest western borders
OF the State. You all know me-there gentlemen
upon this floor with whom it hIs been my good fortune
pleasure, and honor to have served in an humble an
limited wav in the councils of the State, and who know
that am not in the habit of making professions which
do not really feel, and that make difference be
tween individuals because comes from the east ant
another comes from tho west The only difference
Which do know is that which men must know between
the men whom lie takes 10 his heart, and those whom
he docs not and cannot take to his heart, if biz
heart were large enough because the contact between
them does not present an opportunity or occasion Tor IL
But to you. western men, DO not intend to say auSh
that is unkind because do not feel it, however strong
the language may Use But must come To this ques
ton md look ut it, not merely representative oil
men, who themselves will scrutnize, discuss and exam
inc every question that is brought before them, and
whose duty it it, i'll their bemf to scrutinze and eSa.n
inc it, but as thinking aud acting for himself, III
respect to the interest most dear to himself and his
country beg leave to say further that there other
interesting questions connected with tins discussion from
Whose examination shall not shrink. let the popular
favor or displeasurc be what it may Men do not shrink
from the discussion and examination of the divinity p
the Saviour Before his searching the power Of God
almighty il il. undergoes criticism and examination
And must be told that must not discuss questions
that enter into and belong to the performance !" my
duty and which affect deeply and vitality, the best in
terests of my constituents and my country, lest, per
chance may touch diseased nerve, or may say some
thing not altogether palatable to those who present and
press the questlon-although utter only the honest
con victiors of my head and heart pray my friends
therefore in this respect to consider and bear with me-
while shall proceed to discuss any of the questions
that belong to this subject which am able 70 DISCUSS
and assure ruu shall not shrink from any response
btv that | may incur in such discussion. 1t is not
merely my right but it is my duty to Investigate and
discuss them in order that may form such judgment
in respect to them will enable ME to arrive ut just
and conclusion their merits but IN order thnt
NAV if can, aid my people fully to understand
them How is it then with u.s. This eastern Virgin
ia was about to say without meaning to disturb the
composure certainly of any gentleman and meaning II"
nvilous distinction at all-this old Virginia OF ours
God bless her this ancient dominion 1t almost cham
naicn country requiring very little ut the hands OF man
TO enable the occupants of her soil TO ENJOY all the
bountes that nature has most lavishy bestowed upon
her. bordering upon the and intersected By noble
and navgabe bays aud rvers-s by the action OF our
forefther, aavehodiug community, and very large
slaveholng community Our western brethren live the
other side Of the ridge which, By the law OF God di.
yidcs us They not inferior i'll pride, in patriotism,
or intellect and many instances in blood and bone they
are our brethren, but they men, and we arc men
They are resorting to government for protection
against u.s. aud against them and each against the
other.
For that very clearly explained here by the
author to whom have referred without government,
no. even brethren live in peace together. because
their property and persons are not secured and pro-
ectesl They have very few slaves among them
one county only three-otLers thrty-one and so on.
They have the largest number of white inhabitants
we have the largest number Of souls that occupy the
whole country diifused throughout it-aye, souls |
epest it. However, my friend from Acco'nac (Ar.
WISE may find something in that word as upon TOR,
a,er OCCASION TO criticize YET venture to say he will
not deny with me that slaves have souls and that Use
the proper words when say have the largest num-
Der of souls. mean what everybody understands me
to ,nean-nen, women aud children, Of those who are
endowed with humanity, and who are objects OF oa-
riours bounty they dependent for final safety
upon his atonenent-capable of elevation to higher
degradation to far lower sphere hereafter than that
they which we now occupy They are tellow-oeihss'
and therefore, use the term in that sense we nave
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