Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-03-07

There are some abstra,tions besides those in the bill
of rights think you may find few on the journals
OF our assembly. And if the distinguished gentleman
from AccolDac CTR WIsr) will allow ne, wcld
suggest that it is here where that grand 'roos, OF
which he spaLe como time since, mag Re Iclid Every
wear our political horizon darkcncd with catlcrlng
brood, from this prolific rookery. Laughter.
Ii has been deemed necessary to orewarn fanatics oil
the determination of virginia to defend Ter peculiar
institutions" We have defined and redeemed posi-
ton. We have declared and rc-decared our rights in
this behalf-published and re-pubshcd them, session
after session. ill the archives OF state grooming be-
meath the accommodating mass OF preambes resolutions
and laws OIL the subject of slavery How are Western
votes recorded hcres We have sometimes thought there
was no necessity fur so much ado. We have doubted
the expedicncy of such Legislation. We have some
times thought these proceedings were better calculated
to excite and feed the flames of fanacisn than al
Law and quench them believe the gentleman from
fauouicr Mr. SCoTT has some reason ta remember that
he thought 40 too on one occasion Laughter But
We were willing that the East should direct in matter
SO interesting and peculiar TO that section of the STATE
Oar votes are generally found recorded with Eastern
votes such occasions. If there be exceptions it was
not because We not with You iii sentiment and
principle The legislative proceedings growing out of
the Southampton Instruction forms no Just exception
To this assertion for although Western members Of the
Legislature favored patton measures likewise.
did the two Leading public journals in the city of Rich
nond and so did Eastern gcntlr',s. Indeed, these
measures themselves Were Lci,Tc. princpr: intro
duccd INTO the Legislature Eastern Hl...HcT- IL
was not strictly sectional question.
Time after time: have united with you III your
pledges and declarations. We have rendered you oar
hands You have always had our hea-tsyou have them
still You know this. on cannot contradr; the re-
cord But now-now when only ask TO be eleyat'i
from our political degradation and placed hy your side,
on the great platform of republican equality sc ore
met with the miserable repulsc that mankind IL selfish
and hidden to "eierna! clamoriug 10 get our
hands on your pursc-strne.."
will rot say that anything destroy Western Idle
litv and allegiance But referring to these principles
of seshncss which gentlemen base their resistance
to claim for popular power how can 1T be reasonably
expected that Western fea!y should not he diminished
while shat very slave property which we have hereto
fore done all that was ever required Mt our alas to
protect is r,ae in the shape of taxatlnn the lns;rii-
mentality OF our political degrade: :on virtual" ewing
goods and chattes power in the government. whence
we excluded
! Do gentlemen suppose that the West is craven.
that it will always like the do. lick the lash with which
it is beaten
But will nos allow myself to speculate upon con
tingency 80 seriously mpugnng the moral sense OF my
Eastern brethren Standing in the midst Of scenes, hal
lowed by the lives rnd labrs OF the mighty men who
first defined and afterwards achieved American in
dependence, many o. whom consecrated with their blood
the glorious principles Of mans Political equality,
will moi anticipate here in "Od Virginia that those
great principles can be sacrificed the altar ri misc
rablc sectional Jealousy Surely, the descendants
sires who pledged their olives, their fortunes and their
sacred honor in resisting ioreign tyranny. will not per-
sist in fastening the letters of CALLING and degrading
bondage on their own brethren at home
The West desires a;lvantage-shc asks only to be
recognized as entitled to political equality Tan there he
any danger in granting th-f NJ! We may well dread
10 do wrong hut never to do right Give IL this Give
us our natural rigts-ours BY the laws OF nature ana
nature. God Do this and you fidelity fer
ever You will bind to your interests and your Tor
tunes by ties en-fod stronger than any legislative ma
urity can devise Do this-and then should ever the
dark demon OF in-urrcctnn low its hidro'i- head IL
your nil shout. ever the fiery fen OF Northern Ia
aticism plan, lis rber feet southern SOIL or Ivy lis
