Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-03-27
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
BY RITCHIE l. DUNNAyANT.
FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH "a, Is5

By RITCHIE L. DUNNAvANT.
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FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH "a, 1857.
THE UNION-WILL 1T STAND OR FALL'
The duration Of all human institutions should be
calculated according to their adaptation to the peo
pie for whom they are organized well as to Inc
good aud evil they may contain. Every age has l's
errors, every nation its Distinctive opinions, preln
dces and traits. Forms of government, like reii-
gious rites, however variant and contradictory
enanate from similar sources and have all the same
object and aim. The lIndoo widow, feeding Inc
flames OF her husbands funeral pyre, with her own
flesh and blood or invoking the Ganges for mercy OH
his soul, s actuated by faith and animated WIN
fervor worthy the most sublime specacles o' C'r'''
an sacrifice, the most earnest appeals oil Chrs''"n
prayer. And so in social organization; the bloodsst
and darkest deeds ofseemingly hearess inluInah"y'
have been perpetrated in tho name OF liberty anu
Justice. The reign OF terror and the American reVo'
luton were results of the same elements oi human
nature. The object of all religion is to attain apP
hereafter the honest aim of all good
is to dispense prosperity and give conentmeh' 10 'e
people. 1t is inherent in the heart oi man 10 Seek
society; and government of some sort or ot'er 10 d"
ways found following his footsteps, whether tey ira
verse the wilderness or the desert, among tle "
est Indian tribes as we'll the most enlgh'e"eu vi
the Anglo Saxon race, in tho hammocks oi FioF'u"
as in Washington or London.
Man must be governed; wisely if he WILL ana Just
ly if lie can.
In earlier ,sys when the human intellect had not
attained that majesty and might which no" give !"
the mastery of everything within It's reach' p'''.cS
was an art. Now il is science. AS siheii'gehee ms
increased the artificial edcts OF necessity enforced
through the tyraunc rule of despos have given place
TO more wholesome laws in justice and right and IN the
recinroosl relations of man with man, as equal, but
mutually dependent members OF tho same Soc'ely'-
The great theory Of self government mas oeeh a'''r
atvely determined by the American people, Anu II
remains their mission, that they have es'aollsh
ed philosophical fact founded in the noblest attr
butes of human nature, TO amp!ify their great work.
10 ENCOMPASS its collateral advantages, and accom-
pli,b all that nation of Free independent, intelligent
and enterprising people can. Our Union is the a"-
miration and wonder of the world. Ana thoush we
regard il as something sacred, as long al II answers
the purposes for which it was devised, we cannot
concur in the opinion that severance oil the ooi'h'
ern from the Northern States would be death'oio
to our political institutions, that 1t would Do
the explosion of experiment in politics, or
that the interests Of other nations, now iol-
lowing in our footsteps, would BIZ irreVo-
osbly ruined. 1t is the substance, not the shadow
that is regarded. The Constitution is the great
charter of freedom which the civilized world will
eventually copy. Tho Union is only the corPoreal
o;n;n tho Of Eharty lpt he Il.
tuition he perverted and prostituted, and We would
willingly admha self:governnent is not a fact but
failure. Discover the Union rather than disregard
the genius of our institutions, and that section which
separates sooner than submit carries with it, and will
ever RETAIN the vital principles of our government
In such an event, the North would doubtless bo in
danger of anarchy and despotism. With no con-
servave element Of society, with license IN lieu OF
liberty, aud with appreciation Of the sacred cove.
nsnt which expresses the confidence and guarantees
the rights of a republican people, the free States
might readily relapse into aboriginal absolutisR.-
But the slavehodng States would be- very different
y affected The North would be the violator of the
government the South its protector. And, in a
strictly political point Of view, it ia debatahle ques'
ton, whether purer republic would not be estab-
shed in the South, than even now exists under the
manifold advantages Of the Union. But, while we
hold that the South might possibly be benefited in
the end, we arc far from admitting that any sucil
emergency has yet arisen to justify disruption OF
the coniederacy.
Within the last six months, there have been fearful
forebodings of such state of things would render
it the duty of the Southern people to dissolve their
connection with the North. But the crisis has passed.
the danger has been diverted, and trust forever.
The malady that has long ranked in every fibre
of the body polite, are inclined to believe, ha.
done it's worst. Abolitionism has been rebuked by
the people; and the highest Judicial tribunal Of the
nation has sanctioned the popular verdict. We en-
tertan the hope that majority Of the opponents Of
slavery or at least such minority will lrender the
rest incapable of accomplishing their designs, will
now be constrained to bow in obeisance to the Con-
stitutisn.
The extension of slavery is of little consequence TO
the security of the South, if the Union is to be de-
voted 10 the objects for which it originated and the
understanding between the States not to be abused
But, il Knight makes right" and the slavehodng
States are to be imposed upon and oppressed as
as there is sufficient force of the opposition in
both houses Of Congress- TO alter Mr Comsiiiu.
ton, then there is already determination on
the part of the North to violate the compact, and
bring about dissolution as speedily as possible
And the Southern people are manifestng heroic
devotion to the Union, in their efforts to battle the
dark designs Of the factionsts and fanatics of the
North.
The administration Of Mr.. Buchanan will occupy
that period which is to be the turning point of the
great ssus now involving the fate of the Union. We
anticipate its expiration with little fear for the result