Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-19

only ny IfiSNissippf, OUT W oliici oi"'@"oN'',
States, in vicw of the then threatened purpose
of party founded upon the idea of unrelent
ing and eternal hostility to the institution Q
slavery, to take possession Of the power OF tn
Government and use it TO our destruction
1t cannot, therefore, be pretended that tn
Northern people did not have ample warnln!
Of the disastrous and fatal consequences tina
would follow the success Of that party in tn
election. and impartial history will emblazon !
to future generations, that it was their folly
their recklcsncss and their ambition, mol
ours, which shattered INTO pieces this grea
conledcratcd Government. and destroyed thu
great temple Of constitutional liberty which
their ancestors and ours erected, III the hop
that their descendants might together WORSHIP
beneath its roof as lnng Is time should last.
But, in defiance Of the warning thus give'
and OF the evidences accumulated from thou
sand other sources, that the Southern peopl
would never submit 10 the degradation impc'
in the result Of such ~ election, that sectiona
party, bounded by geographical line which OK
cludri il from tie possibility of obtaining
single electoral vcGc in the Soutern States
av0wing for It's sediment iE,pacable hatre
to us, and for lis policy the destruction OF GU
institutions, and appealing to Northern prGju
dice, Northern passion, Northern hmoillo
and Northern hatred Of ms. for success. thu
practically disfranchiz!ng the Whole body
the Southern people, proceeded 10 the nolnna
ton of candidate fer the Presidency who
though not the most conspicuous parsonage II
its ranks, was yet the t.ursi rrprcssatatir
Of lis destructive principles.
The steps by which il proposed TO effect it
purposes, the intimate extinction .! slavery
ind lie degradation u tie Southern people
are too familiar 10 require more than pasSin!
alliISion from me-
Under the false pretcncc Of restoring TIT
government TO the original principles OF IT.
lul.ntxr>, bul ia defiance and contempt OF thos'
principles, it avowcd its purpose to take pos
session Of every department OF power, cXccu
tive, legislative and judicial, to employ then
in hostility 10 uur institutions. BY c0rrup
exercise Of tho power Of appointment TO Office
they proposed III lcr"er; the judicla! power
from its true end ana parpn>e, that u! defend
ing and preserving the Constitution, TO he the
wiling instrument Of Us purposes ct wrong
and oppreSsicn In lie meantime il proposed
10 disregard the decisions oi that august trlbu-
nal, ana by the excrtion ii barc.!nccd power,
To exclude slavery from the pub!;c Territory,
the common property o! ali The States, and to
abolish! the internal slave trade between the
States acknowledging the legality q! that in
stltutiUn.
II proDcsui further 10 abolish slavery in the
District Gi Cuiumhia, "ni il all places within
tho Territory u! liz: se:e:a! States, SutJect
under the Constitution IL The jurisdiction ol
Congress, and ~ refuse hereafter under all
ADMISSION into the Union oil any
State wish Constitution recognizing the in
stituticn CT slavery.
Having thus place': the Institution OF slave
~, upon which TESTS Lot only the whole
wealth OF the Southern people, but Their very
5 1ciul end politics! existence under the con-
1r,unatioE ot n government established Tor the
cotntnGn benefit, il propGScd il tho future. to
i,nr.i grafton into the public Terrific.
rs, b. giving the public land TO immigrant
settlers, so us. within brci tine, to bring into
the Union free States enough ID enable it 10
abolish slavery within the States themselves.
have but stated generally tho outline ard
lie general programme Of the party to which
allude without entering into particular de-
ais or cEdcavoring 10 specify the various
orlllS Of attack, winch have been devised and
by the Leaders Vi; that party upon our
That this general statement Of its purposes
S truthful one, no intelligent observer Of
vents will for II moment deny; but the general
Iie~ and purpose Of the party has been suit
:iently developed by the President elect.
ut is my opinion" says Mr. Lincoln, that
he slavery agitation vii! not Cease until cri.
lis shall have been lc:chcd' and passed. \
iousc DIVIDED against itself cannot stand. |
believe this government cannot endure pcrms-
lently, half slave aud half free. do not cz.
1ect the house 10 fall. bur expect 1t TO cease
% he divided. II wil! become all one thing or
III another Either the opponents Of slavery
will arrest lis further spread and place i where
he public mind shall rest in the belief that II
S in the course GI ultimate extinction, or its
advocates will push 1t forward until it shall be-
come alike lawful in all the Statcs-old as well
Is new. North us well us South"
The party thus organized on the principle OF
hostility to our Fundamental institutions. and
lpon the avowcd policy Of their destruction,
with candidate thus representing that prln.
:ipie and policy, has succeeded N the Presidcn-
al election, 10y obtaining large ma ority Of
he votes OF the people OF the non slavcholdIns
States, and on the +tiI Of March next, would,
lnless prevented, have taken possession OF the
power and patronage OF our coIEm0n govern
nent TO wicii them 10 our destruction. In
disregard 81 the principle Oh
which that government was founded, and re-
,eived our assent, To insure domestic tranquil
y, promote the general welfare, and within
he limit OF It's constitutional power, to exercise
fostering and patcrnal care over every interest
VI every section, it was to become our foe and
,ur opprcssor. and rc"er 10 PAUSE in its career
If hostility and oppression until our dearest
lights, as well aS our honor, were crushed be.
,eath its iron heel.
We, the descendants Of the leaders Of that
llustrious race Of men who achieved our indie.
,cndcncc and established our institutions, were
o become IL degraded and = subject class, I'M
Ter that government which our fathers created
- secure the equality Of all the S!ateS-to
pend our r. ks to the yoke which a false ia
latcism hNd prepared for them, and to hold
,ur rights and our property at the suderarcc
If Our foes, and 10 accept whatever they might
choose TO leave Us as L free gift at the hands OF
IN irresponsible power, and not as the measure
If our constitutional rights.
All this, gentlemen We were expected to
submit to, under the fond illusion that 1T some
uture day, when or enemies had us in their
,ower, they would recent in their hostility
hat fanatcism would pause in its career with
ut having accomplished its purpose: that the
pirit of oppression would be exercised. and, in
he hour III IFS triumph, would drop its weapons
rom its hands, and cease to wound its victim.
We were expected, 10 the language of Your
WIN inspired orator, 10 indulge in the fond il
usions Of hope; To shut our eyes to the painful
ruth and listen to the song Of that syrien un-
ii it triis!oi nic'i us into beasts
But we in Mississippi gentlemen, arc no
onger under that illusion. Hope has died in
'ur hearts. 1t received its dcath.knell
It the fatal ballot-boy in November last,
nd the song Of the syren no longer sounds in
'ur ears. We have thought! long and mature.
y upon this subject. an'i VIZ have made up our
nlnds as To- the cours, we should adopt. We
!sk no compromise and We want none. We
nov tnat We should not get i. il nc we-e base
noush to desire il, and We Ii:.,c ina,ie the ire
No. la r-Sc lr-. In, t,1s,