Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-07-28
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
TUESDAY MORNING, july ~, 1877.
SOUTHERN pIct,r, ;.
BY RITCIIIE &. nIISS.v,SS

TUESDAY MORNING, JULY ~ ,s.,
SOUTHERN RIGHTS"
This il a familiar phrase in IN. poticaI no,nsrc,s
ture ut our country And it may not bs al,oyeth,
unneres:ng 10 enquire into its origin and siondca
t'"h Al 'he Time OF the organization of our Govern
tnenf, there seems To have been stronger cnmm,n,,
ut teenS a! least, if not of interest amono ths irr
ent States, than participating in tha formation of
confederacy, than nov exists hrou,hout tba Union
lhen mere were no sectional lines prescribed by the
peculiar character OF the domestic institutions Of tbc
sePHr"'e soVereHht'es; politically North or South
OF E"st OF "est' all We're engaged in a common
cause; resisting the aggressons of the mother country
and achieving independence as the reward of their
vaor their sac iGcea, their stoical Indifference 10
every thing but right and honor The American
people were as band OF brothers even before they
we're united by those bonds of General Govern.
lnent' through the agency oi which they have since
teen enabled to attain towering height Of power
prosperity ana prlde among the nations oil the earth
Inc principles which they agreed upon and proclaimed
AS the basis OF formal alliance in peace and in war
were acceptable to each aud Las they were adapted
to the interests OF every part and portion and section
of tho country. Those principles are as plain and
practical now as they were then. But, by very
large proportion OF the descendants Of those who vim.
dicated aud established them, they are most shame
| fully dsregarded and abused.
The Constitution of the United States recognizes
| negro eayery as legitimate institution belonging
exclusively to the people and to the States and alto
gether beyond the pale OF federal jurisdiction except
in 80 far as it can command guardianship and protec.
ton OF the general government, when in relation 10
IT, State laws ara inadequate to the maintenance of
State rights. Aud had the Northern people been
content to abide by the principles embodied in the
Constltutions so impartial, comprehensive and ancipa
1--we are they that occurrence mistaken policy
no political treason On tho part OF individuals in pow.
er no departure from the appointed pathway of cur
government on the part Of any administration, could
have ever so seriously disturbed the harmony of the
two sections Us to jeopsrdi2a the existence of the
union. But envy 0r ambition or both; or il may be-
IN many instances, alevolence Alone in the hearts
OF aspiring demsgogues, hypocrites and traitors,
gave rise to an agitation in the North on the subject
OF slavery, which haa continued to be aggravated
until all other questions Of national policy are absorb.
eu 10 the controversy between the slave and the anti
slave parties and States We hear nothing Of yor,h.
erA rights because in truth wrong has e1sr been
perpe.rated or attempted by the South upon the
North The Southern people are now, and have ever
been loyal. laH abiding, conservative and constilu
.ioual.
Satisfied with that security TO their Institutions af
forded them in the original guarantees of the govern
ment, they have never asked Of the En:. VI uf the
na'on anything else than that the Constitution shall
be enforced, and the true spirit of the republic exer.
csed oil ell occasions whether the resul. be in favor
or against them. But to this Just demand the re-.
spouse Of the North, with the exception Of Spartan
band OF patriots and heroes has been insui, added TO
uninterrupted agression; and hence Southern rights"
originated in aspr ofres!laEcs TO wrong the part
O the North. IL phrase signtylng something more
than mere annuncintiun Of abstract IDEAS pertain
lug TO the institutions of the South. Ii expresses in
fact briefly, but pointedy, The gst and esseucs OF
American politics OF the present day. Eor several
successive Presidential elections the slavery ques.
ti0n 10 its mutifarics: forms and phases, has been
ar.s incidents to every political campaign, oven
wherstle primitive principles of one OF the opposing
parties may have been for the most part crushed out
if rot forgotten forever. until now there ouy two
parties in the country The ..aona Democratic party
ss we'll NJ almost the whole force of i's qaondam op
ponsnls in the South and tho Black Republican, party,
which ia confined to the non-s!evahnldne States,
AMI composed Of Whigs and neu.ocra!., who have
forgotten their fore. iends aud entered into com
mon Crusade against the institutions OF the South,
lust as in the slaveholdng States, the same tw" par
ties or rather the separate Southern winga OF the
same two great national rariies, have both been
merped in ono or The cake unity in the South against
snm,y of the North 9hers Wings and DeInocrats-tx.
cont those of lha latter who still stand true have both
discarded their party principles aud combined upon
ebolitionism alone in their stead. fhT', II Is true
Southern rights" is the shlbboietl of Us ALL but
ths original principles ol both parties have not been
60, a,ide. The time has come when DIVISION III "u'
ranks would result in inevitable defeat! and hs whole
South--e1cept Maryand-s inrenched behlnh the
buIwark Of Democratic principles md the Deme-
CRITIC parv southsrn rights Geek safety in the great
army Of Democracy.
The Whig party of the South, in prosperity and in
adyersy at the height of ts power AMI al the Ho'0
of its career had Southern rights and i,aathern IN
,erests at heart Bat its principles were not such as
;, n,o,eot end p,eserve a national organization
.,,o;,., the inroads of aboiionism ct the North
The Democratic party North as well as South is es
sennlly the party to uphold and dstend end aas:ai1
Southern righis.
It's principles. eaah snd "l'' are directly derived
from the Constitutions concedng to the Federal Gov
eminent overy privilege and prerogative and eu'
tborty to which it is justly entitled but at the same
time ricidly reserving the rig's Of hr States 1t IS
national party having ita objects the interests c.
o, oect;ons md the welfare Of the whole ccantry
but il is the peculiar protectaT Gt southern hs"'s'
because it adheres &C she Constitution and the Con
stituton ia tns palladium Of the Union and the souh
The time may come when Southern Rights Will not
be- secure in The Union; and then will the Demo-
cratic party fearlessly unfur the flag of SECESSION
A VOICE FROM GEORGIA..