Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-11-27
For the EHqHi,
/" What Is 10 be Done ~

The all.absorbing question throughout the
country seems TO be, what is to be done:
Black Rcpublicanism has ripcned and brought
forth its legitimate fruit, in the election OF II
sectional representative man of lis own-'he
yeritablc author Of the ''lrrcpresslblc conflict
doctrine-to the Presidency-not OF the Union.
because there is in fact now no Union, nor will
there ever again exist q union Of the States.
The Northern portion Of What was once a
proud and prosperous conlcdcracy OF sovereign
States, has gone on violating one provision al
ter another Of the solemn colnpacts on WHICH!
the Union was acknowledgements the solemn
appeals and earnest rcnonstranccS OF the OTHER
portion, which has yielded every question ot
expcdiency; and, in fact, compromised lor Il
time minor questions Of principles for the sake
of peace in the Union, till, 1T length, preSu'
ming the South could not be forced TO resist
ancc, and, il she could, feeling that its numerical
strength was sufficient TO coerce her into sub
mission, has at length put oil al! restraint and
boldly proclaimed the irrcprcsSiblc conflict,
and its determination to crush out every YES
tige of slavery and inaugnratc the doctrine OF
| the equality Of the races, both in theory anu In
practice. TO carry ont their ayowcd purpose,
they have combined their section and elected
Abraham Lincoln, ard d~etiantly say TO TIC
South, "do your utmost, your doom is SEA!
ed!' andif YOU attempt resistance, the halter
will br your fate!
In view, then, Of these facts, | might ASK,
what Southern man could ask the question,
"What is 10 be DONE And yet we find men,
even in the South, not only asking the 1uc>.
ton, but actually proposing schemes Of rccot'
citation and counseling delay in order TO see
if the North will not consent to some turthGr
guarantee Of the rights of the South; rs i
there could bc any dependence placed III any
guarantee To which the North might consent
! Whit greater or more binding guarantee could
be proposed than the written COnSiiiutIo;
which our honored fathers made, and which,
time. aud the circumstances under which II
was made, ought to render hallowed aud So
cred Ie, the North docs not regard lis ST
cred obligations; and 10 justify their wanto9
violation Of its provisions, appeal TO a higher
law than written constitutlonS-th&t same
| "higher Law" that has been appealed 10 in eve
~ period of the worlds history to justify the
most horrid outrages upon individual rs well
as national rights. What. eXtort l guarantee
from a people who traInple on all law and vlo'
late with IMMUNITY the sacred provisions Of Il
written constitution? F~ollv-worSe than fol-
ly-it is inbecility and coward'cr. TO wall,
or even to ask for guarantees from such Il peo.
pic! All that could be done land more than
ever ought to have been dsne) has been done
and conceded by the South 10 appease this an,
cry. eyorbitant, ~anatical spirit of the North.
and nothing is now left for us but quiet, peace
able SECESSION, if We can-riolcnt aud l'rt'hie
secession, if we must.
There may, and no doubt will be, some in
convenirnccs attending the separation ut the
outset; but what of that: We find ourselves
III i partnership with 4 selfish, nn>crnr'louS
set Of partners, and We must expect 10 lose
something in eXirica;ipg ourselves from t:cIr
grasp. Did our fathers stop to count the COS:
when the question olhonor or dishonor was pre-
scented to them in the issues Of the Revelation
AIRY war with Old England? They did not, nor
should we in the struggle for our honor and
rights with New England. What il they
should, in view of the imminent danger t. ti:ctr
commerce and manufacturing interests, induce
! their Legislatures to repeal all their avs nnl-
lifying the Fugitive Slave Law OF Congress: