Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-11-30

same spirit Of destruction, II 1t had the temp
talion OF possible power, would attempt to
pluck the stars from the armament, and TO
wage war against the Majesty of high Heaven
Il is the same spirit Of discomfort, and 9mp"-
thence under restraint, that forfeited the bless
incs of Paradise. and '5rought dcnh into tn
trSVy1d and all our woe." The SAME, that sin
fully and wickedly cschewcd The milk md
1oafy" Of Canaan, md, by its process Of
change, under the ever inposingpic OF amend
! mcat, ultimately destroyed the freedom, the
power, and the glorics Of Greece and Of
Rome. So true it is, man "aeccr il, bRt,
| al,naps, 10 be hest" Is there any grown
man amongst US, who really supposes
there is any curs in a dissolution Of our Fede-
raj Union, for this radical and natural disease
in the hearts Of our people: Or, that they
would long remain happier, OF better content.
ed, under any new systems Of divisions and
subdivisions Of our Confederated States, than
they are now? 1fso, l can only say, he has
read the book Of human nature with very little
care, and far less than profit. | know our
people seek for increased happiness in i ch""ye
| Of their condition. So did our first parents,
so did The Jews, so did the people OF dreece'
and Of Rome, and so have all people, since inc
| c~reatiou Of man, who have last thcr hbfrf'tS,
ard often their u~ati0nGI tyiStthcf IN the pro
ccss In truth. the blessings Of freedom, like
those If health and loconotinn, can lcvcr be
valued but bv their loss. When we arc in
health. we care not TO preserve i; when we
are trfs. we dream not thai we can ever De
otherwise; and we abuse cur blessings
| alike in both respects, because they are
free qifs, and VIC do not appreciate them.
But when lost ir~TGparH6ly, we would give the
gold and silver in all the mines o! the world,
10 rrqntn them. Such is human nature! NO
! form Of government-no power OF nan can
correct the evil, or eradicate the vice. V c must
deal with men as they are, not rs they 0Aghk
10 be. Our present troubles, in my Judgment,
spring from these imrcrtect!cnS anu vices OF
our nature, and | fear they are beyond all
remedy. They commenced in the North, NY
tho exercise of an ~c!fci0us and Mtsr":etathg
spirit with what did not concern Them. lhcy
passed Legislative acts 10 nnllily The might've
Slave law. They agitatcd-conlinua!!y aglla-
ted-,hc subject of slavery, in ami out al Con
rresS, to our annoyance and irritation, ior
nearly thirty years. | say. then, the Solth has
= lust cause to complain. Not only 10 complain
and rclnonstratr, but firmly ami %sIcrniy, 10
demand 4 cessation Of these uniriendly ard
provoking acts. But let this he '!orc-nnt
in tretfll impulse and hastc-but with al
the dcliberatinn and dignity OF sovereign
States, resolved to maintain their rights.
"psaceuJlg, if they can; }vrcibty, il they must.
But it hc!.ooyeS us, ! think, by every conS!!er:
alton of enlightened policy, Of real interest and
Of patriotic duty, 10 exhaust our remedies with
in the Union, for q redress Of orr grievances,
before we plunge into the dark abyss a hH"'r~
and mn&i0pn ills that lie beyond 4 dissolution
! Of it. While the cotton States arc b,,Sily pre-
pairing to take the awful str!' ii sccrSsi"n,
merely because Of the lass Of Il Presidential
election, under and according to the forms OF
the Constitution, I would appeal 10 them, rs
| friends and brethren, to wait yet n iiit'c icr;crr
especially as both houses Of Congress, the
| Federal Judiciary and 4 million ri Northern
voters are with MS; and then | would ask IlT.
| ginia, single-handed and alone, it other States
| would not join her in her mission OF peace, 10
send commissioners TO al those States in the
North whose Legislatures have passed acts 20
nulliry or obstruct the fugitive slave law o!
Congress, in fragrant violation Of the Consti;u-
ton and our rights under it. to repeal those
obnoxious acts, as the only mraEs o' saving
the Union from destruction.
Ii their Legislatures or Conventions called
To consider the proposition, should reject It,
prersrring their unconstitutional and hostile
legislation, 10 The preservation Of the Union,
then the whole South would go cut together, and
the act Of secession, founded, not Oh tie lcsa!
and constitutional election Of Z President, hut
upon their hostile legislation against us, thus
solemnly re-aJirmtd, would be justified in the
sight Of God and man. This re'"eGy, under
! existing circumstances. would. lh'nk, BE- .u!!
cirnt aud ~cflectual
You request my vicws on the a:hjcc; q Il
| Convention to consider the 'nece;S;!ies q eNr
position." I an decidedly against any Con7en-
ton Of delegate; appointed by Ia: primary
mertinys Of the people. Our experience in The
last Two Democratic Stale Conventions, must
convince US, that they are no places Tor calm
elaboration and enlightened decision, such as
"the necessities oc our position nGw denlard.
But I think it would b. wise for the Lcglsla-
tuyc 10 call such q Convention, and provide
by lac, for the election Of its members, with
out delay. Very truly, yours. &c.
II. l.. HOPKINS.
Message OF Governor Gist, or South
Carolina.
4 synopsis Of the message OF the Governor
of South Carolina has already beer received by
telegraph and published by us, The telegraph
lie dispatch contains lie following:
The Governor advises the prohibition o!
the introduction o~fslares from States not mem-
bcrs of the Southern Confederacy, and p~articr:.
larly the border States. lie says, let them
keep their slave property in their own borders,
and, Us the only alternative left them, let them
cmancipate them by their own acts. or the ac-
lion OF their Confederacy. He hopes, how
a,-ay all ftn cl0rn SfutnC UiI IfrIt. IN a S1ltl-
ern Conlederacy."
This is exactly what we have predicted would
lie the action OF all the seeding States, and
however much the people OF Virginia may coli-
| slider themselves aggrieved Ivy the prohibition;
yet they connot complain Of the exercise OF a
wise policy on the part OF the Southern States.
! Those Southern States sccede from the Union
because their Constitutional rights are denied
and their domestic peace assailed. In the Con-
~stitution OF q Southern Conrcdcracy all QucS-
tons OF rights will be determined without con.
Gicts of interest because Of similar interests
| and institutions. Bat their domestic pence
must also be preserved. If Virginia and The
border States are permitted 10 find markets in
the cotton States for their slaves, gradual etnan-
cipation would ultimately bring iIec'Soi! States
again in immediate contact with slavery but
by preventing Virginia from selling slaves Il
perpetual slave region intervrnes hc,wee" the
cotton States and the abolition States Of tbs
Northern Confederacy which preserves the
peace within the limits Of the Gulf States.
10 Our Subscribers.
Tie next SIX months will doubtless teen
daily with news of the most important interest
Political movements at Washington, in every
Southern State, and probably in many North
ern States, will lie rapid and full Of moment
Especially will it lie interesting to every citizen