Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-08
ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS OFFERED By Mk. con

ADDRESS AND RESOLUTIONS OFFERED By Nk. CON
RAD AND ADOPTED By THE MEETING.
We believe tic Gr,crnl Assembly of Virginia, l.:
its meeting in January will take ur the consideration
OF the Present noncnlous crisis III the airs OF ;h!-
country, with = sense o. is great importance ANA
difficulty, without passion or haste, with calmuesH,
sruve reflection, dignity and patriotism, becoming
Virginia. rank in The couederacy, her name IN his
.ory and responsibility rs the elder Sister III this
union OF States.
Tho events Of cach successive day show how peril
OILS is our present condition threatening speedy de-
strc,ion 20 our Union and Constitution: with the pro-
bubic results OF civil war und anarchy involving the
loss to civilized man, OF MI hope OF securing peace.
liberty and happiness BY representative kcpubiIca!i
form O. civil Government.
Within the short period Q: on. national history q
,rca: change seems 10 have taken place IN the hearts
Of our people: our national pride and patriotism. feel
ing of brotherhood and love of oTr Union and Con
s,i;u;on seem ai 20 he merged and lost III sec;ioa!
aItll'atcS and cuncnt!oLa lur sesh SECTIONAL IN
tcr:S.s and power.
We see prevalent throughout the non-sav2lold;rr
STATE, sentiment Of hostility 10 the domestic and
industrial system OF The Southern States, evinccd, py
their newspapers. pnlpltS and public meetings. by
their qualification Of Acts Of Congress for the dclive
~ Of fugitive slaves; b. the seduction and harboring
6i runaway slaves from their owners by actual lnrG
sion OF our territory and homes, with force and arms
in orlrr 10 ince serrlle revolt; and 10y the recent
triumph in all but o' the non slavehodng States,
those States, organized and acting with the nvowed
purpose OF ruling over the people OF the States OF the
South and destroying one OF their vital social sti-
,u,o.,s, by the powers OF the Government, made 10
secure the liberties aud welfare OF the whole.
This sentiment o.! abotionisIn, in every aud any
form of expression we do not hesitate 10 say, is IN
direct violation OF the letter aud spirit Of the Const-
tuition Of the United Sutcs destructive OF the objects
and intent OF this Union OF States; and must, il no:
abandoned or crushed in the North, inevitably re-
tI,nrt, hr,.tt,
ta. the institution against which this insane war IL
wagcd is interviewer in our social, domestic and
industrial lifc that any sudden change would be de-
structive to u.s. and even 10 themselves and tha; we
see nothing to warrant the belief that ut any time in
tie future il will become expedient practicable To-
phudon this institu,ion that regard perfectly
consistent with civilization humanity und pety; thu:
ali the clanor which has been raised against It pro-
eeedS from ignorance and tunatlcsm, mingled With
selfish and bascr motives; thut we alone have the
right TO decide upon Its propr!ety ena, therefore
much as we ovo peace and value our Federal Consti-
tution We will not tamey submit to these uggEesSons
upon our constitutional and natural rights.
VIII our Northern friends not consider that this
;nttrmeddling is violation Of their compact; that
this institution Of African slavery is necessity il
the pcaccable continuance Of which they are inter
estcd as we'll ourselves: that no peopleo Of our conf
mon race can submit TO wrong aud degradation tc
save even property and lite and, therefore, unless
the whole Of aggression from the North a2ain.
the South Is Ut OUcc Slal HuSl icSul
in the disruption Of our Cnion with all the terrible
consequences to America and to the world.
No; entertaining the opinion that any respectable
number OF Northern brethren perceive the ten
dcGcy Of their recent course toward U.S. but coDhde
TINT j, is the work Of Il comparatively small nulnbc!
of iunutics: OF corrupt and selfish political leaders
playing upon the ignorance and bhser passions OF the
lower classes Of their people; and thn apathy alone
hus withheld the great body OF enlightened citizens
in the North, hitherto, from inserposinS; we no"
make this earnest appeal to them, to arouse and ar
rest this great mischief whilst there mny yet DC time
We ask them at once 10 repeal all their laws tor
impeding mud pass ettectun laws for enforcing the
rendition Of fugitive slaves; TO provide heavy penal
ties for the interference, by free negroes and others
with the right OF the master 10 recapurc his slave &c
supprcss Abolition societies and meetings tending tc
uva.ons OF other States seduciug slaves to abscond
harborng runaways, and otherwise disturbing the
peace Of sister States. We ask them especially C
dscoun,euance BY their votes NIL political aspirant.
and otHceseekcss who appeal to this sectional ano
art-slavery prejudice, as the means OF promotion
The remedy Is with our Northern ircpds We avail
their action with trust aud confidence thu: they wi!
now sec and appreciate the evil, and apply the proper
c0rrcct!ves.
We should regard tho dissolution of the American
Onion as the nal and fatal catastrophe Of this sec
tioraI controversy: involving, probably, des..uc
lion OF all the material interests Of the American peo
pc From infancy we have been taught 70 regard tl:
Union as essential our liberties and happiness. VIZ
have therefore no sympathy with those who !ccl O
aiFect that it is Of lst!e value
The evils nnd wrongs referred 70, whilst they tend
10 dissolution Of the bonds OF Cnion afford Ut pre-
sent no excuse or the hasty and voluntary aoandon
mcnt Of is hullowed protection.
Time and opportunity should be given for the gool
sense and patriotism OF northern people 10 suppress
tii, anutical spirit the very folly Of whicn is some
guaranty Of its short duration.
The election OF Mr. Lincoln is recent was unex-
pcc,ed, fortui.ous and il not already regretted ty
lis supporters, will in all probability, pr"'" the de-
structiGn of his party Until there is some ac.ua!
infringement. Of our rights, or IL least determined
purpose evinced invade then by the nIaloroes OF
lie Northern States. hive no night 70 assume TIA!
the preservation Of the Union ID hopeless.
Remedies for our Jus. complaints, far shor: Of dis
solution NAV be found, aud ought hrs. TO be tried
The constitutional power Of our State Legislatures
To intcrdct the sale Of products mud manufactures q;
the offending States withih our Hil!ts
Tho powers Of the Congress Of the United States
IN both branches o. winch the ,najortics are in On:
favor.
4 Federal Judiciary yet pure and sound.
Conventions Of the people Of the United States; 0
the Northern and Southern States, separately held
or OF the people Of Virginia.
We may obstruc. tho wheels of the Federal Gov
ernmcnt or defend our constitutional rights II
arms, uodes the flag OF the Union; and even these
extreme measures would DC ess;atal :tan voluEta-
rs secsssion
We desire, plaalT end c,nphatically, to announce
unaltering attachment to the Union and Consti,
tuition OF these United States As they low exist, ana
our firm belief tia: they can and must be preserved
We have no iaith whatever in the SUCCESS oil any
Southern Confederacy OF these States, except mere
for the temporary object OF mutual defence
With these views We cannot approve OF the present
attitude Of our sister State, South Carolina, o. any