Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-02-28


with it properly demands the best exertons Of enght-
ened patriotism Withdrawn by the very form OF the
constitution from the common power of all it was e1-
pressy reserved to the States separately under the a-
thority OF whose law is permitted 10 exist Constitu-
ting large and important interest in these States 1t is
entitled to the consideration of every State and, within
the Just limits of constitutional power to the protection
OF the common agent It's religious its social its indus
trial tendencies belong not 70 Others to determine ana
unfit and Improbable for others to discuss we are
not now considering the formation of the confederacy
our Union established free States are associated with
savehoding States, and what concerns us IS how TO
discharge the duties that the compact OF ASSOCIATION I'M
poses.
Slavery is not now what it was at the commencement
of our government 1t has grown into proportions lar
exceeding the ancipations of our fathers They looked
forward to the day when could be abolished with safe
ty. But the times have changed since there were but
few hundred thousand slaves in the country with COM
paratyely small prices The number has sweed to four
millions constituting the labor of one half the nation
1t has an importance reaching to national proportions
1t produces commodities that constitute the neces'aueS
comforts and Injuries of all nations. 1t Is the main sup
port OF Northern commerce. aud manufactures ana OF
Northern wealth and progress Southern society rests
upon its base and upon its security the world depends
for the products Of its labor in those larger quantities
that the progress OF civilization and the arts demand
But if slavery only concerned the South It would be
entitled to be treated with liberal views and impartial
and candid judgment; it is unfit for sectlona! aud par
IAN inrgues and management The prosperity and safe
ty of the South concern The nation
The States under whose laws the system OF free abour
obtains secure, like their Southern sisters from all
federal interference reserved to them alone to con-
slider the religion the social and industrial questions that
spring from it. Whatever great interests these systems
give rise to are equally entitled to the considerations OF
toe other States aud within the prescribed limits to the
protection of the federal agent.
diversity exists the two systems OF abOur
and different Interests spring from them requiring spe
cal measures to accommodate the exlgences oil each, II
is the plain dictate Of justice that the power OF all shall
be cXerted in the behalf Of each, IS only by measures
and enacments tOundedin concession and compromise,
that government can discharge its high duty. We see
nothing in system incompatible with cordial Union
of the States aud the harmonious working OF the federal
government 1t is repete with every element Of nation
al social and individual prosperity and happiness and II
rmitted under Providence work its destiny it
cannot fail to establish the United States in the foremost
rank of the great nations of the earth.
Between the two extremes of North and South we
would gladly find path of safety The Constitution and
the laws made by its founders have in ample measure,
promoted the happiness prosperity and security OF the
whole country The South has fourished and grown TO
wealth and strength under them can it be that the time
has arrived to abandon this Constitution and repeal these
laws To great extent thing, the solution Of this
question remains with the people of the North Forthc
South claim the condition Of our UuOn the princi
pie of legal equality and the principle that political power
trust power TO be exercised for the good of the gov
erned We claim security for slavery domestic in
stitutiOn claim the right extend it into any terri
tory OF the public domain in possession hereafter
to be acquired where the soil and climate invite it, we
desire no further importons from Africa to degrade
and barbarze and render vaueess the slaves that
here With these recognitons content with the
Constitutions we are content with the Union and content
to live with the people of the North the citizens of cur
government, and to share with them common prosper
ity.
But recent events have disclosed the existence in the
North of opinions and passions dangerous TO the peace
Of Southern society and the South cannot shu; is ewes
to the fact; nor it be nsensibe to the dangerous
tendencies OF the present Republican organizations
organization founded on the idea of irreprcssible
conflict among brethren OF the country teaching
doctrines that had disregard of the Constitution and
laws and nce TO REASONABLE nvasons OF the States aud
sympathy for the traitors
II the great body of the Northern people are loyal to
the country and tho South part of it, let the
servaye classes prove their title TO the appeation, and
by their acts show themselves to be lovers Of order and
peace, Of industry and It's rewards and Of the security
OF property aud all vested rights.
The powers conferred upon the Federal Government
the common concessions Of all the States, acting INDIE
pendent Sovercgniics and conceded for the com
mon benefit. Delegated 10 special agents, they become
sacred trusts which are abused when perverted TO
ncon-i tent with the purposes Of their concession.
reference to the true constitutional relations of the
States most clearly demonstrates how widely we depart
from the spirit of the Constitution when lend
selves to those unhappy sectional combinations that
the beauty and deiorm the symetry OF the system.
To the angry passions kndled by the fierce contests
between the democrats and republicans attribute the
bloody in Kansas aud the wicked foray Of John
Brown and 10 the in grclt degree refer
the persistent Obstruction in OF the States 10 the
d,;Ju OF fugitive slaves and the impuny extended T.
the spectators the Southern Shareholders With the
removal of the causes exciting them, would fain
hope that those Just grounds of complaint will not long
endure Certainly sister states owe it 20 themselves
TO that rop7Oach from their penal codes wherein
exemption from legal rcprobition, encourages TO wan
ton aggression upon the property Of their neghbors.
Blu. however earnestly We hope for these results, how
strongly think tue general welfare demands them,
however confidently believe them to be within the
reach of the people, forced confess that
parties struggling for power with the repubclnswe
would feel that the Union viii be safe, and with the
democracy the bInll sectional strife would rage with
fresh vigor The only safety be found in the
Of party naugurated upon the bases Of the Union
the constitution pledged to suppress the agitation OF sa
very TO expcl il from federal legislation and discard
il absolutely political issue pledged to respect the
constitution and observe the rights of the States pledg
ed to administer the powers OF government as sacred
ust, aud guard them from abuse pledged, within the
us limits OF the granted powers, TO encourage and pro-
the great interests OF the country without respect
the latitude in which they SPRING pledged to restrain the
entertainments Of the executive power pledged TO
omy and reform OF abuses pledged to purge the depart
meuts Of those corrupous that defOrm aud disgrace
them; pledged redeem the country from that base and
corrupt practice that deals with the emoluments of office
the spols of victory; and in word, pledged TO adj
miner the government in the spirit of the constitution
aud with Il view 10 the preservation Of the Union.