Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-05-09

FRIDAY MORNING, MAY o, 1856.
THE STRUGGLE IN KaNSAs-THE "wHIG" DE-
NouNCEs THE KANSAS MOVEMENT IN THE
SOUTH.
Masses ofmen rarely display any enthusiasm III sup
port of an abstraction BY his famous Theses. Mar
lin Luther confounded the judgmsnt OF professors
and posmics, but he did not move the multitude un-
Ill, he began to talk them in plain and robust Ger
nau, of the corruptions of the priesthood and the
abuses of the hierarchy 1t is in this principle OF
our nature that we find an explanation Of the COM
psra,ve apathy of the popular mind OF the South, in
the controversy between slavery and abolitionism.-
Yet iust in proportion the people are indifferent to
mere speculative disputes, have they exhibited ener-
w and enthusiasm in resistance to any palpable en-
croaohmeut on their rights and in support of measures
of obvious advantage to their interests.
The repeal Of the Missouri restriction was vcto.
ry of the greatest consequence to the South; STILL as
il was attended by no results which men could grasp
and weigh the masses exhibited very little interest
in IA. struggle Now, however, that the contest in
Kansas has presented papabls issue to the South
and the people are invited TO fight for visible and
tangible advantage, they manifest zeal worthy OF
the cause. The appeal to the people Of Virginia to
contribute something to the support OF slavery IN
Kansas, has been answered by prompt aud energetic
measures iu aid of interests, which nothing but
prompt and energetic measures can save from de-
s,ruction Our own columns attest the alacrty with
which the people and the press n this State, with"ut
distinction OF party, have responded TO the suppica
ton of the gallant men in Kansas. To-day Con-
ver,iou in Petersburg will direct the popular synpa'
thes and energies into a common channel anu 10 the
attainment OF practicable result.
Tha, the movement; il support Of slavery 10 han.
sas would encounter some resistance III this ctywas
wha, we predicted from the known ree-so p7eJud'ces
Of a portion of its population. We were prepared
too for the opposition of paper which had not scru
pied 10 denouuce the repeal OF the Missouri
a, a dishonest and inqu,tous measure. But at the
same time We ventured to anticipate from the pro-
fessed pro.slavery sentiments of the lY'g, that we
should have the sympathy and support OF that jour
nal aud of the partJ which it claims to represent IN
a movement of an exclusively Southern aim and
character. Ii is therefore with unaffected surprise
thu; We tud the Wig employing all its influence to
dscredit and defeat the effort rescue Kansas from
the grasp OF Abolitiousm.
That the opposition of the Wing to the Kansas
movement in Virginia is not the effect Of incunsider-
ate impulse but Of preconcerted policy. is manifest
from the temper of its articles They are obviously
written with deliberate purpose and with al increas
ing euergy Of conviction. Conscious apparently OF
the extreme dscacy Of the duty which proposes to
ITSELF the IPg approaches It's obect with slow and
cautious steps, At arst its readers bswidered in
maze of eimless and ncomprehensible speculation;
and it is only in his third article that the writer dis
tinctly reveals his purpose. Then he escapes from
the cloud and denouuces the Kansas movement in the
harshest and most explicit language. This is sen
tence from the Wig of Saturday:
"To conclude, we regard this whole matter, North
and South, purely sectional, an-republlcan, revn-
lutonary and dangerous, and guard our friends
against all such resorts, and appeal to evory well dis
posed man, not to be thus entrapped.
By an unconstitutional and odous enactment, the
South was degraded from its legitimate position in
the conf.deracy and excluded from an equal enjoy
meut OF right and privilege under the constitution
After thirty years endurance Of the wrong and ig-
nomipy the South has been restored to its dignity
and to its rghts by the repeal Of the ssouy restrc-
tion But the sbolitioIsts Of the North ere resolved
upon the degradation end destruction of the South,
and to that end they concerted to defeat the
operation of the Kansas. Nebraska act and to resist
the extension of slavery. Unwilling to be driven
from soil bought with their money, and in the enjoy
ment of which the constitution guaranteed them an
equal participation, the people of the South deter
mined to reap the full consequence OF their victory
and to assert their rights in the territory Of kaEsa2
To this sud they initiated E movement which the
Richmond Ifhig chooses to denounce and oppose, as
SECTIONAL anH-repwJican revolutionary and Danger
Gus.
As the l,Aig is the only scutkera paper tnat thus
stiema,ises :ie attempt to introduce slavery into
Kansas, 30 will ts counsels be repudated by every
man who is sincerely attached to the interests and in
stitutous of the Sonth Nobody will be deceived by
the TWigs fallscuus reasoning because there Is no
person so stupid Gat he Cannot see the difference be-
tween the attempt to perpeirate and the attempt TO
defea, wrons-between the unlawful agsressions of
aboltionsm and the peaoeab, constitutional resist
ance of the South-betweeu the frauds and violence
of Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Societies, and the
calm resolution of Virginia gentlemen not to be de-
spoiled of their property-between the treason
able designs of Greeley and the patriotic purpose Of
Atchison. The South simply stands on tho deieneirs
while the atoliiouists lyng to drive the slave
holder from Kansas. Yet the Mag accuses the
South of anti republican and revolutionary conduct
I, it anti.republican in the South to assert an equali
ty of right under the constitution ~ 1t revolution
ary in the South to make lawful resistance to violence
and outrage! What would the Wig have the peo-
MIA Of the South suffer- Must they tanely submit to
be driven from Kansas by Sharpe's rifles must they
rsnounce their claim to equality of right and dignity
with aboltouists must they surrender he legacy CT
their fathers to lie exclusive enjoyment oI Yankee
ccnvcts end paupsrs, must they consent 20 the az
Of the North, and the violent Fepres'
sion and restriction Of their own inatisutions-must
the gallant f,semeu OF the South adopt this servle
pocy or must they protect their rights and interests
under penalty Of the Whig's denunciation 1t was
indi,putably SECTIONAL anti-repubcan revolutionary
and daugerous in the patriots of &c to ssser; their
right, and liberties under .he constitutional govern
msnt of Great Britain, end they we're very much
abused and opposed by the tories OF that day; never
the,ess, they consummated their glorious WarK snd
their resistance ia wreng will survive rs an example
for the encouragement of the remotest posterlty.-
While the memory Of Henry and Jefferson lives IN
the hearts Of Virgnians, the Wig will in vain
nculca,e the obligation of passre obedience and non
resistance.
In opposing its party to the movement in
defence Of the rghts Ct tie ao1,h in Kansas, the
sft'G deliberately efss the universal sentiment of
the State. Woudthe Hhig recklessly incur the haz.
ard of popular rsprobaton Does it speak for itself
alone, or IN the name and by authority of its party
Will the opposition press Of the State rally to its sup
port Is resistance the establishment of slavery
in Kansas to be incorporated in the platfern Of the
Stauuton Convention Theas are important in.
cuiriss but tksir solution depends on future develon
meuts. Meanwhile, we submit the Whis's articl. to
the Judgment of the people Of Virginia:
SECTIoNALlSM.