Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-01-10

details us an American citizen and lover OF the Union
stand firmly by H." ; -,
with no banks among us distress and pane oy
their failures conmcons and expansions win ou'
corporal tons except those formed undef genera
citizens RELYING on their industry and iruyay are
yancinp seadiy TO competence and wealth, showing ~ WY
world that bank indulgences paper money ana spee
vieges, unnecessary 10 secure TO peope hnpp'S'
prosperity. ,,,,
Gov Washington Hunt in NEW YORK, plays the pct'l
logger and state sn,an, in the following style;
since the adjournment last Legislature tue sias
questions respecting the organization OF The newly ro
territories Of the Unon which had ior some lfnvel,
The country in agitation and strife, have been oei'
acted ON bv Congress- California has been welcomes % VIZ
thry-hrs of the States composing the Federal & M"
disputed boundary OF Texas has oeen st o. which in eff
Mexico and Utah have been organized by ac's " ne mn
feet leave the Mexican law prohibiting slavery III i
refer the question Of its admission or exclusion " VIC "''
mate decision Of the people concerned ;n, - ,bao,
IL is generally believed that the public sch'!e ~ VI" "
newly organized communities, cooperating WIN osel 'a
ses will prevent the introduction oil slavery; h % ,r Wv
country was exempt when It conquered oy our arms
Notwithstanding the violent discussions WHICH Nuse agi
ted the COUNTRY and the wide diversity OF opinion "ncn eA
listed in respect TO the questions involved IN the recent
lion of Congress- general disposition is evlnced 10 acqu
esce in the measures referred and TO regard THEM as
FINAL settlement of these territorial controversies n, A.
The people of this continue to indulge strong ae
sire that harmony and mutual good will may prevail be
tween all portions of widely extended Republic Inc!
are awabing people; they cherish Tie most friendly sen
tments towards their brethren OF the South; and nave al
WAYS conceded the slave States Inc entire ght 10 NUN
tain and regulate slavery within their own limits ana 10 tx
which the constitution coners More than that ought no.
10 be claimed or expected. ,
1t is Of profound surprise and regret thal any pr
lion of the peope of Southern States should na IN VIC
terms of settlement finally agreed upon BY Congress- an oc
cason for continuance of sectional jealousy LOT NJ"
the spirir of dsunion In the admission OF California ano
Tho orcanzaion of for the territories Congress
adopted the principle originally commended Tor by many leau
ing the South of leaving the matter TO the I'M
controlled action OF the people themselves
cannot but persuade myself that the feelings Oh aens
ton exhibited BY of lelowctizens IN the oou'h
ern States proceed from unhappy msconcepoh "
the views and sentiments entertained by the Norherh peo
ple Great injustice done in assuming that we have IN
tended or mediate encroachnens upon Inc JUST ea
of any portion of the Conledeacy During the en'Ie PER-
cd OF our national history, the people OF New h nave
manifested spirit OF kindly Difference the feelings and
prelud!ces Of our sister States and readiness to sacrce
every thing but principle and honor Tor the sahe VI UNIV"
and concord. III: =,
Their course has been distinguished by broad sph Oh
nationality elevated far above the indulgence OF local We M
or sectional parales. The limits OF this communication
will not permit me recall all the evidences in winch our
history ubounds of the generous spirit OF concession "c
Now York has uniformly manifested me9'pea
OF the Federal Union For than threeouhs OF inc
period which has elapsed since the adoption OF the Cos
tuition Southern statesmen elevated by the aid OF her voice.
have filled the Presidential char ..,u
Its was made with concurrence until by successive steps
all the Slave territory the North American continent
was brought within the boundaries Of the United STATES
Although every new acquisition diminished the relative
weight of New York in the National Councils she waved
all views of power and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and yedea
the considerations urged by other sections IN FAVOR VI
annexng the contiguous counties. .,
Nor 10 this all Far from invading any OF the constitutions
rights Of the Southern States our people and their repese
atycs have always respected those rights and abloca chee
fully by all the conditions Of the federal compact IL souo
not have been regarded an encroachment upon e sh
any State that objected to the extension OIL slavery
over country acquired by common efforts and winch
had been made by the action OF It's own legitimate
thortes. No wrong was inflicted upon any STATE oy .e
effort TO give the people Of the conquered territories
best adapted their sentiments and their future
happiness.
