Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-03-15


but OF slavery in the Southern Siates-l 90 not
speak Of slavery in Africa OF slavery IN the west
Iudes or of slavery in the abstract WITH u else
where have nothing to do. Ispeak oil that slavery
cast on us as birthright and heritage by no act OF
ours but by the dispensation of God-to whom, and 10
whom oDy We owe responsibility for our dealings with
it. To none outside of limits have airy vndicauon
TO offer of the institution Of slavery among us nor any
explanation to give Of the tenure by which We hold our
slaves But if it werc-necesary to trace our title, we
should have little difficulty.
We might trace It 10 the universal custom Oh haAinu
from the earliest ages.
We might trace it, in part to deeds from British cru,
zens progentors of the Broughams and Sutherauds oil
Exeter Hail. resting on British statutes, and authenlea
ted by the great seal of Great Britain.
We might trace it. in part, to deeds from citizens oil
all New England, and of every nonsayehoding State OF
the Union progentors of the Beechers, Parkers and
Emersous whose Punc faith would now repudiate the
contracts of their ancestors and stain with dhonor the
laws of their own States.
We might trace in part to the great deed OF the Con-
suton of the United States which authorized the I'M
portaton of them, and which couutersigned and
confirmed by the separate and solemn ratification OF every
State Of the Union.
But il is enough that it is will to hold them IL
our pleasure TO hold them That shall suffice for ansW Ell
and exclamation TO all who challenge our rights from
without our limits We hold slaves by the same right
as that by which the North excludes them. We bold
Then, by the same right as the North holds Aboonism
Spritualsln Socialism, Agrariansm, II they so please
uncbaeugcd of provided so long they keep then
Dcent qs at home aud do not turn them loose on their
Observation-Disclosures they have thought proper TO IN
leash They send it in the shape OF moral suason
We punish it as conspiracy. They send it to us IN the
shane of pamphlets aud pictures We burn them. They
send il TO US in the shape Of Abolition emiSsares-and
we ay them They sendit in the shape OF John Brown
and we hang him.
Thus much, sir for Abolition and our mode OF dealing
with it.
FREE SOIL.
The next great wrong meditated by the North against
the South was the purpose to deprive her OF her eq"
RIGHTS AS conceive in the Territories. IL was the OIL
fsDsive doctrine known Free-sol the joint progeny
of anti-slavery and the lust OF power. do not
stop TO inquire into the constuuouaty OF such meas
tre on the part of Congress. IL was worse than any
amount of mere unconslitutionaly could make H. II
was aagranty unjust lpropoSed TO take what was won
or nurSb1sed Jointly by the blood treasure OF both
the North and the South and appropriate itn effect the
almost exclusive uses OF the Northern people But IN ITS
Iegll formula il exists longer ground OF complaint
ON the mart of the South. IL has been already settled in
the Halls of Congress and in the decisions OF the supreme
Court IL has given place TO q Southern measure
tbe Kausas Nebraska act In the wisdom OF that
,,-,isi,- for the settlement of the disputed claims
ne tbe North and the South on the public territories,
lil ,,- concur have before minated that thought
the inst and right ground for adjusting those conflicting
clims was TO be found in the principle oil the Missouri
Couprom;se-in a fair division OF the territory, Wheh
l. ,,5I5 be- made between the South and the North But
there Is no object to be served in connection with
t.e question nov before US, by confronting ana COM
Earring these two plans OF an adjustment. 1t Is enough
In view of the present inquiry, that tae Kansas Nebraska
set secures 70 the South an adjustment OF her own ma
king OF all questions that are likely TO arse IN regard 10
Ibis docrne--and NAV therefore dismiss II as having
mn nr,ctcal bearing on the present discussion But II
still, exists as most offensive doctrine still held by great
Numbers az the North forming tie basis aud cement OF
the most dangerous, reckless aud unprnciped pohuca
organization that has vet arisen IN The county In tla
aspect l shall recur to 1t again.
PERSONAL LIBERTY LAW.
