Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-04-06

pact, are faithless to its highest ard hol'eSt
obiirations-so long as they systematically,
persistcntly and by every means within Their
mower hinder and ohstrnct the enforcement vi
Tho Constitution aud the laws OF Congress
nnsscd in pursuance thereof? Sir, submit, II
the pui,lic sentiment at the North has not uc,
cone stronger. more powerful than tic Con-
stitnticn? Aud if the Federal Government has
not proven u failure? Ii it has not become
powcrless for the protection OF our r,ah!sI
That gentleman told us that the election ut
Abraham Lincoln to the Chief MaglStracy ci
tbe United States constituted, iE his opinion.
no lust cause for the withdrawal Of tic Cotton!
States from the Union that 1t only imposed
upon the Southern people the duty O.! staE'.'ns
tv the defeuc,s Of the Constitution. S.r, they
have stood bv the dcienccs Of the Constitution
from the very foundation Of the Government
Thcy have stood upon the very bat;le!uentS q:
the Constitution, aud, time after time, have re.
PEELED the assaults Of superior numbers. They
stood around the great South Carolinan rs III
Stern and defiant tones hc warned uar aSSaii-
ants against further aggression.
They rallied around the great hcnlGcAian,
~ in thoughts that "breathri and words thst
burned" he plead the cause Of his country as
be plead with Northern fanat!cism aud a"h:-
ton. rot 70 lay the destroying hand upon Tue
Constitution OF the country: they stood ey tnS'
sacred instrument, until they saw elevated 10
place and power, party having inscribed upon
its revolutionary banner, the doctrine oi the
higher law, and then they turned away 10 taSc
their destiny into their own hards. Ana 90
they deserve to be reproachcd fer this! As
we'll may YOU reproach the sailors, WHO uay
4 ,;,rt,t
their gallant Lalk, who had done all that men
could DO to carry her safely into port, because
when going down amid the der"nr'ns element,
they launched the life boat and put out To sea
Sir, the same feelings inpclled cur southern
brethren, when they found the slip O! STATE
going down amid the breakers o. kepaoncaA'
ism and abolitioniSm. 1t was only wneh nope
was gone-oniv when they mnst z" do"n wtth
it or leave it-ttiat they lei' The deences oil me
Constitution-only fher, SIR, that 'hey Launched
the political life boat 20 take the last chance
for preservation. Sir, thank God they nave
reached the land in safety. thank unl that
from the Capitol at Montgomery. Is heard the
watchmsns cry that AL is we'll
But, sir, | shall not isiterross my opinion
upon this subject in opposition t. TINT 9' Inc 10,
distinguished gentleuan irosn augusta | WIZ,
however. venture to iIi;erpose that ol srea!
conservative statesman Of the country, Mlllari
Fillmore. I will trouble my friend from Mo!l-
roc, (Mr. EcuoLs) TO read from speech made
by Mr. Fillmore, at -ihany, N !So1'
Mr. EcHoLs read rs follows
But this is no. all, sir We see political par
t. presenting candidates for the Presidency and
Vice Presidency for the first time from The Tree
States alone, with The avoTed purpose III eicc'inS
these candidate, bv the suil:sges nj ono parL Vi
ina Union ONLY, to rule over the whole United
States. Can it he possible that those no are e!''
gagged in such measure, caA haYe seriously :e-
Elected upon the consequences. which must ine'-
itatv follow in case Of succGSS: can they haEe tac
madness or the folly, to believe that oar South
crn bretheru will submit to be governed by
sue, a Chief Magistrate! would ne he required
20 follow the same rule prescribed by those
who elected him, in making his appointments !:
If man living south OF Mason and pixun's
line be not worthy to be President or Vice
| President, w6rll It be proper To select one
from the same quarter TO DC che 81 his Cao:net
Council, or TO represent the nation al ioEelsi'
court or indeed, collect the revenue. or Az
minister the laws OF the United States: II not
what new rule is the President 10 adopt III Sc
lectine men for ciiicc, that tile people them
selves discarded in selecting aim? These arc
serious but practical questions, and II order 10
appreciate them fully i. is Only necessary IL
turn the tables upGn ourselves Suppose t;ie
South, having majority Of the electoral votes,
should DECLARE thai they would have slave
holders f,r President and Vice President, ana
elect such br their exclusive suttrascs TO rule
over US at the North. Do you think 40 would
submit 20 it. No not Tor 4 lpaincnt. And 90
YOU believe that your Southern brethren
are less sensitive Oh this suUjcct than VIC are
| If YOU do, let me tell yen. you are lHis.akcn :
and, therefore, you must Ste that ii this SEC
! ,jonal marty succeed, it leads inevitably to the
| destruction Of this beautiful fabric reared by
! our fathers, and bcqueatcd 10 Us Is priceless,
| inheritance"
Thus. sir, We have the declaration Ct this
great conservative statesman and patriot OF the
North; one who has himself presided over the
destinies OF the nation; one who has deserved
| we'll of his country, that the election Of Sec
tiona Candidates to the Presidency and Vice
Presidency, by stric. sectional vote, Is q suih
cjent cause for q severance uI the bonds oil The
Union. We lave his declaration, that the peo'
ple of the North would not submit, fox q mo-
lncnt, tn BE- governed by Southern ncn thu:
elected. How much moro powerful ihen, sir,
the reason why tue South should not Subiiii
10 be governed by Northern uen elected h. a
strictly sectional vote. The Government il IL.
hands of Southern meu, upon whatever prin-
ciple elected, is powcrless to invade, i'll any
way. the social organization Of tine Northern
States. Ii can never plant the foot OF slave
on free soil. On the other hand, however, the
power Of the Government, in the hands OF d
IN
society to its very foundations. The gentle
man from Augusta told us, that the founders oi
our Government had built up tive distinct
BARRIERS against encroachmehts upon the rights
and liberties CT tine peoplt-that It one OF Two
failed others would remain sufficient Tor Ike
accomplishment Of tina. end; and that, Should
all fail, ne would then make his appeal IRON
faithless servants to their masters, the people.
70 what people, sir, would ne make his ap
peal, respectfully AK? 10 those WHO hiu
elevated to place and power those proclaim'nG
the doctrine Of the higher Law, and purpose
~ violate the sanctltics OF the Conautn'loh
and the rights Of the South?
Sir, the public men Of the North are lar cA'
ponentS OF the popular sentiment Of the -Nor'h'
II this be not 50, il they are not, why Is II
that e see such men as Seward aid Ch'1>e, and
Sumner, Wilson and Hale, Wade and Lov'jay,
and a hest VI kindred spirits, ie'ileTs aud ca
lumniators Of Southern luen and Sou!sicrh M
stitutions-scofrrs at the compaciS oil lhe
Observation-Disclosures in the public service
renr after year, Sir, the question needs mt
answer. No where Ill the history OF pnpa!al
governments have any people pcrsStenttJ rc
| elected those 10 places Of Trust AID respoEsi
! 5ility differing rom them upon great ard vita
governmental principles
But Mr.. Chairman, the g.n,lciual iron An
! .usta regards the Executive as far the 1eakcs
department OF the Government 10 have near,
that gentleman. one nigh, have supposed tia
the President Of the United STATES wIcidst
scarcely the power aud influence Of presiding
ils,lce OF !; county court; that it ~is an Office
entirely powcrless for harnI; yet III The TEX
breath ne enumerated, az one Of the gTea
| checks and safeguards os the Government, Tin