Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-08-11
T;IE RICHMOND ENQUlkEH.
TUESDAY MOKNINl, .Ut:UsT 1852
OUR CoUNrKY'S rRoSPECr-lS II BRIGHT
ENING Or MOTT

IF the sbooniS;s on ons side, aud i'll the intensity
c: excitement arising from sense Of insult and dan
ger aud rigid resolution to resist the other tue
public mind has been diverted to great at
gree, from all o:her issues than that immediately III
vcvus the fate OF the Univn. There wa' ""',
when the i1ea Of q separation OF the N'''H'in '"
Southern States, would have oeeh con'
50 utterly Utopiau as % proroae 'o0 ue'''0
OF the nation, If indeed i; had Eo' oee" ue'''
tra!,orous enough to brn: down upon ,'s ""'
thor the maledictions of an incensed ana pair'o'c
people Blu. now we have one and only one na''"ii'
a. pary the North is arrayed against the South and
the South 10 s.lfdeeuce, uated against the assail-
ants of her institutions from the North; State sove
reisnty is attacked the Constitution is tbrVatened
with sus"c.sion, ana the pe:amoun; topic OF pel!ti'
CO. discussion. is the dissolution OF the Union That
there are thousands of fanatics in the North, who
either nsensbe TO the honors OF civil war, and the
beauties aud blessings of Republican Government
OF reckless of all consequences in tho extremity oil
their real mania for place and power aud their al
fecled philanthropy. woud rejoice at disruption
OF the confederacy rather than the slavery cause shall
continue 10 be protected aud secured by the guaran
.ties Of the Constitution, is papablo to all who have
in public assemblies and through the press. And 1t
is equally evident that throughout the slave holding
States there is here and there to be found IN hdi-
vdiual or kno. Of individuals, who. commencing
in Virginia with few intelligent, gallant and able
bu, excessively unpulsive and excitable gentlemen.
politically conspicuous in the walks Of private lie and
extending to Iexss. embracing ha!tdczen noisy and
precocious aspIants for the horrors Of exalted oiice
10 South Carolina, Georgia and Mississippi are
violently opposed TO continuance OF the Cn'on'
even without awaiting the result Of the efforts OF
the preseu. able aud honest Administration. These
Southern mslcon,ents taken "for all ID all ars sui.
fcier, in Plumbers and in Influence TO .orm faction,
capable O. annoying the Democratic party, and im'
pairing the efficacy of the great conservative victory
OF last Fall but altogether unequal to the embarrass
rnent of an Administration, which is Illustrating lis
energy. ability and patriotism in every act. and Is
evidently determined to enforce the Constitution on
all occasions irrespective OF the wishes Of States or
sections, and regardless of tho clanors of cEGues
the threats of foes or the opportunities of friends
But notwithstanding the existence OF these two lac
t,ons, the one in the NORTH and the other IL the
South each aiming a: object as adverse as 1t Is
possible to conceive, but both teudius to the same
ultimate eud-a dissolution Of the Union; not
wi,hstandipg this state Of things, We arc In
elired to the opinion, hat ths prospect OF
prosperity and peace for the American peo'
pie, the redemption Of the Republic from the dan
eerous current into which it has lifted, the restrc'
TOD vi Federal authority and continuance OF the
unity Of the States, is brighter now than 1t he's
been for years past. 1t is true the abolition party
counts thousands to-day, where it numbered hundreds
but short time h.o. But it is also true that the
Democratic psrt-, its nveterate end n";ncibe oppo
nen,, has increased and ID still! daily increasing and
perhaps, in more rapid ratio. The Southern States
are a, last united in their opposition to the sggres
sions of the North. Heretofore our ranks have been
divided by party lines, and insult and assault were pro-
voked by evidences Of the IMMUNITY with which they
might be offered aud attempted. Abolitionism has
been encouraged by the belief that the slaveholdinc
States were and would continue 30 bigoted in their
parzan prejudices to leave their institutions un
guarded and at the mercyo the North, while wrang
ling among themselves. 1t has been their hope that
tho Southern people would never relax in their intes
tine struggles for party Gsceudancy until they would
fall an easy prey to their Vaccinations aud designs
And at one time it really seemed that such would be
our fate. But the danger maguied, and the enemy
advanced. the Southern people became aroused I"
the Importance of the impending emergency, and the
necessity of immediate aud united action. Exploded
principles were abandoned parry preiudices were dis.
carded, trivial question:. OF political differences were
forgotten, and the slaveholdng States, with single
exception all rallied together around the standard Of
Democracy, to cave the Union and project their in
stitutions in the dark hour Of dstrust and danger
The ssssants of the South beaten this united
eor, Of the slave States, with tho cooperation Of the
National Democrats of the North. The danger still
threatens; the storm cloud still lowers, and the South
is recruiting the ranks Of the Democracy at every
election.
The disposition of the Southern people to coinpro-
mice and parley with the North, as not unfrequenly
exhibited in other days, great reason for an
apprehension of our ultimate ruiz. But it is no
longer NANTES: We know our rights, md it
would seem at list tina, We neau to uis;utsin
them. 1, is only in tits way, by al uuwaver-
ing adherence to piincp!., determination TO
ccncede nothiog. and to deu,aud all tina, is
due TO US under the Constitution, that the
intrinsic elements Of tho government can be
brought into active, unobstructed aud vieo-
rous action and the interests Of both sections
false step on the part Of the Son:h vas in aokno"
lodging, or rather acqu!escpg iu tue usurpaiiou Of
ths right Of the Federal Government 10 Interfere in
any wsy e;her directly or indirectly with the eyser
sion of the Institution Of slavery. a mistaken devo-
tic. - the Union was, doubtless, the amiabe motive
prompting 60 dangerous course. But the people OF
the South have learned, ut last that the eurest means
Of perpeuatins the Conederacy is to ress; every IN
novation upon their rights, whether practical or alb
strsct and to stand prepared in good faith for disco
luton unless the Constitution is impartally applied in
all its principles alike, TO each State and section
No government-and especially republic-csn be
maintained. except upon the principles in which ii
originated. Aud whether the Constitution Of the
United States sgsipst or u favor since il il
the supreme law Of the land il w. would preserve
the republic in its primitive purity aud power mus,
insist upon it's enforcement under all circumstances
and on every occasion.
When this ia dous; when il is established az the ill.,
variable policy of all parties submit theis principles
and practices the Constitution the test of their
legitimacy aud propgs,y the Uuion will be free from
dagger and all sections will rs cafe. And Whatever
may have been, and may still be. the evils that
threaten oar country it is not to b. denied that there
is now tendency 10 more conservative aud cous,i.
tutions course OF things. The Nebraska Kansas
bill denying the right Of the Federal G'verbm.u, 10
prescribe the boundaries OF slavery, aud procaimnG
the great principles OF popular sovereignty and State
rights the bred Scott decision; the gallant conduct
Of the iudoni.ab!e Democracy OF the North; the Jus
pimi,y OF sentiment 10 the South all attest CRAFTY
log 70 ac,ion in the country. Compromises have
given place to principles The peculiar interests and
wishes o. sections not to be- Consulted but the Con
su;on, which protects aud iGsures the rights OF eacn
aad al tbs States. is 10 be observed. Such, We think
Is no unreasonable augury from tbs aspect OF affairs
Let the extension or circumspsc,ion OF slavery. its
extinction or propagation, s profits or LOSSES its good