Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-06-04
DAILY RICHMOND Enquirer.
TnE II ENQUIRER.

II PllNiiiSr
FRIDAY MORNING. JUNE 4, 1888.
D,S1,NION @ the SAKE OF TIE SLAVE
TRADE.
whan We peroeived that our neighbor, the "EAami.
ner. =" had misunderstood our reference to the prooa'
bic effsc, of a double dose Of slave trade and dlsun'"h
on the material interests Of Virginia, we were iuny
prepared for a torrent of declamatory abuse and misreP
resentation from some newspaper correspondents "
the opposition. Our expectations have scarcely oe'n
realized. Some one or two squibs have appeared
abusive enough indeed, but so evidently sr"'"eU 'S
to call for no reply on our part.
1t is not then for the purpose OF Replying ~
that we again take occasion to rene" our o'ps'o'u'"
tions over the triumphant de'eat OF o~e"e"
which, if successful, would prove Inc WORST apple VI
discord that could possibly be thrown among Inc
members of a political brotherhood :,
We bsvs already referred to the effect which ~ou'o
result TO the value OF land and slave labor IN 'irgih'H'
bv IN. forcsd Importation of a horde of African
sayapes. But the same policy would be INFINITELY
more disastrous in other elements oil DIVISION why"
would necessarily arise. Under our existins ouo"'
fanaticisln itself can find but one prete1t ior ec''o"
strife. In general coincidence OF law and reig'op' III
the ti.s of present interest and affection, and the me-
mories which cherish the spirit of social and poll'ieal
unison. Virginia acknowledges a common o"hu OF re-
ci,rocaI obligation, which binds her equally with all
IN. States OF the Confederacy. She recognises II"
dictate of sectional prejudice or sectional interest
which can impair the binding force OF Inc onioh' NO
scheme of sectional ACKNOWLEDGEMENT can tempt her 10
renouuce the faith which she has pledged 10 the per
~petuation of the Confederacy. to which she IS bound
not for the separate interest of the South, or The
North, or the East, or the Wes;-but for the common
benefit of all aud for the sake OF civil liberty.
Virginia has contracted no special sectional obi
CATION. She is pledged TO QUE Union, and only one
Should this Union he severed, she will become an
independent State-bound by no political obligations
spar, from the connections of the international codei
she will be perfectly free 10 form whatever new con-
uections may seem best adapted TO her prosperity;
and wherever she may seek new alliances, pone can
say her nay, none can ~rightfully impugn the freedom
of her choice. nor prefer a charge OF bad faith against
the motive of her election. 10 represent virginia as
bound By any tie other than the one bond OF National
Union, is to impeach the integrity OF her sovereignty
as we'll her entire loyalty to acknowledged oohga
ton. And the people Of Virginia hold this bond OF
Union as sacred as the hallowed bond Of matrimony'
They have formed no new connections TO weaken or
dishonor it. They will preserve it in the purity OF
unspotted faith. They will r%eliuquish it, only when
il shall become irretrievably dishonored by the in-
fidelity Of their associates.
But while we are as yet untrammelled by any con.
federacy within a confederacy-ye in the event that
we should hereafter be separated from our present
L.. g. o~o oan tuhi.b UnnlH IDdnpe
us to form a new association with our Southern rather
than with our Northern neighbors. That reason
arises from The maintenance. in common with the
Southern States, of the institution OF slavery as II now
.xi.,s in our midst, aud in which the Northern States
do not participate. A more complete iaeho'y OIL s"
cial institutions would probably cause us 10 oeciat
in favor OF "a Southern Union. But should dt-
union be coupled with the re opening OF the African
slave trade bv tn. States %: the ex;rems South, tt's
identity would be destroyed. The people ri Virginia
North Caroline, Kentucky and Tennessee could not
be induced 10 participate in this traffic. They ar.
warmly attached to The pairia,chGi feature in the IN
s,itution of slavery; they are we'll sdnpicd 10 a com
bined system Of slave labor and free labor and hence
have no inducement to revolutioniss and degrade the
institution of slavery tor the sake OF increasing 'he
number Of their operatives ihese TOUR S'htes "o''f
be completely isolated, so far As the slavery question:
is concerned. What would they do! Would they
attempt n union with the other Southern States I'M
der constitutional guaranties inteuded to protect them
from the eruption OF sarages which should overrun the
markets Of their alli-.i Would they unite with the
Northern States, under the hope that constitutional
guarantees could be go arranged as to protect a hi.
ncrity of four States against a majority OF five times
that number! Or would they of themselves cons'i'
tute a separate union!
Ii ia difficult to decide which of these schemes
would be preferred. But this expose OF necessary
results is all sufficient 10 warn the people against a
political q~uackery, which, under The guise OF tanat'-
cal devotion to sectional interests, would overthrow
thu existing relations between master and slave, and
cr-a,e new social and political divisions among the
different States.