Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-10-07


and territories added to the Union since its formation
and, really, because she has retained institutions
which existed in twelve Of the thirteen States when
the confederation was formed 1t penalty for not
changing her opinions and institutions in conformity
with the changes of her progressive sisters.
She lags behind what is called the spirit Of the age;
she brings disgrace upon tue nation by clinging to
notions that the North having recently shuifed of,
lius peculiar right TO denounce; she may remain
where she s il che behave herself; but if she at
tempt to colombo one square mile Of the territory
belonging to her in part, if she pollute ls iree-so
with her eYecrable and loathsome institution, she
shall be shut out Of the government altogether.
Supposing the spirit of the age right, and the in.
sttuton as execrabe as it is represented to be- does
that confer right upon the North to exclude us from
thegovernmeEt! Was not that institution respected
in the formation of the government, and ts protsc-
ton made condition of Union? and if opt;af q Q
parties change its opinion with regard ~ i, ard
chooses to consider as wrong what the Constitution
treated as right, to be punished and degraded
for insisting on the Consti.ution.as the standard of
right and wrong, instead OF resortng to the ever
changing views of our capricous co-States! No one
disputes the right of those States to abhor and ex
ccrate slavery to their hearts coneut, aud to break
off all connection with it. They may 20 whenever
they please. But we deny that they can rlghtiully
remain connected with the institution, and condemn
it as a crime, or punish IL. for retaining it. If the
South submits to such treatment she will be deeply
We shall be told that exclusion from the Executive
Government is no dshonor that this must be the case
with the minority States in every election, who are re-
f a! all By persons differing from ther.-
We do not complain of being in the minority. We
are ready to submit cheerfuy TO that condition, when
consiitutionay imposed us; but we do complain Of
Il test, which, in violation OF the Constitution, excludes
us permanently from the Government, and subverts
its fundamental principles We complain that the
Government ia reyolutionzed that the institution OF
slavery recognised by the Constitution, as no cause
Of exclusion, but: the contrary, as conierring the
right to Governmental power, is now made by coup
F etat the ground of bapishmeat from the Federal
Ey".u utive. The Union we formed was Union Of
s. States. Mr.. Fremonts election will convert it
into subsection Of slave States to the rule of sbo
touired States. Can we submit with safety or honor
to be conquered
Fortunately for us, perhaps, we are not called on to
decide OIL an abstract question of honor. Southern
honor has been greatly derided oflae. That it exist
ed once, none will deny, and it remains to be seen
whether it sleeps with the dust Of our Revolutionary
sres, or still lives among their sons
Safety, as well honor, counsel resistance to the
neditated Revolution. We cannot submit without
the prospect of dangers before which disunion and
civil war are rs nothing.
The first effect of the change will be the annihila-
ton Of the veto power so far rs the South concern
cd. The next xiii be the remodelng OF the Federal
Judiciary vacancies occur, and the introduction OF
GSolitionsm the bench of the supreme and inferior
tribunals. The Senate will fall in the natural course
of events, at very distant day, and the whole Fed
cra Government. in all its branches and dependan.
ccs will become hostie to slavery. We shall then
be viewed by this Government, as the London Stai
warns US the British Government will look upon US
when we mplore permission to return to our former
allegiance; shall be considered "a colony Of le
pcrs,' and "a gang Of convicted fe!ons.' or course
our treatmeu. will be accordingly.
But il will be said this is mere conjecture-that We
should not act upon uncertainties in grave mat
ter but wait for some overt act OF aggression-hat
the Senate will be sound for time ut least. and in the
meanwhile reason and moderation may resume their
sway-that the mere election Q: Mr. Fremont is con.
stuonal and no ground Of resistance and that pru-
dcnce requires not to act hastily but 10 try his ad.
miustration befo=e we condemn it.
So We should do if the trial safe and prudent
But wa mast remember that the trial itself consoli
d.teS the power of his party by giving it time to
80, VI a. Al,
Of aggression will come first, no matter how violent
the leaders Of the Republican party may be. They
adrot politicians, and not such bunglers to
sort at first to the vulgar means OF force and nmi-
datinn. Much will be done to open the way for force
before that is rcsorted to. The powers Of corruption
will be first tried to weaken and divide the South
Efforts will be Esde to draw a marked line between
Tie slaveholdipg and non-slayeholdng classes, by
confuiGg the faYors Of the government to the latter
Observation-Disclosures will find themselves the sole recp
Of Executive patronage and the eye Of man hatL
not seen the joys that will be prepared for such o.
them as may become anti..avehoding we'll al
non.slaveho!ding. Non-savehoders will see them
selves battered and caressed and shareholders degra
ded and submitting to that degradation; and may
well excuse Themselves for not taking up arms
i'll defence Of men who will not defend them
selves. No efforts viii be spared to build up 6
srong minority in tho South and to bind it with
chains of gold TO the Federal Government. These
overt acts may begin to dawn upon US, almost imper
ceptiby L. FIRST, but gradually looming up into the
dimensions of open war. As matters now stand tht
Army and Navy are weak, the Notifications in th'
Southern harbors unfinished weakly garrisoned, ant
many of them commanded by Southern officers. 0
course this state of things will be quietly rectitied
The forts will be finished, the garrsons strengthened
and entrusted TO men who may be relied on. Sucl
public property as might be seized in the Southern
States-arms, munitions, the contents of sub-tres
euries, ships in the dock yards and the ike-will
quietly withdrawn.
Then slavery in the District OF Columbia, in th'
forts and dock yards, and the slave trade betweei
the States will be abolished Kansas rejected if sh
adopt slavery, the fugitive slave Law repealed and
the South be maddened to resistance the effort vii
be made to "suhjugate her to freedom"
Is there any reason to hope for favorable chang
in public sentiment at the North on the subject o
slavery Certainly, in the long run, truth is great
er than error, we may look for such change but no
in the brief breathing time the Senate will give U.s.
Abolilicnsm, unlike other isms, is fortified by sec
tional hate and its consequent blindness. Nothing
can be more difficult than to get the North right will
regard to slavery, for it hears unwi!lingly any thin
favorable TO Us or our Institutions, while the exag
eerations OF Uncle Toms Cabin are eagerly received
ss true picture of slavery. Moreover the North
especially New England is much influenced by hi
British press, and England must be Get right before
the North can become permanently composed. I'M
is the work of many long years, and in the mean
while we may be destroyed.
We shall continue this topic in another article.
THE PROSPECT.
The readers Of this paper are witnesses 'ha1 we
have scrupulously abstained from all Dragging ano
boastng, and addressed ourselves faithfully TO TIT
I.