The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-11-10
From the Richmond Enquirer
ON-INTERVENTION, HOW IT WORKS

I'd The Harper's Ferry enseute seems to have in
vigorated, with redoubled zeal, the friends of
protection TO Slavery IN the States and Terrific
ries. When the Confederacy, as at present
governed, subjects Southern States to pillage,
and plumber, and murder, the unprotected
STAKEHOLDER in the Territories would fare badly,
if left to courts of Justice. The conservatives
of the North must see, in the Harper's Ferry
affair, that the only settlement of the disturbing
and dangerous question of Slavery is in the ac-
acknowledgement of its constitutional rights and
their protection. This is necessary to preserve
the Southern States from the consequences of
irrepressible conflicts" like that at Harper's
Ferry, which endanger the Confederacy, and,
unless speedily and elfectually prevented, must
disrupt the Union.
Already the want of that protection afforded
by proper enforcement of the fugitive slave
law has liberated, to all intents and purposes
the slaves of the northern border of Virginia.
Slavery in Fairfax, Loudoun, Jefferson, Berke-
ley, Morgan, Hampshire, and similarly stu
ated counties, is at present an institution not
enforced by the sanction of law, but preserved
by the voluntary sufferance of the slaves
themselves. At any moment, any Saturday
night, with hat in hand, they can bid adieu 10
master, and decamp to Pennsylvania, finding
shelter and protection, instead of proper en-
forcement Of constitutional obligations
Non-intervention has practically liberated the
slaves of one entire tier of counties in Virginia
Non-intervention has already given Just cause
for dissolution, and unless speedily abandoned
by the National Government, and the constitu.
tiOnal obligation of Intervention for protection
be adopted, there will assemble no more Ma
tional Conventions of the Democracy, and the
day of disunion will speedily dawn. The con-
sentative Union men throughout the South are
daily giving way before the just cry for some
certain and sure remedy against the destructive
policy of non-intervention.
If the Harper's Ferry emeute is the necessary
consequence of the irrepressible conflict" of
Mr. Seward, the liberated condition of the
slaves of Northern Virginia is the practical
effect of the doctrine of non-intervention. If
the dogma of Seward has initiated the crimes
of murder and treason, the negation of non
intervention has paralyzed the laws of Virginia.
liberated our slaves, and defrauded our citizens
1.-THE negroes of Harper's Ferry did not raj
In to the black standard, and enlist IN the" ar
repressible conflict" Il soas because noE-inter-
Uention had already rendered them free, and
then aoere untcilliRg to risk the Consequences o.
a conflict achere the benefits ii could confer, If
successful, mere no greater than those already
enjoyed.
The negroes of northern Virginia are free.
by the operation of Federal non-intervention
the authority of the master does not exist they
remain in the State because it suits them to re-
main no law enforces obedience, no authority
of the master compels labor, for the enforce
ment of either results in the certain loss of the
slave. When this unrestrained liberty becomes
insuferable to the white, the negro is converted
into money, and white labor thus gradually
undermines the institution. Each year this
Northern free labor wave encroaches further
upon the institution, and devotes portion of
slave soil to the future of white labor.
Thus, non-intervention by the Federal Gov
eminent is practically abolitionizing Virginia,
and gradually, but surely, undermining the in
stitution of Slavery. While the " irrepressible
conflict terminates in the folly and bloodshed
Of Harper's Ferry, the stultifying, disqualifying
plea of negation-" non i'aterventioa quietly
undermines Slavery throughout the border coun-
| ties of Virginia. The former we can conquer
by our own right arm, but the latter poisons
the very hfe-blood of Slavery in Virginia, and,
unless arrested, will eat, like loathsome can
| Ger, into the very vitals of Southern Slavery.
Non-intervention, the negation of law, is no
principle for people whose lawless mauraders
are not deferred from assailing the sovereignty
of the States. !,
In the days of Harper's Ferry emeites, we
want the enforcement Of la,cs, and not their
negation. Protection Of Slavery is demanded
By the blood Of slaughtered citizens, and The
traitorous Southern man that dares deny The
right, IS ecen more criminal than the inmates Of
the ChartestoiVn jail, Fanaticism made trai.