Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-08

it is the peculiar feature OF this despotism
not only to rule but to ruin, not only to
ruin but to degrade.
Mr.. Chairman, it was the boast Of De-
mosthcues, in reference 10 Athens, that she
had expended more for the common cause
Of Greece, tEan any other city for its own
advantage. | take up that memorable de-
claratiou, and, looking to American history,
| renow it, in all its proud significance, in
bchalfof our own Virginia. Heroic strug-
giles for independence, miraculous refine
monts III the construction Of governments
and constitutions, just and liberal princi-
pies, lnaugurating new eras in public law,
wise, honest and bcnclcent administration
Of public altairs-miracles oflibcrty--uron
whatever page they arc recorded, is i'm
pressed tho noble image of this Common
wealth. Are We so recreant 10 the cYalt-
ed strain OF our great fathers, as to be will
ing to endure the humiliation and ruin Of
sectional asceCaency, worse than colonial
vassailaSe; TO permit ourselves to be s,ript,
on pretczts as insulting as they are iniur!-
GUS, OF our fair proportion Of tho public do
main; to allow that common authority es-
tahlShsd for the protection Of our rights
and our honor, to accumulate in the
bosom Of our own society, elements
Of danger aud destruction, which at a su-
tnre day must close our long line' OF glory
in the deepest tragedy. LaHtsm7.n ,1tmu,.
cnAtsmqfu elrtntS, is a great moral law
When amy people lose that sclr-rcspcc,
which is the spring Of public virtue and
private honor, the public spirit and public
conscience, which constitute The lnos:
valuable possession OF 4 nation, mast be-
come extinct. And, taking up the words
OF the distinguished gentleman from Kana-
"ha, say that when this takes place,
al will have been lost that is worth
defence. 1t is wise and rational to pause
Oh the threshold Of revolution, because
while man knows whom and where it may
begin, God only knows when and
where it will end. But there is another
lesson which we should also lake to heart,
II lesson cHcmpiiied in ali histor:, ard ex-
pressed in that great retribuliro Las Of
Providence, by which, sooner CIR la:c., ruin
orertakes e"ery people who surrender
their rights 10 their ftars, and prefer their
ease to their duty. Can gentlemen antic:-
pate that living under n Union which is al
ready the instrument Of intlictins upon us
such degradation-a Union which threat
ems our future deslruction-can they cx-
ptct that any strain Of eulo.y Oh this
Union, however eloquent, will awaken re-
sponsiye echoes from the hearts OF 4 free
people: Tell nc not, sir, what our an
cestors have said in their day; they dclir-
cred 10 us sentiments and maxims that
were just and appropriate in their own
time. In My opinion, truo veneration is
shown for our fathers, not by applying
their preccpts under circumstances entire
~ different from those which they con-
tenp,ated in giving them uttcraace, but by
acting in our dag and generation, IS We
believe that they would have acted, had
they been standing II or places. No doubt
they desired this UGiol 10 eClure ~ccreTeT.
1t was their wish that rs links might
remain as fast, and firm, and bright. as the
links of hat sacred chain which holds the
Earring elements of nature in peace. No
doubt, it was their i1rrcHt aspiration
that Liberty and Union might ever be one
and inseparablc. But there is an ~inspira-
ton in their olives sublime" which teaches
us another and 4 yet higher sentimental
sentiment which brcathcS in those (rag-
mcuts Of the cloQnence OF Otis and Henry,
which have been borne to US on the winds
Of traditional sentiment which Is EN-
bodied IN that glorious scene com:nclaora-
ted by the genius Of painting. nov 50
fifty grazing this Hall, il which issues Of
liberty are 10 be dccidei-which is revealed
in the majesty Of that form. in the scrcn.-
t. Of that brow. in the lustrc OF that eye, as
amid the wintrv torrents Of the Delaware:
the Father Of his Country pou-s into 4 dis
mayed and responding patriotism. III It's
hour ofdarkcst tr;al. his own unitiling heart
Of hopc--a sentiment which. from every
memorial tomb Of the migh:ydeal, through
all our borders, bursts into Speech
whenever this Union and your liberties
cannot exist together, throw The Union to
the winds, and clasp the Liberty 0? your
country to your heart"
I wish, Mr.. Chairman, 10 express the
earnest hope, that j: any word mas ez-
capcd OF shall escape my lips which n.r
sound harshly in tho ears OF a1r gentle
man III this body, he Will believe that ]
have no stronger desire than 20 :rea; With
most respectful! consideration those who
mar differ from ne in opinion on this great
question, and thu: he wi! pardon much 20
one who believes, most sincerely, tina! a.! N
life OF value 10 him as 4 man, & freeman or
Il patriot. is depending in 2 large measure
upon tie decision Of this Ccnvcnt!on.-
Noia:ntous as is the material Interest OF til"
Commonwealth at stake, the material vai"c
sinks into insigniflcancc, in The presence 0!
other considerations. Appalling rs would
be the calamitics Of war between the tT"
sections Of our country. there IS q PFC
founder depth Of misery AID degradation
towards which re are approaching, ard Il
which we may be lost. | regard the !s;ur
as one between the enjoyment o; Coast
t%utional liberty, and n. inauguration unde
the forms OF the Constitution and The law
of the most odious GespotiSm OF who.
the sun evar shonc. | regard it Is Al is
sue between the uninterrupted reg! Ct the
arts Of civilization and social oT1e:, 2!d a
lrightful chaos Of anarchy ana G; criI2c.
have cndearoTcd to prove tha: ;::crc l.
now an irrepressible a%ntagonisn OF Icing
and opiuion between the two sections OF
the Urioa; that although error ceases 70
be dangerous when truth is free &c comoa;
il, vet error is dangerous SO long as i is
inaccessible. do not despair CT the Hhai
triumph Of Truth
'Tte eternal years o. Gcd ere hers"
Passion and ignorance and weakness
may Danish or discrcdit her for Z season,
but God himself will throw around Truth
the shield Of His Providence, and finally
establish her throne upon the ages Of lime.
1t is thus that confidently anticipate the
final vindication Of the purity, and the
wisdom Of our institutions, and not from
any power, on our part, for q century to
come, to reach the hearts aud minds Of the
Northern people. Sir, their prcjHdices and
their passions would not only he advocates
against US, but they would be Witnesses
against us. They would give crcdenee to
no faithful description Of slavery. Here
and there in their great cities, slong the
seaboard, may be found clerg;Tmen and
statesmen who are nov ready to 10 justice
to the South. Bat, in the hear: OF the
country, in the vast Northwest, in the IN
tarinr or New York. and Of New England,