Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-01-30
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LETTER NnOM GOV. JOi-;SGX or GEORGIA.

LETTER IRON GOV. JOHNSON OF GECHtii.
Exscu1!vy Cn,4rrr. MtrLEacGvltLt.GA"{
December II, lSlG.
Gertlrin.n:-T rr.-ct that 7 cqnn"t sCc-Y; your
sini Invitation 10 The grand eu'-rta;Hm-Iii when
The Democratic patty and other iii.uG- al the H'dth
n The Stale oi Mississippi" propose to give! TO "tIe
Hon. 4. i. Willard, Governor eject al the Sfa!e OF
Indiana, and The Hon VIM \. Richardson .! tile
State %; liitn"i-, ut the city Of Jack sOI, on TUESDAY,
the 9ji day" of the prescn, month
The regret | express il -incerr and unaiIec'tt:; nor
in addition To The pleasure it world afford mo Ia HIM
gle with The Democracy OF Mississippi, | would tx
peri-nce peculiar qualification III contributing some
thing i" tHe pub &c demonstration Intended 10 honor
the distinguished gentlemen 10 whnIn y0G al.ide IN
t-rInsol such jus; praise aud appreciation. They d..
serve the gratitude Of the South for The noble and
Intrepid stand taken against the food OF lanaiic!sm,
which threatened in The late prrilous presidential can
yass to destroy the Union, by overturning the Con
siitutinn ard the great principle of S,nto tqpsl!ty,
which lies 1T its foundation. They exhibited II mora!
courage equa!lrd only by their broad aud cornpre-
hepsive patriotism, whilst they maintained thei! po
sitions with an ability and eloqucnce which chal
Iensed universal admiration.
Most cordially car I interchange congratulations
with sou upon the glorious results of the l.ie Prssi.
DENTAL contest. The election OF. Mr.. BuChanrn is II
mast fortunate rescue Of the country, f.on th- per.is
by which VS. were 20 recently envirUuej, whilst his
ability, experience and patriotism, as u Statesman,
warrant the indul serce Of hope, for the tsture. H.
will he able 10 arrest the waves of iaraticism-he
mny not be able TO roll them back; hut | have au
abiding co:tii-nc. that he will DO all towards such n
result that can be accomplished by human wisdom
or poIi,ice! skill. He goes into office under circum
stances ralcuisrei 10 impress him with q profound
sepse of The solemn responsibility Of his pJ.ition.-
The President OF the whole Onion, with no ends Ia
accomplish but the promotion of its perprluiIy and
PROSPERITY, he will address all the powers of his nd
minis,ra,ion to Tho restoration Of frnterEGl harmony.
by maintaining the rights OF the States and sitting
the clsnnr of sectional strife. This tie country tx.
poets, aud deep and bs;ter will be III. chagrin Of dis
appointment. Let us trust to bis fidelity, his sngs.
| city, his frmuess and his patriotism To give real.
cation to our faith aud hope, he should be seconded
aud sustained by the conservative" Of all sections AMI
all parties. Tn!s he has q right ~ claim from the
American people. His task will be sufficiently deli
cate and difficult, without the super addition of the
evil and saUl;.;in ling winch may b, engeniered by
dis.rust. am sure | hazard uu!hing in saying that
such a spirit will tnd no considerable encouragement
in the Southern States. They lnvc given Inn al
most q unanimous support; they have conf led in
him in advance; and thy will cordially rally to his
support in every well directed effort fer tneir rights,
aud shield tho Constitution from assault.
But while we have reason &c hope for all that cxpe
rieuced craftsmanship ran accomplish, we cannot
close our eyes 10 the threatening clouds which lower
over the horizon of the future. Abolition t.nalicism
must be crushed out, aud the rights at The States, rs
political co equals in tie Confederation. f.i;htuliy
maintained, or the Uu:Gn canno; stand. \ gIancr a;
the inevitable future will demonstrate tile truth Of
this proposition ~ every candid MUD.
The institution of slavery il tie great subject of
agitation, and III. only one which ~j-"psrds the Union.
Up TO a recent date, the equilibrium oi power between
The siaveiio!dinS and npn-1iGvs hoiilnS sections ia
the Senate of the Caited States, had been preserved.
So long as this WAS the case, We hef Il constitutions
guaranty Ut the rights OF the South, Tor We hai an
equality OF representation 10 cOuntcruct any hostile
lnovemeut; in other words, We Possessed the power
Of Resisting. by parliamentary Inealis, every elliott at
argressi0n. Now The sl1rrbJldirg IRE but ID, AID
the uuu. acknowledging 10 Stats. Kansas may come
in as n siaveho!!ing State, and thus re-torc the cqui-
iibriun; il! not, the equilibrium will be permanently
destroyed. WHAT then will be the security OF The South
asains; aggression Certainly not The constitutions; tor,
at u very early day, looking 10 tho growth Hild spirit
of the abolition continent, We shall! lind the nom
slaveholdiny States permanently the stronger portion
of the Union; represented IN the Senate Ut the United
States, by those who regard slavery as IA great mora!
and political evil, " and the Constitution that protects
il, III league vi. n the devil and II compact with hell
We ARE already in q permanent minority in the House
of Representative; whit will become ut u when Il
majority of the Senate shall lie arrayed against US {!
Can the Union survive, unless, BY IT." force OF hr.
