Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-18

ashes the cities? IL the non SeCcsSlul Ul Two
States could not preserve the government o!
| the first Constitution, what number IS ncccssa-
~ to preserve that Constitution which was en-
grated on it? Will majority do so:-and
why? Less than a majority would scarcely a.
tempt it; and why not as wei! as majority, in
point OF right? The secession Of one Stale
paralysrs the finances w.ll that cf eight
do: what Of Gltecn with the sure prospect
Of other changes threatened AL in cm5ryo?-
What capitalist will make venture of the earn
ingS Of lifetime in so rickcty 4 concern? \
re. constructed Confederation, based on ample
guarantees. would, on the contrary, command
public confidence after being once il notion
The best way is for those rho have the power
to act like rational me!i, and TO resolve that The
Constitution shall DC carried out in good faith;
that the emissaries from Exeter Hall, and their
conlrcreS in the United States shall be silenccd,
and justice be done To all, and equality be me:l-
sured out TO all. No American citizen but
should feel Indignant at this inSoIcnt IN
reference Of Englshmen in our afIIrs.
If the scheme Of Southern emancipation Is
to bc concocted, it is to be done in Canada; II
new constitution is TO bc formed for the South
it mast be drawn up on foreign soil. # raid
takes place in Virginia, under L lunatic leader,
an EngliShman, in some way Or other. must
have his hand in it. submit it to the people
OF the North, whether they have SO lar parted
with all their AncricanlsIn as to tolerate such
interference with their unoiitnding brethren!
But I return to the train Of my reflections
1t is to be regretted that there should exist so
great an instability Of public opinion. in regard
to the origin and character o! Ike government
| Ii. for example, Massachusetts as in the time
Of non.intercoursc and cmbargo, or Mt still
later period, when Texas annexation was the
leading topic Of the day-takcs umbrage at
the proceeding no State cvinccs more fiery
zeal in favor OF the idea OF Federal league
She hestatcs not TO take the strongest position
III regard to her own sovereignty. In tic case
OF Texas she set the example Of actual seccs.
sion-uot by proclamation, it is true, issued
by convention Of her people; but by leGis!a
tive resolution, which announced, as fact &C.
complisllcd, her Withdrawal from the Union
in the event Of the consumma.iGn OF that mca
sure Now she is so full Of indignation q the
withdrawal OF South Carolina, il the newspa.
pcrs speak truly, that she is overiiowing with
passion, and promises 10 contribute from 900
to 100, coo men to punish South Carolina, for
having followed her own example Ii is high
! tune that Judge Aliens preamble should be III
the hands Of the people. To.duy it is Your bull
that cores my oX-to-morrow the thing is re.
vcrsed Conquer the South! Suppose such
thing accomplished, and the Northern States
invested with supreme rule. What great good
will they have achieved for themselves? In
stead Of locking with delight on fields unGcT
industrious culturc-Gn country tecin!ng
! with abundance on ships freighicrl wlih Tic
rich productions which regulate the exchanges
Of the world and pour into the Northern lap
almost fabulous wralih--thcy would gazc ouly
on burning cmbers and smoking columns and
the wrcaths which would encirc!c tl:eir brows
" ould not be the cvergreens that patriot heroes
wear, but parchcd and wlllere1 leaves which
would burn into their brains All this, too, would
have had its origin in Il usy-bodincss-an in
reference with those peoples affairs which. III
private or public life, never fails 10 produce
disturbance and ill-wilI. If Virginia undertook
to control and regulate the domestic uiilirS o!
massachusetts, L day wculd not pass before the
thundcrs as in days Of yore, would begin II
roll and the lightn!ngs TO flash from FAncuil
Hall. Can Massachusetts expect anything less
from Virginia. Le; the States adopt the truly
wise rulc Of attending 10 their own business
and letting their ncishbors alonc-of fulfilling
al! their political obligations. and Of u"iu9
equal justice 10 all their compeers-and future
generations will rise up aud call them blessed.
Did it ever enter into the head OF any man
who voted for the adoption. of the Constitution.
that one section Of the country would a>sllIEc
the task Of supervisors over the la%S and mo,
rails of another? and, its domestic institutions
being precisely the Same rs when the compact
Of Union was entered into, liza. n; L later dly
the dominant section wuGId make them the
prctcxt for excluding the minority section iron
an equal participation IN t!i4 Territories which
might at any time be acquired? Pretty bust
EtSS, truly, that the Inca Of this day shall cS
tccm themselves more neral ti!an their fathers;
that Seward should be set up as Z purcr and
better man than George Washington, and tia.
Mr.. Lincoln should be regarded as the only
truly Immaculate President of the L. States
Ii would indeed, be Il Tetrograde movement
If any State should be constrained by force to
remain in Union which it abhorrcd. In this
rtlattcr, one might take lesson frOm what is
passing in the old world. ltaly, after the en-
thralment Of uges, is admitted to the ballot
box, and her States claim and exercise the
privilege Of selecting the condition Of ;her
own future And, while this is passing, and
that, too with the appreciation Of all Erropc,
ages and carry into practice the exploded doc.
trinc of absolutiSm in government. If We
caunot live together, let Us part in peace. BY
doing so we shall ut least save something
Of the old feeling. 1t is true, :hc South
will be under the necessity Of adopting a
rigid system of passports and police, which
may prevent the perfect freedom Of
intercourse which, except in notorious cases,
ny tbnt IL M than
countries have to DO and is entirely protective
in its character without being hostile. Ii neces.
sary, treaty, offensive and defensive may be
formed, commercial (avors and advantages may
Lc received, and much that now exists may tr
preserved. Pursue a different course, and all
may he lost Strange iDder' hat odiouS dis.
examinations should be draw. etwccn equals
in common concern. Such ) my opinion in
1920, in the discussion on - Missouri ones.
ton, and such will it ever rem n. The talented
editors of the National hi iiisencer," gave
me an envabe position ir certain able articles,
written BY them in the Sl.4.lner CIR Fall of 1853,
They speak Of me as being he oniy mcinbrR
of Congress, at that day, whoi in debate, denied
to Congress the right to prohibit slavery in the
Territories. | stood there then, and stand
there now, not Us in my e:"y life alone in dc.
lerc, by the concurrent opinions &! Il majority
Of the people Of Tie United State, and leaning
on the decision Of the Supr ne Court as on
staff which no rage Of Iac;:2a ca: weaken, no
conyulsion, however serious, ca'' I:eak. Could
the able editors have decvphercd the thoughts
of my inmost heart they would have found
me opposed to congressional Interference in
this behalf with the Territories, for other rea
sons Even passing over the imPoiicy Of such
interference, it was in Us best view useless
Gods own law Of climate had regulated the
matter; and let the children Of earthly wis
dom act as they may, it will still continue
to do it. The man who would talk Of cultva-
ting the rice and cotton fields, anl sugar
plantations OF the South with free labor, denies
to himself the light of observation and expert
cncc Look to the West India lslands-no
part OF the Globe makes louder outcry for
labor, or offers higher wages than they do, and