Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-07-08
nEMOCRATsC CANDID TEs:
FOR PRESIDENT,
"A NJ II & III A N AN,
OF PENNSYLVANIA.
<lw SCHEME OF ANrI-sLAvERY OPERATIONS
c.,r,oy tn THE SOUTH.

C0n1neu 10 system Va oSb
Nortbefb States. Indeed, little reflection Will teach
~. ,ba, this mode Of attack strengthens rather than
Iws.ksn. the stability of slavery-a deduction Of a
yriorj reasoning, which experience 'er'ie' ""u WI
firms by iucontestible results.
Befpre Abolitionsm began its offensive operations
M South was not at all satisfied of the moral or 30
Asanction of negro-savery' The truth Is our lore
fahA of the last generation 80 far from Jnstitying
and defending the institution on its own merits a's
claimed ahx responsibility for its origin apooglzeu
for its existence the plea of inability to aooilsh H.
and protested their desire TO discover some safe ana
sufficient remedy for the imaginary evil. Now all
thinking men in the South are persuaded that slavery
is the normal condition of the negro that 1t 10 Jusn
he'd by the sanctions OF Gods revealed as well a.
natural law; that it is instrument OF providence I'D
working out the material and moral developments OF
civil cation: and that it is q wise sautary and bench
cen; institution Of christian society. The conse'
orence of these pervading and profound convictions
throughout the South, is universal and earnest de-
termination to protect the legal guarantees Of slavery
10 strengthen its basis defend it against attack, and
multiply its securities, until having accomplished its
appointed destiny, it shall be replaced by some other
agency of progress and development. The period OF
its natural dissolution will be foreshadowed by un-
mis;nkeable signs Of decay-and the South VIII no
more presume to resist the obvious decree OF Prori'
dence than they now think Of acquiescng in the I'M
pious schemes of men who would usurp the function
OF Providence.
This reversal Of judgment and OF feeling IN the
South in respect negro slavery, the result OF the
aggressive agitation of the Abolitioniss Driven 10
the alternative of either abandoning or defending the
institution the South for the first time undertook to
explore i,s foundations and to ascertain It's stability
They discovered that Instead Of being bostered by
N. cop,ryances of accident aud the interests Of men,
reposed upon the solid and impregnaole basis OF
moral RICH. and social expediency. Blu: this was NOT
the onv advantage which the South derived from the
external agitations against slavery Whatever sup
mort was wanting to the institution from its own in
heren, strength, was supplied by this very outside
pressure The Judgment of men already sanctioned
the existence of negro slavery it was only necessary
that their interests and passions should be enlisted IN
i,s defence BY their violence, their vituperstion.
their contempt of vested rights and constitutional
guarantees, the Abolitioniss have rallied all classes
in the South to the vigorous and Jealous support OF
slavery.
As soon a. the South begins to appreciate it's aG-
vantage, the Aboltonists discover their mistake
way to do i, is to withdraw that external pressure
which braces and supports slavery-to cease that
agitation which keeps the South in State OF vlg
Ian, and nvulnerable self-deence. And they would
adopt this e1pedient, if their only object was the ex
tinc,ou of slavery. But they contemplate other !
ends In the scheme of the Aboltioniss the degra-
da,ion of the South and the oppressive ascendsncy
OF the North, is the paramount aim of all their ope
rations. They will not abandon anti-slavery agita
ton though it obstructs their ostensible purpose, be-
cause they would lose their political power They
will not await the of nature, because if slave
~ is doomed 10 die Of its own mortality, it will eI
pire without any shock to society, and will thus Dc
feat their diabolcal desire of explosion and ruin to
the South.
Thwarted and beaten in their plan of external agl.
talon and aggressive attack upon slavery the Abo-
,,.pusts have invented and adopted another system
OF operations, which is recommended to their favor,
not only by an appearance of greater efficiency but
by the promise of accomplishing its aim with every
aggravstion of social disturbance and sectional ruin
This scheme, which hatters the ferocous appetite OF
Abol;tonism with the bloody prospect of fraterna
struggle and wide wasting desolaon in the South, Is
to nhame feeling Of jealous antagonism between
the classes Of shareholders and Observation-Disclosures and
thus to parayze the of resistance to external az
gression.
The recent efforts Of the Abolitionists all d.
rected in pursuance of this plan of open attack and
insdious machuation. Their primary aim is to de-
tach the non-saye from the interests OF the
South. To this end their papers and speakers are
perpe,ually dealing out denunciaton against Inc
"slave ocracy." In their war upon the South they
carefully distinguish between the classes whom they
would oppose in exterminating conflict. They repre-
sent the saveholdng community as small, arlsto'
cratic, and tyrsunical ogarchy, controlling public
ouuion and subordnating the government to its ex-
elusive interests. To the slaveholding class ne
the Gown.trodden, dstranchised and oppressed null
.i,uIe, they address infammatory appeals to vic
,.pc. and disorder. Anticipating the possession Of
the patronage Of the Federal Government, they al
ready uroposeso to employ it "a TO foment division
in the South. They proclaim, thnt in the event Of
,h,. election of FREMONT the South shall have its pro-
nor,ions,e share of the SPOIL but that it shall be dis
,ribu,ed exclusively among the Observation-Disclosures
All the operations of the Abolitions!s are now con-
Quoted in this spirit aud With reference TO Inc de-
-sn Of building Up GIL anti-savery party in the bo-
som OF the South.
Every persou who is at all familiar with the tenn
per Of the Southern people and the character OF
Southern society, will a. once pronounce this new Id
v.n,ion of Aboltonism 10 be foolish aud inprac-
ticable as is revolng in principle md criminal in
purpose. /, is a radical mistake 10 assume any an.
tsronism of interest between the slaveowner and the
nonslave-owner. In truth there is not one person in
hundred throughout the South, who has not some
immediate interest in slavery for they who own no
negroes hire them and subsist upon their labor
There s not person in ten thousand who does not
look forward to the day when he may hold slaves
himself. There ia not person in hundred thou
sand who will not acknowledge himself the benef
ciary Of negro labor-so completely is slavery bound
an with the feelings and interests OF every class Of the
communty-so solidly docs it rest upon basis com.
,ueusurate with our social system.
There ia no class of our community so stupid a,
no, 70 see that their own liberties involved in the
securities Of slavery and not 10 know that when the
negroes are set free they must become slaves. Thor
is no class 80 destitute of generous principle as t
need the spur of individual interest TO impel Them
the defence Of the rights Of their section II Was Do
the ..a.drnkers only who participated in the war
nivreaieuce. 1t is not the shareholders only whor
the bulitiJnists encounter in their attack upon IN
common rights, honor and liberties Of the South
Patriotism in hi. quarter Of the confedsracy Is moi
grovell,ng instinct OF selfish interest. 1t is gener
Gus impulse of persousl Independence and reverence
for the rights of the State: aud co~s as purely an
brightly in the brawDy breast ef tho poor as beneat
the veive. yestneuts Of the rich.
But, if the poor man r the South vic owns no ut
roes should vast say lie Of interest to attach hill
to .avery he will not look long before ne finds It,
Where on earth is the working white man 'orespccs
in the sou.hi Where else do his labor and skill con