Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-12-18

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expression Of their opinion upon the thrcatr
| ing aspect Of public affairs Judge j.
ALLEN, Of the Court Of Appeals Of Eir;ini
offered preamble aud resolution which, us
truthful, lucid and eloquent record Of the hi.
and honorable acts which Virginia las pc
formed in the past, to secure the harmony, an
the Union, will be pcrlsc,l with great interc
by our readers. All expectations of harmon!
however, having been disappointed, owing 10
spirit Of phariSaical fanaticism prevailing 1T til
North, in reference to the Institution ofSlarcry
melted by foreign einiSsarcs and inS!ercd b
corrupt political de,nagosues, The rcSClu.io
adopted by the meeting with but two '!;Sscrt
ing votcs) calls for convention o: lie pcopl
Of Eirg ginia forthwith, 10 consult with Othc
Southern States or, in the event Of Il chang
OF the relations Of Virginia with other SOni!
ern States being rendered necessary, thcn tc
recommend to the people OF this State for lile
adoption such alterations in our State Consti
tuition as may adapt il to the altered condition
cf the country.
Preamble and Resolution offered by Judge
| j. J. Allen, In The BOtctuurt Meeting
and passed with but two Dissenting
Votes.
The people nf Butet0nrt county in general
meeting assembled, believe it to be the n:v n
all the citizens Of the Commonwealth in the
present alarming condition Of our country, to
! give some expression OF their opinion upon the
threatening aspect Of public aIllirs. Thev
deem it unnecessary and out Of place 10 avow
sentiments Of loyalty To the Constitution and
devotion TO the Union Of these States. 4
brief reference to the part the State has acted
in the past will furnish the best evidence Of the
feelings OF her sons in regard to the union Of
The States and the Constitution, which is The
| sole bond which binds them together
In the controversies with the mother coun-
try, growing out Of the efforts Of the latter, To
tax the colonies without their consent, it was
Virginia, who by the resolutions against the
Stamp Act gave the example Of the first au-
thoritatyc resistance by q legislative body to
the British Government, and SO impaired tho
first impulse to the Revolution.
Virginia declared her independence before
Constitution to mankind.
BY her instructions her Representatives in
the General Congress introduced resolution
to declare the colonies independent States, and
the Declaration itself WAS written by one of
her sons.
She furnished to tie Confederate States the
Father Of his country, under whose guidance
independence was achieved, and the rights and
liberties of each State, it was hoped perpetual
y established.
She stood undisnlaycd through the ions
night Of the Revolution, brcastng the storm
OF war; and pouring out the blood Of her Sons
like water on almost every battlefield, from
the ranpgrtS of Quebec to the sands OF Gccr.
gia.
BY her own unalcd efforts The Northwest
crn territory was conquered, whereby the
Mississippi instead OF the Ohio river was re-
co.nizcd as the boundary Of the United >;rlcs
!,y the treaty of peace.
To secure harmony, and is All evidence uf
her estimate Of the value Of the Union Of the
States she crdcd TO all for their c0lnInnn bt.r-
tit this magnificent reg gion-aE empire in it,
self.
When the Articles 0f Confederation were
shown to be inadequate to Secure peace aid
tranquility at home aud respect abroad, Virsi
mia first moved To bring about Il more perfect
Union
At her instance the first lSscnibagc Of Com.
missionrrs took place at Annapolis, wilici' ui!-
matcly led to the meeting Of the Convention
which formed the present Constitution.
This instrument itself WAS in Il great measure
the production Of one Of her sons, who has just
li l,I I,,l, ,,,i, 80,
The Government created by it was PIT in!o
operation with her Washington, the father Of
his country at It's hcad-hcr Jefferson, the arI-
thor Of the Declaration Of independence, in his
cabinet-hcr Madison, the great advocate Of the
Constitution in the Legislative Hall.
Under the lead of Virginia statesmen the
Revolution of l70S was brought about l.ouiS
ana was acquired, and the sccond.Wa: Of !ndo-
pcndcncc was waged.
Throughout the whole progress OF The Rr.
public she has never infringcd on the rights o!
any State, or asked, or received an exclusive
benefit.
On the contrary, she has been the first 10
vindicate the equality o! all the States, the
smallest as well as the greatest.
But claiming no exclusive benefit for her Ct.
forts and sacrifices in the common cause she
had right to look for feelings of fraternity
and Kindness for her citizens from the citizens
Of other States, and equality Of rights for her
citizens with all others that those for whom
she had done so much, would abstain from &c.
tual agSrcssionS upon her soil, or, if they could
not be prevented, would show themselves rca-
dy and prompt in furnishing the aggressors;
that the common government 10 the promotion
Of which she contributed so largely for the
purpose of Establishing justice and cnsuring
domestic tranquility" would not, whilst tho
(orIns Of the constitution were observed, be so
perverted in spirit as to innict wrong and in
Justice and produce unvcrsa' security.
These reasonable expcct;i,ns have been
5ricvolIsly disappointed.
Owing to n spirit of phar.aical fanaticism
prevailing in the North in r,i:rencc to the in
;titution of slavery, melted by foreign enissa-
les and tostercd by corrupt political derna-
5ogues in search of power and place, feeling
las been aroused between the people of the |
wo sections Of what was once common coun-
ry which Of itself would almost preclude the
administration of a united government in har-
nony.
For tho kindly feelings Of q kindred people
sc find substituted distrust, suspicion and |
mutual aversion.
For a common pride in the name of America,
rc find one section even i'll foreign lands pur-
uing the other with revilings and rcproach.
For the Religion of Divine Rcdeemer OF
ii, we find religion Of hate against Il part.
And in all the private relations Of life in
tcad OF fratcrnal regard a CONSUMING hate"
Which has but seldom characterized warrin.
latiOns
This feeling has prompted hostile incur.
ion upon our own soil, and an apothcosis Of the
nurderers who were justly condemned and ex-
cutcd.
1t has shown itself in the legislative halls
" the passage of laws to obstruct a law Of
congress passed in pursuance Of Il plain pro.
Sion Of the Constitution.
1t has been manifested BY the Industrious
REGULATION Of incendiary publications. Sanc.
oncd by leading men, occupying the highest
tations in the gift Of the people to produce
y. sl-E Il g,i