Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-12-26
RICHMOND ENeUIRE5l.
SATURDAY M0RNING, DECEMBER sI.
A SOUTHERN SPEECH.
Dy RITcHIEs K PRYOR.

u SODlIitNN StEtCt
The speech Of Mr. Preston of Kentucky. in reply 10 The
violent abolition TRADE Of Gcr Smith, will be read wit!
amazement by le people of the South. IA rhetorical per
fornancr, the speech without merit. 1t WAS mani
festy elaborate production und doubtless delivered
with the graceful coculion characteristic OF the P!esor
style Of oratory Some OF It's points good and soln
OF lis more ambitious passages rose 10 nm elevate" qn
above the reach of the ordinary run Of Congress orators
Doubtless Mr. Preston enanored OF his clever 9pccc
and scduced by ambition OF display, 10 deliver II a
a most inopportune moment.
The speech of Gert Smith furious invcclivt
against slavery and Shareholders well against The pn
cplcs of government He nrraigned the slaveholdn&
community cuprils before the Congress OF the United
States md mprecaled them the indignation of man, ant
the vengeance of heaven They robbers, They wcrt
tyranls lncy murucre;s lney ne!d lhor property
only by wrong and their life is but career Of cTimt
| against humanity. This The character Gnl effect
of Smiths speech Now did it become a siavchodeT
TO nuke any reply such famarai ihveciivci Could
he with proper respect for his own dignity and char
acter descend 10 level with The caumnlaor o
his race and consent To controversy OF argument with
one who mpeaced him outlaw against humanity and
civzalion MIR Preston dl lhs and mole. lie mol only
usscned Smiths claim recognition as gencman-he
not only gave Smiths opinions ny combat
ting 1hcm-he no, only slIuled his cver ard con'cmurr
the revc aud concmner of his country with the oonr'
esy only the knight without rep:":c-bu! nc even
bore gutullous testimony Smiths character AMI paid Vo
uniary tribute the genius which he had d-Faycd IN DE-
nonncne every thing which Southern must prize and
respect Tie South will no, thank Mr. Preston for This
speech has compromised the dignity oil the South BY
dragging into conflict on the floor OF Cong'cas and in
the ewes of the world with rayng fanatic ftcm the hohed
of abu!tions and by cunsenng 10 an interchange oil ar
pumcn and courtesy with the foul caiumnnoF OF the South
Hal hoss ground
which the South heretofore he'll and has recognized The
claim cr Smith anL Gtdngs the notice CT Southern
gentlemen.
The uboIitlonists will thank Mr Preston for his speech
He makes them concession which they have long
sought Ie lifts them from the dust and takes them BY the
hand He hearkens their caumny snd pleads to their
Indictment C;itdinss Ia longer parah. The dignity
of silence W II no longer avail shield tho SOGIh from the
rbad abuse Ut Garrison.
TIE uboonsls do upiaud Mr.. Preston for his speech
Correspondence Of The n = Tribune.
HAsuixGroH, 5iay, Dec. 90 1883.
Let the fiends erdur1 Union and i:i0n for
freedom mark TO day with white stone GeT Smith has
only sPokenbut though only in bhei oG'lne he har
unfo!dcd his whole doctrine o! the higher law md Hnve
sal liberty and what is mare he as been listened 10 Win
earnest attention and cordial respect and has been answered.
with manly ankness yet high toned courtesy Inc ~noe
scene that The Of angry strife between The
Free and Slave States closing and that nc% cra ct i'a
crnal cooperation in removing the only source OF Disnnon
has opened
MIR. Smiths air AID manner at commanded Tic
and ears OF The whoo House. lis deep voice Filed The
room; the emile ls conuenancc the symiaihy; aud
the grace dignity Of is nobic person seemed the sym
Dol OF acnnnimity As the sCch will Of COURSE be
ported in you! columns - "nntctss2Fy here 10 s"ech Ms
argument II will be !at has ic.!arati"n5 oi phc
pic were uncomp.Omaln", las GCis;n terribly EcVc'c, !-
assertion Of The clalirs Ui :uiy impartial as ~ tho
name Of apostle he had been walnn BIS hearers n hci
drurmed IN ger, elevated .s au..iio.s"H- IT.
MS words woundcd-inIn severe upper AR u run
~ ipl
n.sscs OF party politics were ost eight o ana iof2c
All recognized la the speaker honest generous Christian
gentleman who, strong III TIC cSTatnn$nesS u " II"
I,rtly trusted in The honor o his iC!lo"nicn
And his confidence we'll placed hs soon as ne "=
seated Mr. Preston of Kentucky, replied In speecn q
grca, drrctness and force Wun! denying or ~ u"?")
ca Wiling a the broad principles OF night asserted by i
Smith lie tcuk the ground Of comnna Obligation tesns
uoon all the people The United States 10 ftSlcct c "
institutions and usagcs Of the several Sa!s IN ente .ooo
faith All who swpc TO support the Constitution 'e'euS
testified purpose and pledged tir'r hoaof ~
provisions un,qa,vocaiy What was c'naiM l'r @ ~ M .1i
snrech u MIR Prcsurs hr au@sinr, ,arrt'cai WIN ma
Iaey made in tho address Of the Southern Agricultural
yenon that slavery is transient Stage OI
70 in character and pIe pang the way for civilization ~:
sneaker showed that, oil nations had IN 'htsr "us ID"
passed up through seiiudc to Tree iaSoE 3"
doubtless time would come "hcn hr black race 'fae'
refined aud educated would CGc:Ge INTO freedom ny a" e
asbIc vet peaceful prOcesa He hated "a nope cnr=-
ed by himself The w"nl giaviiac 10 le o"uh
and more and in due 'mf ~ ins"s WIN no 'S'
or nation under free Institutions hi ffcsPh WAS nF"o
win rcsnrct full interest by oil the AnliSavery cn Ia '
House for they fell that they listening 10 e h'" W
teance of sincere convictions hy hrhElnced 1ho"snH
| true nun. ..nu-, How
MAY this brief debate prove an a"sp!c'on9 angufy iom
soon how very sooa might this great ra'lon chIe, uiu
course of pollcy-n which emancipation m'sht 'c 'nn
duccd by COMBINED MOVEMENT u the Free ana oia'ta
no States not only without vIucnrc, disturbance oi 'u
rous effect upon any class interest," nht "l'h NV
healhful strene ehcning Influence felt throughout e'ry W.
narmcnt of tho national COMMONWEALTH only Sou'r,h
rrs and Nor,herners would TINS rrc each ohcl III P'
Il, once frank and fiateFual. ;, ~
This Union is MOI t1 he SUFFERED; yc E"'e'T - ~ IT,;
lJoT Fieeuo"' W. II. G.