Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-29

aud made thesa suggestions in cap'ious spirit In
depsndenty OF the combinations the1a qaes'''ns
sug ces there others which most be hrst met ana
resolved. before should b. prepared I" secohu tns
eff. s now making TO revive this trade, even u II
could be revived and the Union continue. Inc pre-
ssnt owners Of slave property throughout 'ne o?u
became such long after the acts of Congress pronon
ing the sava trade were passed. Theae acts uhques
iionsby excited little influence, either directly or
msdiately, upon the value of this property.
II WAS at the time these acts were passed ana ohg
subsequently matter of universal consent, mat tna
permission TO trade 10 negroes on the African cos;,
should never be revived. Was there not, them tacit
If not spec cagreement that the purchasers OF slaVe
property at enhanced pricss-prces enhanced by the
prohibition of the rade-shoud not, at sons future
period, have their property diminished in value oy !he
ra.opening of the trade1 We qusrre! much with the
North, because few of our slaves are annually en-
| ticed away into the free States-amouutiDg all told
we suppose to not more than some fifteen or twenty
slaves year. diminishing our property annually,
| say some twenty thousand dollars We accuse them
land rgntfuly) of robbery, theft violation Of civil
and Of social obligations. But "a not the re opening
of the slave trade the equivalent of this The direct
consequence of that re.openng would be the dmlnu'
ton OF the value Of this property in the hands OF it's
present owners TO extent not 10 be counted by
thousands but by millions of dollars. Why then in
one breath charge the abolitionst with roguery and
| theft when he takes your slave, and IN the next.
| applaud and approve scheme by which the pro.
6ts of your property will be diminished and your
| interests damaged thousand fold know, Messrs.
| Editors, the argument will be urged there are
| not slaves enough here-let US buy more to till
| our lands, and render more prosperous and
happy as a people I am not prepared to assert, I'M.
hesitatingy, TO either Of these positions II We have
tnot slaves enough, now, think stand q fair
chance, at the present rate Of increase not to be in
want long, and TO tilling felis, do not think
| they look for culture much as for rest
Let me- in conclusion say, lest may be misuuder-
stood, that for myself nothing wrong in buying
slaves on the coast of Africa from slave dealers.
do cot the moral character Of the act differs at an
from the sale or purchase of slaves at own doors
ViRGISiAN.
| Tho position assumed by our correspondent, in
great part, agrees with that recently tskn 5y the
Charleston Mercury" In reviewing report of
COL Bryan, made to the South Carolina Legislature
and the message of Governor Adams, the "Mercu.
ry" holds the following language:
| Our own position upon the subject of which this
report and the message of Gov. Adams treat has al
ready been defined. If the object entertained by his
Excelency, and the Committee who have performed
their task with so much ability. he to bring the SUBJ
ject before the mind of the public and by discussing
il as moral question and potco. economical pro.
blen for the slave States, to instruct it and raiss it
up, that the people of State may know the ne.
cessities of their position, and be taught in time TO
face the asgathering dangers that surround them il
this be the object. We appreciate, We sympathlLe,
with all that has been done aud said. And that such
course Of proceedings pursued by the Legisla-
| ture, on the motion of Col. Bryan to lay the
reports on the table and print copies for d-tri
| BUTTON without debste division. This WA
| a wise and sensible disposition OF the matter.
that is likely to induce deliberate and thorough
consideration of it by the thinking portion of the
public, from which sound practical conclusions may
hereafter follow. As practical question for the pol
| itics of the country and meaEs Of establishing
our equilibrium Of power or safety in the Union, it
appears TO us worse than futile calculated 10 pro.
ducs distraction and naction at the South. No one
who has lived in Washington, realizes the feeling
of the people of the North, or OF even considerable
portion OF the people of the South suppose that
peal the laws prohibiting this trade. Aside, too.
from all prejudices aud feelings on the sub
ject, there controlling reasons Of policy
| on the part of the North. BY the COnstIlu'
ton the South ia allowed representation in Con-
gress of hree.fths for all the slaves within her Dor
ders. To expect the Free States. now having the
mastery in both branches of Congress, 10 allow OF
any action which would infably add TO the political
strength of the South, would be floating 10 the re-
gions of romance. Like the proposition Of Direct
Taxation, of Direct Trade, and many other instru.
nentalitiss. which if practicable for the South in the
present Union, might rebound greatly to our sdvan
iage and prosperity, this practically vau.ess
| in the Union, because hopelessly mpracticaole. No
expedent is suggested by which the Slave Trade can
e1st. Public opinion in The majority section is fixed
against il like sdamsnt, both by principle and exps.
|
tent in the Southern particularly the border South.
srn States. The laws cannot be repealed; and any
attempt to compass the ohjsct irregularly and by
smuggling to any considerable extent, will have to
meet and surmount the whole power Of tn. General
Government, backed by its treasury and fleets and
made efficient to suppress the experiment.
Whether if the South was separated from the North,
and had the power to control her own destnes, she
should revive this trade will be time enough to con.
slider, when she has this power The views and inter.
eats of the whole South would enter into the question
Under the existing Union, the South has not got the
power open this trade and never can get by au'
thority Of the Union. We do not see, therefore. how
it can become living, practical issue in the politics
of the Union; and beyond the Union. sufficient unto
| tins day the questions thereof"
We trust these views coincide with the purposes
and intentions Of those who have bronched this in
ter.srin0 .uhi--' aud handled it with 30 much ability
and benefit to the progress OF the puUiio .ha
slave question; and that, on all living, practical is
sues for the State and for tho South, we may stand
side by side for the Union of the South in effective
measures Of defence and safety.