The third IN the series of wrongs aud grievance which
ra. lie hands of the Norh,is for the mot ser.ou
and dangerous of all. allude to the Personal Liberty
Laws as they entitled passed by some OF the North
ern states and regret to saw adopted by several OF the
Western also What are these laws The Constitution
through its whole framework recognizes the status OF the
Slv, not only in the States whose laws recognize itb1i
ovs- the whole continent OF the Union II recognizes
equally on the soil of Massachusetts, as on that oil virgin
e. II holds slave escaped into Massachusetts as slave
slllud regu-res him To- be surrendered 20 ms mas
ana the lava PASSED 10 give effect to that pro-
vision have been sanctioned as constitutional by TIE
li5est tribunal of ihe country. That Constitution "d
7rgsct Of Uu0n accepted 10y Tie solemn act oil the
States ia Council and Co support the Constitution anu tue
laws pas,ei iu pursuance OF IT. every ohctr Oh every S'e
Government in the UaOn binds himself by solemn
,L 4, br.agl Of that oa.d-iU utter disregard of all
tl ALLEGATIONS of good aithin the face OF the Cous
t,.ioDnl In defiance Ofthe laws these Personal Liberty
m are framed pesy 20 protect the rislt oil hOeFty IN
be slave against his MASTER instead Oh the lsht OF owner
shin in the master over his slave, ana instead oil hohesly
f,sn the agreement 10 surrender him, deuounce hne
l i--i.oDulsa, and Acknowledgement agains; any c-
zen who shall venture in any form or Eanner, to per
,-, his duty bv attempting execute It. Indeed, IN
some or the States the only road left open to preernent
and pgbic houors lies through the gate oil PERJURY.
10. FHra FHrH ra 90 F r De-
of Le auuumeat by the constituted authorities OF many
oC tine States of provisions Of the Constitution made e2
liz for the defence of our rights and the protection
nr our pronsrty Nor is the evil confined merely TO the
fac. of the existence Of these offensive laws on the sta
,, b,oE Under their protection and with the aid OF
secret associations the number OF fugitive slaves mas sen
5lv increased the recovery Of them has become alike
lin.rt and dangerous aud large amount OF valuable
l,r,- is thus annually drained away from the South.
IL were the case OF treaty between disconnected
81 es undoubtedly all remedies would he open 70 mem
@ The moment of the ulracon Of the treaty. In this
case the duty we TO common government while II
-r.va,es the sense of the injury modhes 20 some eX-
tS+ conceive the exercise OF our rights OF redress
r Zoe. 1t lsprye us Of them. It's OF the nature and
essence of an comp3cts between all parties capable oil
contracting, whether persons or StAestnHt the of'aI
NJ n low one releases the other But when by the COM
w., ,lrs /. , common arbter 70 compel obedience to
r. noyf.i5as the right Of the parties TO take measures to
lrs tho breach OF them in their own hands does not
,cr~1e apurcheud I'LL the common urDler shat nave
finally failed or refused to afford the protection II was
instituted 10 secure Similar 10 these seem TO be the
orniops in respect 70 the very question We are cond
80, of one whose opinions on the subject OF slavery
are not usually supposed be such as would be apt TO
,;sla,d nj, Judgment in the direction OF uphoding IT. and
whose opinions point OF constitutional Ia" "li DC
admitted everywhere 70 be entitled to much consdera
ton | allude TO Judge Bates
His opinions are thus reported
49,, ,,,,l,G III IF 10 nv
r 10 recover his slaves if they escape TO free State
and # President he would the Fugitive Slave
y If the army and navy of the government were equal
10 the task And if the Fugitive slave law should be re-
Deled or should be found ina eqIaie to the service Of
rst,rin Ascending slaves TO their masters, Mr. Bates
would urgently recommend to Congress 10 pass some law
that would more certainly and more acceptaoy carry ou
bs Constitutional guarantees OF the rights OF Southern
sI,vaboders lie would consider the Union broken
compact if these plain guarantees were denied by the
deliberate and pcrsevcrng action OF any part oil the Con
federacy.'
When this case shall have arisen when the State Gov
ernuerts shall Deliberately and persisteuty, violate the
CONNECT and the General Government have refused OF
shown itself unable TO afford remedy the inalena6e and
ruated rirht of seltprOtecOn and self redress, re-
5 bv the States reviyes the Incidental right 10 pursue
their redress in any way they may tnk proper 10 eec
retaliation, uou-iutercOUrse or war iu'eu.
And quite agree with the gentleman IRON Cupeperiu
,is oniuon of the ample power we possess whenever
ree8iu % exert IT, only TO protect ourselves, our TO
uiluish aggression Gud jury, come whence ana now they
NAV The nor-ntercouse with the North, OF the United
South is weapon Of mos, potent efficacy 1t hes, doubt
e,s two edges uai would inHct injury AS well on the
south ms on the North hut in how different degrees
On the South would tall the los doubtless OF many OF
he comforts and convenences of hie-and much and
severe suffering on numbers deriving support IN many
forms from their connection with Northern trade. But
how would it be to the North suddenly cut oil from the
trade of the united South That trade Is the breath Of
IT,, uostriis-the vital alimen OF its industry Like some