Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-18

Proceedings OF THE OPPOSITION" coNVEN
TON.

OF THE OPPOSITION" coNVEN-
In order 10 afford the Democracy Of Virginia a view Of
,h. combination and agitation now being raised against
,b.m. We have determined 10 give the fullest reports posi-
BILE Of the doings las, week at the African Church In ihen'
,poud, adopting in a grea, measure their own version Of
the affair.
There we're one hundred counties represented oS ABOUT
= thousand delegates.
vas cailed to order by T. d. Desne, ESD, OF Lyncnoers, on
whose motion III. Hon. Alex,r Rives; OF Aioemsrl emss n.
yit<d to take the On air, and Robert Ridsway n i" w.
nonsiJ Esos OF Richmond. were requested to act Us Sec
retaries Chair snole "a follows:
a., ~ ali tbosr who are here. collected from the various
,,r,. ~ the state, 10 be called By your Invitation to pre-
aide over you even n rTI i dnIy appreciate and mos,
respectfully acknowledge. My authority WI De oriei alu
my trus, easy. No eaOri or exhoFta,ion wiI, q IeIu, n ,
my part TO preserve order in an assembly oil this sor., mneie'
by confession in a high quarter, dignity, courtesy ano ueso-
rum are among your im"tinctrs anu ! wii aua' a.',an'..ee
a,trihu,-s lCheers.D ! need not therefore deiain YOU
from your business by the customary appeal iot your H.
diligence; but l cannot, with a bosom swelling WIN 'hs W.
,nIration this scene Is calculated to impart. refrain from
araIllng myself OF your forbearance while l ask some oi
your time to express my glad sense OF Ihe earnes' sues IS
that has attended the call OF this conventions; ana III! I'M
preston OF the sentiments and purposes tha' nave
brought us together on this occasion. Upon Il shori
notice, and at an Indictment season. we are g,eeem VIII
an assemblagc rarely surpassed In point OF numbers
or character. l hall IL, therefore as an appfopr,"'e &c,
casion for conera:ula'ion among ourselves, ~" ~,
State and country. We assuredly do not come here wi'h
the pride or ,~naddening lust OF place; We are not attracted
hither by those .i,,ering spols which the voice OF The pas.
admopishes Us We may not clutch: no claim or assertion OF
a majority In our behalf emholdens Us TO follow sun ma
vulgar scramble for Office; We have no party achievements
In he past to boast OF; nor predictions to make OF success
In the future. We are and have been Tie t1nY"t"teH, o'
with this proud consolation. that our honor mas never "vsn
furnished. nor our rallantry and zeal extinguhshed: we
apain appear here to-day IN the lists, With no crest iailen'
no color struck, bu; eager for the contest, to which pr'ns''
pie aud duty summon us; and ready to hang upon .he
outer wall tina. glorious banner which no temptation
nor disaster can induce Us TO desert. We are te W'nor"g
"a minority so prescribed 10y u sort OF Oriental fana,ieiSm
tina. We ARE mad. TO appear in the eyes Of others as the
very Pdridhs Of the State. and denied. by a .hah,e'ui
gerrynandsr, the invaluable right OF representation ]"
Congress. ,.,I
For these reasons. I submit to a c%onsiderate public that
may ~rightfully claim for YOU the merit OF being ac,ua'eu oS
simple convictions OF duty, impoverished by The ah'preFai'
shall be asked, whs, are those conrictions' Through
the medium OF that intimate sympathy OF feeling "ad eo'-
currence OF opinion, which makes US one IN action ana sen
tlment, you will permi, me. 1 am sure, to interpret them o
In enumeration. I would nrs, name our thorough persua,,
sion that the whole slavery agitation has been originated
TO promote for III. time It's mere party aims, but in the end,
to subyert the true interests OF the south. l should ABUSE
your patience to so into the history o. this AFFAIR, step o!