Bucharan's administration, the public sentiment: OF
the North shali b. brought ~ q just and pr"pe inter.
pretaiiuu Of tue Constitution, and Congress TO q riSid
adherence 10 its provisions
P.rhaps it may he though: that so slight q dispar!-
~ between the two sections, in the Senate OF the
Omitted States, may be counreracted by The election
of sound Senators from several loil-slaveEold'hc
States. This | admit may be the cass, ana eiiHbie u
for several yca.., to maintain our rights. Bat dnyou
not perceive that thi. very suggestion amount. 10 an
abandonment vi the COrstltuiioI, as The ground OF
our security, and taro:ra rs upon Tue C5cend-iry Of ~
sound parlyl Then by what irall aud Tickle tenure DO
We hold ouf rights!
But give To tEi. view the u:inos! force that may bn
claimed FOR il, still hoH short a time Eu-t be tie con-
80, nf ii,at sfH:e ot ThlI;ys, Look at oar vH-t 81.
riturjai POSSESSIONS Utah, New M-Xiro, Oregon,
| Washington ard Minnesota; enough for ~ States II
large as Missie.ipri. T:e,e IN RAPID edccrs'lon, VIII
he carved into II, " STATES. Ii |. not preienici f'at
slavery wlll ever be extended 10 any portion oi ineIn;
so that wirli1 Il period Ct perhaps - ye"rt, II Is almost
| certain lhst our CuIun will ruuiuer ~ State. q!
| the,c, bu, Is at most, will be -invehcliing, MA tie
balance, -, will Or nnn-savrhO!ting. what then wall
be the condition II the South. II ID" abp!Iiiun s-pii-
men, advances Is RAPIDLY IL il, las iUr The last 20
ycarsl How inpoienr viii she be- 10 resist, by par
iiam.ntarv actioD, ~ The Senate OF the UnIted States,
! hostile nnt aggressive legislation upon nrr rights: II
| will be vain 70 hold up tir Constitution as ou: -I:eid
of defence. They will riiIcuic us as absiractIonists,
| and, ~nadleucd By The consciousness. ol strength oil
| their pnr:, and opposition OF ours, Will interpret Tor
themselves, and iraryla us in the duet. Or II they
doubt the validity VI their proposed construction, ihey
will SO amend the Constitution Us 10 confer on Con-
errss n much power az they need u accomplish their
ends. 1t viii b.. equally vain To rely UPON The a.cei
dency o. sound constitutional nH:ional pariy Party
il tickle, fuc;uating ard capr;ci"as. Nor can We rely
upon the veto power, tor with u majority against US
80 urepunGeIailng, il would %inttrpo-c no obstacle 10
the action Of Congress. This Is 20 over wrought
picture. II iana;lcism and sectional strife continue, IL:
realization is inevitable.
As n Southern nan, I do not desire the excursion
Of slavery for Tie sska "f Southern aEsrnndiz- me!lt.
If | could be a-surrtI that Congress would adntr" 10
the Constitution, and by strct non intervention, per.
| init slavery TO work out lid own destiny, under the
laws Of climate, soil and production; i We could be
let alone, to deal with th. institution ~ We decIn
best, [ would not care one whit whether another
slsyeholdiny State should ever be added 10 the Union.
would feel 10 snlciiudc IA 10 Kansas. but my
anxiety il rather 10 restore tho equilibrium In IN.
Senate, between the two trclion-. because | be-
li.ve it to be Indispensable 10 the perpeiul!y OF the
Onion.
A;ths hazard Of ~wearyine yonr patience, ! beg 70
b.. INDUCED ~ a~:1;.Ier observation. | have shown that
th. cuu i!ibr!utn in The Ss,r.n il rl-strry.d-ihit the
admission Of Kan.as rs . noD-sinvcio!iing STATE,
renders the: destruction permanent, and ilint cvns--
qlrntiy, for the future, Illuminating a. II may oe, We
will be forced 10 rely for security upon :bc ascea
d-ncy Of a sound, constitutional, uationa! party.
rather than upon the Constitution ltse!l. Such, at
this time. is the democratic party ol the lI'tel
States. Upon its permanent maintenance ut power,
depends our safety and The integrity OF the Union.-
Hence, the path of policy fo- the South ~ picin.-
Il i. our dury 10 Sustain, with tirinness and good
faith, the true men OF the non s!avch"iding States
who have the moral courage ~ a'nnd by our c"nsli'
tutionRl rights. SucN men ~ Nitiafn, h'clhruS'h,
Douglas, Cas-, Dickinson, Toucry, Clancy Jones,
and a host of others, vino have led on the D"mo
cratic column 80 victory, deserve our warm support
and cordial gratitude. The Democracy of P-nnsyl.
vauia. Indiana, Illinois, New jersey aHd Ca.iinril;s.
co operating with III. amos: united South, has req.
cued liz from the fang of sectional! strife, AID secured
10 the country at least n temporary repose, Similar
concert will bring similar triumphs. for many future
c~untests. Let us encourage and promote 1t by a.!
honorable neans.
In view of the Importance Of this consideration, it
seems to me unfortunate, for the South, particularly
at this ~iuncture. thu. any new aud extreme policy
should be broachcd. We have obtained, from The
recent legislation Of Congress, a recognition OF the
equality of the States, and thu principle of non-'nier-
ven;iOm, and the repeal OF the Missouri restrlction,,-
Whatever ground Of complaint is furnished by the
past, the South enjoys, for tue pres. ri, n full admit:
sion of her constitutional right. The Democracy oi
IN. non s.avsIo.ding States, at the hazard q. puil:i.
cal martyrdom. al home, have gallun'ly maintained
our cause. is it not wise 10 adhere 10 our existing
lt-