Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-12-26
sgIErING TUEIR POSITION.

SHIFTING THEIR POSITION
Even among us Of the South the impression ha
prevailed that the aboii.icniss were for the mos
part sincere in their profession Of moral repugnanc
to slavery and that their movement originated in al
urselish compassion for class whom they Ignorant
" supposed to suffer great wrongs and outrages,-
The debate OF which the PrcsideEts Message is tn
prs,ext 10 both houses Of Congress, has satisfied
that we gave the adversary credit for an honesty Q
purpose which is very far from being the ruo motiv
OF his operations.
This debate provokes some people to reproach Con
press with nsttention to business and waste OF time
but in our judgment it is very far from being barre
OF any good effect Ii is full time that the South an
the dominant power of the North should UNDERSTAND
one another, and we cure not what may be the coca
sion of the explanation. Now, in this discussion th
position and purpose Of the Souh have been clear.
defined and distinctly announced by men Of the high
est authority among our people. Perhaps for tn
first time in the progress of the controversy between
the sections the of the South wi;i
the exception of an insignificant squad OF Know No
thngs) have held the same language aud exhibited
the same spirit Of nhex;ble resistance to the en-
croacbments OF abol,iouism. Whatever may be thei'
differences of party, in one respect they seem TO DC
compact and homogeneous body. Mason and But
Ter, Brooks and Letcher, speak the sentiments Oh
their colleagues from the South; and, what il of much
greater consequence, they give uterance to the per
vading impulse and unanimous will of The people
from the Potomac to the Rio Gran6e. In harmony
too With the gravity Of the occasion and their own
resolule purpose those iai!hful representatives so'
stain from any word of menace or appearance OF pas
sionate excitement. As earnest men with deter
mined aud irrevocsble object, they speak with CAIN
ness and elaboration.
Iri., however to the position Of the Black Repub.
can party, it has been defined by its representa-
ii, in tie current debate 10 Congress, We wish to
nvits special attention. In direct conflict With the
history Of the abolition movement, with their own
autecedent. and the declarations Of their most recent
spseches these men now protest that they have no
cnarrel with slavery in an abstract and moral sense,
brt that they oppose i, Only principles Of social
AID poli,ica! economy. I, is not against slavery as
AL evil ana wrong tina, they war; bur agains; slave
-yas a political power" From thi. remuneration
o: opposition to slavery on grounds Of humanity and
religion results necessarily tina: they do not intend
to attack tho institution in the States. They only re.
s.t l.. extension, and seek 10 limit the political
power Of the South. This is the position assumed
by Fsssendeu, Seward. Wilson, Trumbuil, and the
o:her more authoritative representatives of the Black
Republican party.
Whether they be sincere or BOT, here Is certainly
very notable change of position on the part of the
Ahoii,ion.,s. And, it implies these two things
first that the South has the better Of the argument in
the discussion Of slavery in moral aspect; and, Sc
sonily that the people Of the North have pronounced
judgment against tho principles OF the abolition par
~. Beaten upon one issue, the s5oli,onists propose
to compass their aim by change Of policy. Having
sppealed IN vain 10 the moral seuSe VI tho North,
they sio talking chou, the wrongs OF slavery, and
eudoavor now 20 gain their point b. exciting Jealousy
of the sectional preponderance of the South. Thus
:hey compliment their constituency, In supposing
them les, insensibls to The suggestions o: envy anu
OTHER evil passions than to the no5!er appeals Of hui
mainly and religion.
In any event, the South has achieved remarkable
victory W. have driven the enemy from the high
ground of piety aad philanthropy upon which he once
eutrenched himself and have compelled him 20 ssu!k
among the expedients of q base ard SELFISH policy
We have vlndica,ed our Institutions from the charge
OF violating the laws Of God and the rec.ou Of man,
ard have driven adversary to the mort emphatic
admission OF sbeir seli.suf1csnt vitality III ais enor
20 oppose an arbitrary limit 10 their expansion.-
Whatever msy be his ultimate aim, he confesse'
thu, TO restrict the vigorous growth Of slavery is as
much "a he can now undertake.
Perhap. the Abolilionists do not over estimate the
strength of this new position. Perhaps they have
nothing to lose in shocking the aympathies OF tue
honest opponents of slavery and they mny therefore
frankly avew that it not against the intrinsic evil
sad wrong Of slavery that they contend, but against
tue accidental circumstance If its "poiitica! power
Perhaps they think to persuade tho people Of the
North that the Federal Government should be 60 ad-
minsterod to deprive the Southern States ofthe i'm
partial protection Of the Constitution, and to reduce
them to the condition Of provincial dependencies
II such be the purpose and expectation Of the Abo.
ii'lonsts let them venture upon the experiment w
are prepared for the srugse-snd nsver better than
at this particular time.