Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-06-25

The Petersburg "Intelligencer" does ~ not under.
stand how the Richmond Enquirer can pronounce
the slave trade an Infamous traffic. without con-
idering slavery Infamous" The Congress OF the
United Sstes designates the slave trade ss 'pracy,
and pupishes as felony all engaged in it; the Legs'
,s,ur. Of Virginia has concurred in that Federal
legislation for thirty years without an expression of
dissent; and society in the South, especially in 'r.
giuia has laid it's ban those men who make domes
,c slsvs trading profession yet slavery s recog'
nized by the Consultation and lsws OF the United
States, by the Constitution and laws Of Virginia, aud
| is the institution of Virginia and the South The
distinction between the slave trade and slavery
drawn by Federal and State legislation, II maintained
throughout society in the South. The designation oy
the Federal laws, until repealed or snnu'led oy Juoi
cial decision ia the supreme law of the land ooliga
tory upon the "Intellig igencer" as we'll az the ED
quirer," and, though repudated by our Petersburg
contemporary s nevertheless, recognized by all la"
| abiding men. II is not the Enquirer that desig
n,tss the Stare trade as Infamous but il s the laws
of the land it is society throughout Virginia that ha'
barshly. md We think, upjusty, driven beyond It;
pale, respectable men who make domestic slave
trading a profession When the "lntel!i2encer' car
induce Virginia society to admit within s association
the domestic slave traders then it may consistently
turn lis batteries against for applying to the African
slave trade an epithst that his own friends 10 Vir
einis have virtually applied to the domestic trade
The laws of the land make the African slave trade
infamous, but the unrecorded DEGREES of Virgins 90
cisty e1pel from its pale all men who make the do
domestic slave trade profession. and the lnteilgen
Ger never once raiaes ts voice against the harshne
and inconsistency of its own associates. But The
nomept We nae the term Infamous which we And
ready made to our hand by Federal legislation, anc
acauiesced in by the legislation OF Virginia, ano
by the harsh DEGREES of Southern society, the "ln;e
lgspcer" accuse. rs with furnishing "ths sboionis
with a reason for the faith that is in him." Wher
the Federal laws against the slave trade repealed
then il will cease to be legally infamous" ant
! when society at the South elevates the domes
| tic slave trade from its present degraded po-
sition 10 q place among the respectable pro
! f.ssions of life, then We will cease TO apply
! the term infamous 20 all kinds Of alave trading
/ The IntelIigsncer," though not the open sd
vocste of the African slave trade, is yet often it
revolution in the unjust DEGREES Of Southern society
which places IN the oinerenI ranks o' soc'e'y ln
! planter and the negro trader. planter may bu,
aad sell negro withou, Incurring any of those socs
disabilities that attach to the professional negro buy
ar. The lava of the land have drawn the same dis
tincton between slavery and the slave trade-tbs on
ia encouraged, protected and respected by the awe
both State and Federsl-the other is denounced anc
punished by Federal laws, and such legislation &C
ouesced in by the Southern States. Hence we cboos
70 de.ignate the ssve trade "infamous traffic,
vhils we respect and defend the institution of slsver
as well from the assaults of its enemies as the ncon
! siderste advocacy Of its friends.
/ A. the Whig has published from the lntelll
gencer" the article to which this is reply will th'
"Wnig" do ps the justice to insert the foregoing