Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-04-15
SHALL THE SOUTH GIVE UP KANSAS!

SHALL THE SOUTH GIVE UP kANSAS!
The people Of the South are reproachcd with q
habit Of vaporing-of threatening terrible things
against the Abotouists, and shrinking from the re-
sponsbty of our own indignant pledges OF retalia'
ton. The contrast between our solemn resolutions
of energetic action and patient submission 10 in
suit and wrong, abuudantly justi6es the taunts and
contempt of our adversaries.
1t is time the South were relieving itself of the i'm.
putation of irresolute purpose Fortunately all op-
portunty is afforded at this moment to vindicate
our suspected courage by decisive of resist
ance to aggression.
The repeal of the Missouri restriction in relieving
the South Of an odious badge of iuferory, and re-
storing us to an equality Of right and dignity In the
confsderacy was in itself triumph of inconsider-
sbls consequence. But the South never meant to
rest upon this sort Of metaphysical advantage. From
the beginning of the struggle we anticipated more
tangible results and we now to say whether we
mean TO surrender partial success and nglorious-
" abandon object or persevere with courage and
consistency in our deliberate prrppse.
The Abotonists were not dishearened by their de-
feat. bur were rather stimulated to renewed energy
and more desperate effort. They how they might
wr0S NlStpIy HUM tuo sEoSp VI Tue SVutu, anu
sci about the work with characteristic ingenuity,
and con,elnpt of honest principle. All the vaga-
bonds psupers and discharged convicts who infest.
ed the Northern cities shaken together and
precpitsted upon Kansas. For time, honest i'm
migrants were suffocated by the load Of filth and
stencil; and although they partially recovered their
energies there is danger lest they be at last
borne by ucessant supply Of refuse from the pen
itentiaries of New England.
The issue before the people of the South is simply
this shall remain idle spectators Of the struggle
in Kansas, until the gallant spirits from Missouri
crushed by multitudinous horde Of barbarians from
the North! In the name of the people Of Virginia,
we ryspond with unhesitating and emphatic 80.
Every impulse of PRIDE every instinct of interest,
every calculation of policy, urges to of
prompt and effective aid to the shareholders Of Kau
sas. The Aboionists have thrown down the def.
ance and scurnfully challenged us to a trial of
strength. We cannot finch but with the penalty of
everlasting disgrace. Better be beaten, after exhaust
! ing every resource, than be reproached with
too little energy too little spirit to defend our iute-
rests and our honor.
| Something more, however, than a punctio OF
pride, is involved in this struggle in Kansas. The
South should be admonshed by the desperate energy
Of its enemies that its essential Interests are stake.
If Kansas is perverted into e.negro State Mis-
souri, will be dragged down with it. Encompassed
three sides by aboouists it will soon find itself
exhausted of the spirit and the ability defend its
! institutions. Arkansas and Kentucky in turn will
become border States to sink at last under the same
system of annoyance and plunder. The contagon
hv md a -
is driven in, the South will find itself more and more
exposed to assault on the very heart of slavery Thus
the narrowing circle of FIRE may compel the South
uaic upon slavery the self-destruction of the
,ured reptile
| To avert dreadful catastrophe, we invoke the
people Of the South to adopt instant and adequate
measures Of protection. With all our pervading
identity of interest, unity Of aim aud concentrated
energy it is not possible that lose ii
we ouly rouse ourselves to proper e1ertion
The plan is sufficiently simple. Each State must
act for ITSELF but with reference to the common OBJ
| iect. For Virginia covet the distinction OF the
first step in the noble enterprise and that glory she
may win by organizing a Central Southern Rights
Association in Richmond with affiliated clubs in ev.
cry town and county Of the State. In these societies
no other machinery is necessary than will suffice to
raise A,ouey, to enlist emgrans aud despatch them
to Kansas. II every person in Virginia will con'ri
butte the fund in proportion to his means
or to his neres, in slavery, one thousand elngrants
might be sent to Kansas from this State in the mex
six mouths-and sent not with Sharpes rifles on the
shoulders but with the Constitution OF the country II
their hearts II they should be driven to repel a.
gressou by violence, they would not want for arms
or for courage in their
We submit tbs suggestion to the pressof the State
and shall take their response for an expression OF th'
popular sentiment. Iu any event let US have no mor
gasconade, no more speeches, 10 more pompous reso
utous. If the South is to submit to irresistible fate
let it initiate the grand dignity Of the hero and yelling
its face fall with decent oomposure under the bowso
the asssssns knife.