leprous hand on single slave within your borders
feel in ms heart authorized to pledge you, that Tie lai
dy OF Western mountains Viii come to your
rescuc-they will come not by units, but by thou, >
they will all come not by c,nstrain L. uc'aDtlv. Duf
promptly and cordially with hads and hearts
As true ~ ever dciied the iyr; and died III defence o
liberty ana honor
Before resume my seat. would make further re-
mark do 30 with some hesitation for have observed
sensitivcness the part OF gentlemen to co'istrre
mere expressions OF opinion, respecting tho probable re-
suits Of actions here into threats or lncl;ce'
trust haze too much scli-respect-too mach resrec
for this body-and too high regard fer the Virginia
character to be guilty of such an ndgnlty or such an IN
discretion Nevertheless. eli"e il to be within the
scope OF legitimate debate and quite within the demands
or wisdom and prudence consider the results OF any
measure in contemplation. Nay. the prorriety of II
principle is best tested by observing s practcn results
And now, should We present an amended constitution to
the people containing the mixed basis, would e adopt
ed This is at the least very questionable. But II
adopted what follows. Agitation. agitation Still
further tumult and alienation oi fratcrnal feelings That
peace and concord essential to the prosperity al the
Commonwealth would hc destroyed by Constant cr;'i
nations and rccrn!naon- Can principle he correct
which would produce great popular dissatisfaction
Heretofore the agitation of This subject ias principal
" been political in its aspects and relations Hereafter
the mixed basis be thrust upon u.s. will assume mere
personal character. For the operation Of that basis will
be personal degradation as well political. The
wealthy will have privileges snd power that poor men
cannot possess simply because they poor Western
men will be overdden by Eastern goods and chsttel-
The odium of the principle will naturally rans itself
to the person Of him who vindicates and applies it.
should regret such state ofaffairs exceedingly Norman
deprecatcs these evils more than l. dislike even now
to audc to them. But ought not to shut or eyes
upon the consequences ofouT action hero But the qucs
ton will arise when you make Your slaves as the siiect
OF taxation the ns,rumentaty of political and personal
inequality in the government can it be expected that
men will ardcn:lv and cordially support negro slavery.
when by doing they virtually chershng the prop
erty which is making ares Of then,sclves What will
be the result 1t impossible that the morbid, pseudo
phanthropic spirit of northern aboonsin should ever
find resting place in Virginia But will not hostility
TO slavery be engcndered b. tn" incorporation of such
principle into the constitution Your slaves by this pril
| cple drive u from Inc common platform of equal
rights, and nsurp our place. W.. - spirit o freeinei
endure it, Never. Either the iferle mus. he ahcl
ishcl, or you viii excite a species Of politics" abolition
against property itself Sou will conrr to
an attitude of antaSonsm towards you towards the
slave and like the man driven to the wall hall he
forced destroy assaanis. TO liberty
will bring my remarks to conclusion ny referrin, s
commit act-a great fact attcstcd nv page d
man political history. lsthis, wkeresoeverand whenso-
ever the personal liberties ofay people have been most
securely and largely protected there and tenlas proper
tv to the same extent been And is equally true
that where the rights Of person have been insecure the
rights to property have in like manner been insecure
1hi, is the verdict Of universal history Reasoning.
therefore, from effect to arrive this result
that if We desire TO ort property against the undue
encroachmens of power. by the wisest safest strong
est guaranty ever devised must extend and secure
to every citizon his just tre and full political equality
Will the ,:crnmcnt, community. that denies to
the citizen his personal rights any very scrupuios
regard for his property tell you that hc who refuses
to recognize and cherish my superior rights nd interests
challenges my distrs against M, fidelity my inferior
and secondary rights and interests.
1 For the honor Of tho 'Od Dominion pray that this
mixed basis shall never darkcn her annals Liberty. ii
not born on her SOIL at least escaped from her homage
here and FIST s!ood forth b,f"e the world in AL the
ae,lo o: hoy, nlI sb,