Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-05-12
MASSACHUSETTS vs. VIKGINIA-.THE II.
SPECT TION Law.


ernment are bstli ID much more easily than the i'll
effects af ianatcism, exercised secretly are avoided
Abo.ltioasn Organz sd a. political party, has 10,
yet been enabled obtain control of the constitution
al laws Of the country. But it's agents and emissares
the South have been successful in eaticns and
conveying our slaves from their happy homes 10
starve upon the cold charity of the pseudo.phan
thropists Of the North, chat stringent laws and the
utmost activity aud vigilance necessary preveD
tive of this treacherous and ntoerable abuse of so.
cal and commercial relations between States OF the
same confederacy.
Tho losses Of Virginia, by being thus robbed OF
her slave property, have been enormous. And even
now, with heavy penalties hanging over the heads Of
the perpetrators OF such outrages upon law and jus.
tice there are occasional unaecountabe escapes OF
slaves to the North; and when once within the bor.
ders OF free State, il is difficult 20 discover or
Claim them it is for them afterwards to find fool
and shelter among their faithless friends. In view
OF these tac;s, those slaveholding States which
convenient of access, and in constant commercial
communication with the North must either submit
to this abduction of their negroes which renders the
possession OF that species of property precsrious,
and essentially impars its value protect their rights
by their own police and their own laws: or discover
their connection with people whose hireliug rogues
make legitimate traffic cover for savs stealing,
and are applauded, aided and rewarded by the high.
priests and head.devis of aboltionism backed by
State statutes in conflict with the constitution and in
malignant autagonsm to rights and interests nvolv.
ing the very vitality Of the Southern States. Nir-
vin haa adn ad nnly nv her pf
zeus can possibly protect their property from the
wes and gues OF the Yankee rascas, who have
been in the habit of making their slave trade, per
hsps, more profitable than the oyster and wood bust.
ness in which they are ostensih!y engaged.
Her pilot police are homes; and hardy of the
sea- vigi!an and energetic, they are always in wait
ing with their fast sailing crafts 20 inspect vessel:
bound Northward from the waters of Virginia.
There s little detention, inconvenience and thG
fee OF fee dollars is all that ia asked Of each vessel
to defray al expense, without which, hundreds Of
thousands of dollars would be annually lost TO the
citizens Of our State.
And it is the law providing this simple and sauta.
ry means for the detection of slave-stealers the con-
sttuonelity Of which, the State Of Massachusetts,
has appropriated S2500 to lest. 10 alluson TO this
resolute and patriotic purpose of those pious people
whose nasal organs are 80 impressively attuned to
the sacred music which accompanies their Psalms,
tho Boston Traveller INDUCES in the following heroic
strain:
Notwithstanding the pracel outbursts OF Rich.
mond Euquirers, Examiners and Suuhs, one or more
Commissioners, ''iesrDed in the law, will probably
be appointed to proceed to Virginia. and finish lest
ing The question in the State Courts, where proceed
inf haUp alrnAi pU-a
In case of Judgment being rendered against them
there they will be expected to Remove The case to the
supreme Court Of the United States, and after the
decision III the case of Dred Schtt, Heaven only
knows whs. judgment that tribunal may pronounce
on this question, what questions it may undertake.
ia the connection, extra udicialy, 10 determine.
We hope that rhe Governor OF Massachusetts will
appoint reliable men to execute this commission,
undsmayed by the threats which King Wise may
utter from his ihrole of oyster shells Ii words could
annibilat-, Massauchusetts would have been pulver-
lied by the Virginia newspapers Years ago.
Our terrific contemporary must have made pill
srimage to Bunker Hill lately. few more such
demonstrations Of defiance, and there will be no
necessity for the appointment OF those courageous
commissioners" The press of Virginia will be
awed into silence. the State will tremble with alarm,
ard the obnoxious law will be repealed with an
humble apology to the Commonwealth Of Massachu
sett5 ana vote OF tnanhb 10 tne DoetOu foO''"
for The suggestion Of it, anconstitutionaty
The State Of Virginia mas contributed literally to
the Union she is still attached to it truly and deeply
But she would be recreant 10 that spirit OF ndepen-
dence which animated and nvigorated her in the re-
vouon, to her sister States of the South to her own
interests and honor, il se was willing TO submit tame
" to such ourages az were continually perpetraed
upon the slave property OF her citizens before the
enactment Of the inspection law of March the Tth
1856 If that Law is unconstitutional is unsafe for
the slave holding S;iies to trade with the North
And 10 discontinue commerce between that section
and this, is at once to acknowledge that the Union
exists only in name and torm not in practice or IN
fact If the Constitution of the United States is 20
overruIed BY the local laws of Massachusetts,, as TO
preclude the people Of Virginia from protection I"
their property, and the laws Of Virginia are so over
ruled by the Constitution as not to allow US to pro
tect ourselves, then the time has come when the
Federal Government is incapable of performing its
functions aud each State is left either to obtain its
own redress as beat it can, to submit quietly to
aggression and insult II the fugitive slave law is
Imperative ard ths inspection law is unconstutlon'
al the State of Virginia is truly to be placed in a
most de eplorahIe position.
If Marshal Rynders has right to arrest aud In
spect vessels upon suspicion, to prevent save'stea
ing on the coast Of Africa, surely the Constitution o
the United States imposes no restraint upon the o"
ficers accredited by the Governor of Virginia, ol
the suppression OF slavestealing In our own waters
Should Massachusetts persist in her purpose to tes
The conslitutonaty of the law, she will find that her
twenty five hundred dollars have been expended in
futile effort to remove restriction upon robbery.