step. to demonstrate this proposition. You will recollect that
4 few short wears ago, both Of the parties resolved that
"heneeforth all agitation should cease n rng uD!s = . rr liz
rated and enforced in the Inaugural address OF PRESIDENT
Pierce. But, at the very first Congress, under MS admins,
tration, il was renewed, and. for what Patry, personal ana
political motives, the secret history Of this movement best at-
tesla. The fountain Of bitter waters was re'opensd; and me
peace and harmony Of the country sacrificed TO the creation
Of 9 ;.s.e,. for which the Democracy has so depravei an
appetite. And what now turns out TO be the real character .,
. g, Sovsrsis,,v with The Uouyiqs gloss Of non-inter.
rsntion! Slavery to be protected under the eg's OF me
Dred Scott decision, but ~egi.Lated out VI existence by
souatter assemblies. This Is the boon our Democratic
statesmen would have the poor South TO he proud Of Look
Al the execution OF this law under the auspices OF Mr.. Buc-
nae Vhat has II been but an attempted fraud upon
~. neople OF Kansas. Indignantly spuTned as II should
have been: an qJstraction FOR the South. and a substantial
- t-.t-- -tIaex AZ ths Snrth N result 4 DEr N
perpetual overthrow Of slavery in the Territories OF the
Union, followed By lha, very philosophical speech OF the
South Carolina Senator, quietly p~crsuading his FESTIVE con-
atituents to be satisfied with defea. coming from the house
o! their friends. 1 would not be uncharitahle TO our De-
nocrst;c CONSERVATIVES from the South: may even con-
cede their LOYALTY and fidelity to our peculiar Interests blu,
1 do here most distinctly impeach their wisdom, and arraisn
&c. Gov having dom however. unin,en,ionaly. more 10
sa 3 '" NJ ~ - ~ ,hs rr.e Soil party than they could
b a. Il dons had they been its avowej allies. But. mos,
nspp.s, ,e - Sa,,ie The neoule' The Engineer has been
Sos,sd M ii. own pe,ard. The Democratic party Is ex.
nnSeS, !, ~ ,ona-evanorat.d in smoke; but, alas, gu, Of
psos.u :, nsmocra,ic necromspcers have conjured up
% n nnnaned vision. the shadowy and growing outlines 0f
a., p,art Renpbi;can mart,
mat e'aek Hepu'nea" PA"!' ain hulk a. huge.
A. ga, whom the fables name OF monstrous size:
"risanian or hs''n''''" q
But, to descend from the arena OF ie az poh - "m%
do these self constituted guardians oi me h"ra. - %
pose In his behalf? For party purposes, they would prop'iia'e
the free soiler o. the North, oF giving Us ""teI"o,' w."
wished 70 dismernber our below, q Commohaes.n, u !.
free soil OF a psr'o OF her sacred territory: ana wnose .ona'
Of negro 0cFdcy" and negro 0togy VII! De SO euphohe,.
Gus to ,hose Northern ears, that now turn from mem yea
as The adler rsharn ,Gey s nef Ss, % so S..ef forth tha; such a
candidate Is to be elected: l; may ne o ~ !; -, ". mi;
S s0ss' sIa ! s's snan n sds S TO o onsu%s,ed with Without ats our sarnss,
neas ron mr. candid appesis. our unearinS opposition
renohs'tanee "ui es u @pp = S,,te When We have
throughout the WOE TOILETS " ~ vh., matters d.,.at -
Iene our a ds. - ~ and snioyed the luxury of battling
MenSSe mel,e, y = "nu
Tor tne ngn' under si,u se"nsa me- -, .o,r;.,;on, or
bu,, We nave ,uttler =. ~ yJsHSr To- La nrrnn,cv
the sins OF this Democrauc Administrators, ns ~" ~
Of the Treasury; Its ex'ravasanse anu eorrups.on, m"u ~
carry on such a warfare we heeu ON! NE Seapo" sv cSs = a.
rersaries give Us. Iney nave deelareu nv .e ~"
Of their official positions, mar our so'e,imen, = s ar-r;nr
corrupt on earth; they are taxing .he alaI,n nv Sar!ms
not 10 commence with their large per dnnnms-nol longer