Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-10-28


ground railway; and when followed and claimed by
our people, vulgar mobs defed all authority, nsued
the claimants Of the fugitiyes, massacred some in
cold blood placed others in confinement aud subjected
them to the annoyance and expense of criminal
prosecutions aud even Northern judges dared not do
justly by the STAKEHOLDER for fear Of imprisonment,
penalties and fines, thus closing the courts Of justice
to citizens Of the South and turning them over to the
tender mercies of blind fanaticism. And this was
the glorious state Of peace to which the Missouri
Compromise and the other compromises which sue
oeeded it, conducted the country, and which whining
hypocrites are affecting to regret Better open
war than such peace as this, which is no peace at
a-but vile aggression the one side, and cowardly
trucking and subserViency on the other. Who can
wonder il the South ha, at last grown weary of max
ing concessions for the sake Of peace which, so far
from producing the fruits looked for, only embolden
the North to make more arrogant demands with
more pertinacity and persstance7 1t was not in hu'
man nature to go on thus forever, even had there
been no stronger motive 10 change than the mere
wearing out of all patience and forbesrance.
But there was stronger motive. The spirit OF
aboitouism had gradually grown from cloud no
larger than mans hand, until it had overshadowcd
the whole political armament Of the North. The old
Wing party rent in twain by il; large and iniu
entia denominations OF Christians had been broken
to pieces by it; il waxed stronger and boder every
year; it was gradually gaining the control OF one
branch of the United States Congress, aud threat
eued ere long to gain the ascendancy M the Senate
and meantime, avowed its purpose to use whatever
power it might attain for ne extirpation Of slavery
on this continent; ara ne was blind indeed who could
not see that hna conflict, severe and shaking the
government. ~ its deep foundations must inevitably
come in few years. Other concessions to Northern
rapaciy, other submissions to gross injustice and
wrong, might have postponed this contest for FIVE,
ten, fifteen twenty years but sooner or later the
issue had 10 be tried Had the men of this genera
ton Stunned it, they would have enailed the trial
upon their children and that too with the full know
ledge that they would be less able to meet and en-
dure it for the South growing weaker Ead the
North stronger every day. 1t was, than the highest
wisdom to meet the issue now at once and for
settle the doctrine that Congress has no control
tho subect Of slavery but that the people OF the
several States are alone vested with the power to
legislate in the matter.
That was the doctrine laid down by the trainers OF
the Constitution, and upon which they founded this
gloriou. Union. Ii was the only doctrine upon which
the Union could have been formed, and the North,
no less than the South, acted unwsey in departing
from it and attempting by patch work, in the shape
of Congressional Compromises, to settle the slave'
agitation II could hevo been settled OH the instant
by re1uking sharply all attempts to NEEDLE with IT,
and when once it was attempted to mend matters W
legislative tinkering, nothing ess ought to have
heen expected than confusion ant. discord and end
loss strife.
10 it too mach that the South should ask now, In
common with conservative inen at the North, that
We return to the Constitution and abide oy its COM
promises and give all other compromises to the dogs
These patent psnsccas have been amply tested, anu
90 far from ouring, taeY have well nigh killed tht
| patient. Suppose now we try the remedy which lh'
wisdom Of the great departed devised. Suppose
! North and South We 60 back 10 first principles, ani
elect TO stations OF honor and profit only haHe mel
who will faithfully and honestly adhere 10 the Con
stitu:ion as the only solu.cr Of this vexed question
which will give noacs aud quiet and assurance TO the
country. Let those vile incendHrcs, Wade, Sum
ner Seward and all their aters and abettoIs, be ex
pelled from tho halls OF Cougress, and lei any maj
who dare debate the subject oi slavery in that foruu
be visited with tho scorn Of whole people. and wf
shall have no more of this Internal agitation and ou
people will continue 10 prosper and North, South
East and West, all dwell! together in peace.
These results nisy be attained II the honest, con
,ervave patriotic people Of the country will unite
as one man, to rebuke the fanalicism which hal
arrsycd section against section, the work will be done
Dhe election of James Buchanan by the alive
Uulor Of the country, will do more TO quiet ,ht
public mind, to put end to the agitation Of slavery
and to ensure the perpeuty OF the Union, than q!
the compromises which have been adopted aihcc
| 1887 to this hour, and will do away with the necess
ty for any further compromise at acy future time
1t would be the emphatic AID solemn declaration o.
the people OF the country shat they willing to hole
to the Unoa spon the Constitution and the re-atrm
ctiou in all their integrity Of those great doctrines
States rights and State equality which undere ant
support the fabric Of our government. This vii
bring peace to our distracted country, an abiding
| peace which nothing else will.