Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-08

Inc latC rScCutlNc Vi Spulll SdIoliHh - INV
content to announce this determination, but
his recommendations look to the emharrass'
mcnt Of every slaveholdins State on the Dor
der, which is not disposed to follow her lead
Hence we find in lis message an open and I'M
disguised proclamation Of war upon the inter
cS,S of all the border slavrholdlng States, IN
less they unite with South Carolina:
The introduction Of slaves from othci
States, which may not become members Of the
Southern confrdcracy, and particularly the
border States, should be prohibited by leglsla
tive enactment, and b. this means they will bc
brought 10 see that their safety depends upor
a withdrawal from their enemies, and an union
with their friends and natural allies. If they
should continue their union with the non.
slavcholGins States. let them keep their Slave
nrancrtv IN their own borders, and the only FL
i~ernatiye left them will be emancipation by tilelI
own ac., or by the action OF their confederatcs.
We cannot consent to relieve them from their
embarrassing situation, by permitting them tt
realize the money value for their slaves, by sell
ins them to us, and thus. prepare them, with
out any loss Of property, to accommodate
themselves to the northern free soil idea. Bu;
should they unite their destiny with us, and
become stars in tic Southern ~galaXy-mein
hers of i great Southern coniederatioll,-w
wil! receive them with open arms and IN Ell.
thusiastic greeting. Should, then, danger mp
proach their BORDERS, or an enemy, open or dis.
guised, make war upon them, there is not a
doubt but i living rampant Of ~frcernen, from
the Atlantic 10 the Gulf Of Mexico, would line
their borders and beat back the INVADERS
Here We have t!lc exhibition ole determined
purpose to cocrcc Virginia and the other border
States 10 follow her example; and if they fail to
do so, then they are to bc p'acct! in such n posi-:
ton as will drive them TO the emancipation al
their slaves! This movement begun o*tens!hly
fn: the protection Of slave property, Tor Tic Oil,
fusion and the preservation Of Inc institution oil
slavery is to be 81 muuagru amt directed HOW,
rs to force States holding Slave property, TO
free themselves from il, by emahctPdtt'";-
This is the avowed policy oil the tate executive
of Il State, Interested in an institution sane
toned by the teachings and prccep's OF CHRIS:
tianity, and promotivc oil Il higher degree OF
civilization and ret!ncment-an institution That
ouch, 10 DC ditfuscd and extended, ana the
perlnanencv and prosperity OF when ought 10
be insured. Can it be possible that Such Sug-
~gestious can exert an influence upon Inc iulEre
action of either Of their border States-tuat
they can hc corceu into All Union with those
who thus manifest 4 determiucd purpose 10
rule or ruin them =? They may rest satisfied
that such 4 policy Cannot control the actlon Vi
Vir,inia. She has the independence and the
ability 10 think for herself, and licr action,
whatever il may bc, will DC the result 81 her
convictions Of duty. She is equally as jeal-
OILS Of her honor as South Carolina or any 9TH
er State, and she will guard and protect IL, with
= purpose as ~rcsolu;e and determined, and a
spiri, as firm and undaunted, as unyie!dllig und
as eXuctlng. =,
now proposc to present, in contrast with
these views of the Executive Of South Carolt.
m. the sentiments announced by her Commits
sinncr in this capitol Oh the 18th Of January,
1850. In his address he declares, 81 can COLI
iidenllv affirm that such an interchange "l
kirdl; feeling IS yoU kaee exhibited, cannot
Jdi} IL diad together tie heurts 81 "H' Pe@Ptt
in cioser ties 81 >ympa!hg and .~teL0"shtp. -
Does the c~on:!uct Of the late Executive OF
South Carolina, in his recen; message, show
thu; such has been the result: No observer
al events FOX some months past call lalI TO
have been struck with the numerous eridenccS
OF hostility aud pre- udicc WHICH have becn
exhibited towards Virginia by very many OF
the leading and most Influential public men OF
that State. We have seen nothing going 10
show the existence Of those "ticS OF sympathy
and fellowship" which bind together the
hearts of our people" SO handsomely alluded
10 b. Col. Mcnmingcr on that interesting &C.
cas;nil. Di<trust of lis, and distruSt without
sufficient cause ia result greatly 10 he dcpi@T-
ca,1 appears to have surrendered the ";ics Of
sympathy and fellowship which ought TO have
existed, at this critical juncture in our affairs,
not or.ly between South Carolina and Virginia,
but between all the slavciIo!ding States
Suci, taunts MS have been INDUCED in towards
this Commonwealth 10y the late Executive 81
SOUL, Carolina, do not exhibit that spirit Of
comfy which should a; all times, and more
especially al this time, characterize the Inicr-
course and relations between sister States,
with Il ournon domestic institution, that can
&c best defended and maintained by united
c~ounseIs and action. Such a~llusiors 10 Nlr-
ginia should never have been made lay the
Executive of a State who feels her obligation
for the large contribution Of mind ana effort
which Virginia has made 10 the common
cansr,' and who is more largely indebted to
her for manifestations Of particular concern III
her 'wciiIrc.
In this address it was also declared, That
when wr South Carolina) propose 4 confer
ence. We DO so with the full understanding that
we arc but one OF the States in that conference,
entitled like all the others TO express our op;n-
ions, but willing to respect and abide ny the
united Judgment of the whole. II our pace is too
fist for sorac, We are content TO walk slower; nur
earnest wiSl, is. that all may keep toge!her.'-
These arc Noble sentiments, aud declare a
sound and proper position. In movement 50
. ,,J ;npplv,pp rpuCnnJbnrpS sD GO.
rious to all the slsvcllolding States, no one
State should have ventured 10 move without lirs.
having given timely notice to the others OF her
purpose, even il she did not intend ITO respect
and abide by the united judgment Of The
whole" Such action on the part Of South
Carolina would at this momcl,t, in all prnbabIl.
itv, have enabled ALI TO keep together
What effect her movement may have upon the
future, time alone can disclose.
South Carolina, i sovereign State, had Il
right TO adopt the line Of policy she has pnr.
sued and would have made no special re-
ference to her course if ! had not been indI-
rcc,ly invited 10 do SO by her late Executive in
his nncslled fer references to Virginia. 1t has
been mr rule, as the Executive of Virginia, to
exhibit. in my official intercourse with the
States Of the confcdcracy, Il spirit Of comfy,
and 10 manifest all that respect which is due
from one State to another. Whenever the mo-
tivcs or the actions OF Virginia arc arraigncd,
will feel it to be my duty to demonstrate;
and in doing 81, | will observe that moderation,
courtesy and kind spirit which become the
character Of u Stale whose large contrih,!-
lions to the Union" have secured to her the
respect and affection Of every State Of This
confcderacy.'
In the recent message Of the governor Of
Mississippi, l find a reference to the border
States, of the same character, and InaniIestlng
the same spirit which has been exhibited by
the late executive orSou;h Carolina:
AS it is more than probable that many Of
the citizens Of the border States may seek 4
market for their slaves in the cotton StSteS, |
recommend the passage Of an act prohibiting
the introduction Of slaves into this State, un-
less their owners come with them and become
citizens, aud prohibiting the introduction o:
slaves rOr sale bv NIL nurSons whonSoevGr.