Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-15
For the ENQUIRER
No. III.
To tho delegates or the Virginia Conyen

No. Ill.
To tho Delegates or the Virginia Conyen.
tIon.
We are now to consider the necessities OF an
ultimatum from Virginia. In treating of them
md deciding upon it, we should dIrest our
minds of all prejudice, call to our aid the
courageous wisdom" of early days, and re.
solve to observe the golden rule, asking nothing
but what we would be willing to yield, were
sides changed Virginia wants nothing in this
crisis but what is right, and will Submit TO
nothing that is wrong" That is her maxim
on all occasions, and especially on an occasion
so grave as this.
The industrial pursuits of the country are in
,errupted; business is paralysed; the public
mind is disturbed, and there is distress in the
land Therefore prompt and speedy settle
nent is desirable.
Under these circumstances the Convention
with all despatch, consistent with time suii-
Gent for deliberation on both sides, should pro-
coed to shape the ultimatum OF Virginia, wait
ing cooling while for the answer from the
other side.
Then MS to permanency; the new guards
should be such that in the future, neither Sec
tion-how fanatical soeyer any faction" with
it may become--should have the power, through
Congress, to turn the federal machinery against
the other.
Will the Crittenden propositions or the Dor
der State compromise, fulfil this condition
Ifear not. Let us see. These propositions ad-
dress themselves mainly to one only OF the ex-
citing causes in the national malady, viz. to the
question Of slavery But is that the only
point upon which the welfare Of the South may
be assailed BY factions" in the North, which
10 the contingencies Of the future, may find
themselves in power, with the whole Federal
machinery at command? Are we not told that
the Abolitionists of the North-the real fanatics
who have brought this great afaiction upon the
country-are q mere handful? May not an
other mere handful raise another CITY some day,
and do as much mischief then rs this has done
nowf Do We not know the temper OF the
Puritan blood that linked to thousand rir-
tues, has at least one weakness, and that is its
prociyity to run into is,ns and the facility with
which fanaticsm can lash it into factions ?"
In proof Of this, we need go no further back
than tho so called Personal Liberty bills
These. the "sold men Of Boston" lell US now,
are unconstitutional. But was not that us pal
pabls the day they were enacted as it is now y
And why were they enacted But to "feed fat
some ancient grudge" Of the people Of the
North? No; for We are told that the people
of the North have no unkind feelings towards
the people of the South; but to iced lat the
erudge borne by this handful Of fanatics against
the people Of the South. ,
Now, il a handful Of fanatics may move the
Legislatures of Northern States, almost IN
mass, to the preparation OF unfrlendly leglsla-
ton towards the South, may not fanatics, IN
other times and upon other subjects, move the
national legislature, to be composed hereafter
chiefly Of Northern men, to like acts OF 'host'l-
ity2 !,
History teaches, and experience, both State
and National, proves that provisions on parch-
ment cannot stand before any faction" North
or South, that has the will aud the power to
overturn them; and it will be but. patchwork
if in the adjustment which the country needs,
we do not provide against the possibility Of
unfriendy sectional legislation IN Congress
upon any subject -,
Even if, forihe sake ofargument,it be granted
that the adoption Of either of the Congression.
81 propositions will forever take the subject OF
sla7ery out Of CT: ,"ess, viii there 9e no
room for further se-:,.onal difficulties? No fear
of sIfaction ~