BY the ordinance of 1887 large portion of the American
people had declared their conviction that slavery osh 10 DC
extended over free errtor but the exclusion oil that lns
tuition from the States Of the Northwest was MOI ,hen
deemed sufficient TO prevent the formation OF the
Union The same sentiment still exists in the Northern
mind be manifested whenever and only when lis exercise
provoked by aggression and cannot concede ha
affords any ground for complaint on me part OF any o
the States still less that justify SECESSION revouton
any eor; overthrow the free Constitution established
BY our fathers
have thus adver,ed TO the course of this State in its
tlona relations from desire 10 revive past discussions;
bur from conviction that is due 10 our people TO vndi-
cate them from imputaons Of sectional prejudice, nder-
cnce constitutional Obligations or hostility 10 the rights
or other portions of the republic Ii there is danger 10 the
Union from any quarter rejoice 10 say that VIII not De
found within borders Men Of extreme opinions may
be found in every community; but the great BODY Oh me
people Of New York are aware the Constitution Of the
United States framed and adocd III inc splrt OF com
promise and that be faithfully maintained IN me
same spirit They attached 10 the Unon they cherish
I'm ardent devotion ii and desire TO sec II preserved by
manifestations of mutual Difference and regard between Tie
States composing H. !,
Although New York might maintain respectable attitude
before the world and would not fail TO preserve her liberties
nindopendent State she would regard dlssouon o.
the Union from any cause the greatest calamity which
could beai mankind Whenever the American Union is de-
stroyed the Of Constitutional Government WIN De pc,
red by the shock and the friends Of liberty everywhere W"
mourn over the fall of mighty fabric which now animates
hopes and commands the admiration OF the world ~
cry patriot desire that all oil irritation OF osa
seement between the different parts oi our common country
may speedily disappear Ii should be tie aim OF all 10 aay
sectional anirosiies and those kindly sentiments
which united to noble efforts and common TIL
ais.
The questions resulting from recent conquess having
been disposed of by the action Of Congress- there can be no
sufficient for ealouses and dssensions between ne
North and the South. The most serious OF our past aer
produced by territorial acquisitions ana ney
strikngy adonish that is indispensable 10 our future
peace and happiness that bounds should DC SET 10 me %
of conquest and that the energies Of the General Govern
should BIZ directed TO those great and bcnecent oocts
in which all sections have common interest," and Tor winch
the Constitution was Intended.
The provision the federal compact requiring the return
Of Ig:ves from labor however repugnant 10 the sent-
OF many of our people, is OF paramount authority,
and like other constitutional oogaon shoud DC o.
served in good faith In leeslang upon subject OF such
difficulty; obvious that more than usual care was ne
cessary that in enforcing the claims oi one section OF he
country should espass upon the nights nj the ote
While the claim of the Southern STAKEHOLDER 10 recapture ms
slave fully admitted the right OF the Northern freeman 10
prove and defend his freedom is equally sacred Both are
alike under the protecting Of common Constitution
IL be denied that the recent act OF Congress Tor
giving fuller effect the provisions requiring the return OF
tbs country carrying them almost TO the extreme OF threat
enng resistance law. But all good citizens VIII re-
collect that whatever may be their individual feelings or
opinions in regard the policy proprey OF any egsa'
tive enactment il is their plain duty 80 long as II remains
in force sustain the authorities legtmaey charged with
it's execution.
Appehensions have been entertained that under the has
considered provisions of the act passed during period OF
agitation persons of color claiming 10 be free and
really free allowed these reasonable opportunities
and those customary legal safeguards necessary TO enable
them establish by adequate proof the fact OF their free
DOM has shown this belief TO be not merely
speculative and that the danger that freeman under the
summary mode in which that law be executed may be
hurried into captivity, is wholly imaginary.
We cannot and do believe that the South, any
more than the North aims al, desires such resu-or
will insist retaining provisions leading to such exciting
consequences We sa rely not only on their sense Of
proprety and reciprocal justice but their calm conviction
that law itself to be permanent must be reasonable for
their uniting after due reflection with their brethren of the
North in Kind and dspassiona,e spirit in reviewing such
clauses may be found defective or Objectionable and In
conserving such judcious notifications as may command
general approval.
In the meantime our people be left free TO examine
provisions and practical operation Their vital and fun
damenta right discuss the merits Of this or any other law
passed by their representatives constitutes the very basis Of
our republican system and be surrendered Any
attempt 10 restrain would be far dangerous than its
ees exercise But in all such discussions we should d.
yes, ourselves ofsecona fparzan prejudice and exercise