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

nav be much worse. 1t is not given to us to
rc,d thc future. We NAV, hGwcvcr, speculate
about it.
When the Union was formed, i! was not eS'
necteJ or believed that The domestic iIiStll!:'
lions oC all the States should h" alike. The
institutions of Mime and Louisiana were never
intended 10 be the same. The people OF each
were invested with full power 10 determine
whether slavery should exist, and the lorNier
decided against the Institution The latter dc:
ciie6 in lis Eavor-as each had tbs iindou1sed
right to 10.
In the list Of grievances against the North,
i, is somewhat remarkable. that in our own
| State 50 little has been said in regard TO 'he
coniurt Of the Governors 81 Iowa anu ONO,
in refusing To surrender f~ugi,i"eS from justice
who par,iciDatcd in the I~larpc:'s Ferry RAID.
They were regularly indicted; The Governors
Of those States were applied 10 III DIE iorm TO
deliver them up; the application was refused
and our people, Instead oi i"HinS Il STAND ant
making an issue upon iisiS practical! question,
seem inclined To ignore 1t, anu 'hlte III VIC
complaints Of the cotton States. ihc com
| ulain;s Of lnusr States are rather against tHc
financial and commercial policy "t Tie ederal
/ Government, than any action or want oi action
on the subject of slavery. The Siavc-oWhtfS oi
yirriuia haze suffered seriously the "rohGS
inflicted UPON us by the cc;iEct oI tArSc i'Ac,
c~utiycs. have been great; still, We have near"
Int little complaint in CIR " State. Inc
ni.vanccs complained Of mainly, are tiinse
Which the cotton States plead as = Justification
for tleir action. Would it u1t he vel! for us
TO redress the wron.S our o"n people have sui
rr,cl before We undertake 10 redress The
,.., -, Ian ga. SutI,.-pl fnIi'I less.
81 far IS slavery is cnnccrur'!, than we have
dore. Oar action Should be haScd Upon inc
wrongs dome 20 our o"n people.
The proposition for the call ri 4 State Con
~vcntion, to determine tt:c positions "i!!rt Nlr-
cinia shall taxi, in view Of passing events, ap.
pcars to have been received with very general
favor. As The snkirc: has been lnUc! DISCUSS
cd hy the people in their primary meetings, IL
is not only proper, but it Is doubtless expect
G.! that shall refer 10 II IN TINS ConiInuiica-
ton. 1t is pleasant, alike to Tie private citizen
and the public officer, Ia kEo" that his views
and opinions are endorsed. by those around
him, that ne is backed by the popular SENT
mcnL Of the day; hut there are times aud "rca'
sions, in the history Of every man, when II Is
inpcra,ive upon hin - adhere to his convlc-
lions of duty, maintain his opinions firmly. but
corricouslv. even at the hazard Of being !oun!
in minority. | have In hesitation in express.
rns my cpininn upon ;liis "r any Other CUES
ton of public concern.
have NV convictions urnn this question,
and I give expression 10 ilicu'. III declaring my
opposition at this time, 10 the call OF ii State
Convention. sec no necessity 10" 1t at this
time, nor do uow sac any good practical re-
suit that can be accomplished by it. | TO no;
consider this Il rrnuil!ous time 10 moot the
QUESTION, and | apprci!c!d, from indications
thathavc been exhibited, that serious difficult
ties and embarrasSmrats will attend the move.
ucnt. Subsequent evcnts Ira" show the Sc
ccsS:ty for il.
In lS33 and 1850, when iir existence u! tic
Union was seriously threatened, when Tie dan
Ger vas imminent, the Legislature accomplished
cvcrvthin. desired, in Il I!anacr rs satisfactory;
us it would have been accomplished. if the mode
now suggested had been adopted. On neither
occasion waS the Legislature chosen with refer
encc 10 the events which subsequently occurred.
ard which t~cvolvr,l upon ,Eis:n the necessity
for such action as was taken, ami which gave
50 much satisfaction to the people Of Virginia
and the whGi2 country.
In mr Inaugural !r"ssaca made this rccGE"
mcn,Iation, which. If adopted, would perhaps
have relieved IT,, ~ some c&tcnt, from the coin
'plica.ions with which We are nov rinhar.
ra<Scd:
III also su..is: that 4 commission, Ia consist
Of two %: our mast Intelligent, ~,iiScrcc: and cy-
ucricncud statesmen, shall be appointed. whose
duty il shall lie H. visit the Legislatures OF
those States wEich have passed. laws To ~oh>trrct
The execution Of the fugitive slave act. and in
sis:. il the name oi Virginia, upon their III.
conditional repeal. ia support al the snE."S-
ton Of the appointment II i cutEur!SS'"n, n
precedent ls to be found in The history 6: "rr
own State, in the appointment OF The distln'
gu;shc,l E,njanjn Watkins Leigh. who vas
commissioned L. visit The Legislature "t South
Carolina, al the Tim. Of The controversy between
,hat State and the Fc,!,rs! Government. The
existence of the Union wa; then greatly i'm
nerrilled. and the actiun ri Virginia cXcrtci 4
most happy Influence in bringing about Il set.
Element that avcrtcd thc danger al:d restored
peace TO the country. That cri!iS in pubic
affairs was almost as serious and alarming as
the present. -.
In renewing the recommendation ut tbs
time, | annex a modification, and that l., that
Commissioners shall rot Ec scri 10 either Of
the New England States. The occurrences Of
The last two months have satisfied me, that
New England puTi;ani>m has no respect for
human constitutions, aud sly little regard for
the Union that they would not sacrifice their
prriniicc.. or Srm4thcr their resentment to per
pctuatc 1t.
further recommend, HAT Commissioner
be scrt 10 the Legislatures or Conventions o;
all tho slavcholding States, 10 confer with
them, with 4 vics Of asctctaining what he.
mands, in the ratu!c Of amendments to the
Constitution, or otherwise. will bc satisfactory
in this exigcncy. The adoption Of this plan
will in all probability tend 10 secure harmony
and produce unity Of action.
The controversy now has reached Il paint
wl;cn il NEST he settled on some fair, Just and
permanent basis, if we arc to be re united. and
peace, quiet and order restored to the country.
The excitement now existing is ruinouS To the
financial and commercial business, and TO
the agricultural, planting, mcchan!cai, 'nerra'i-
tile and manufacturing interests Of all Sections.
Unless 4 settlement Of tho controversy shall be
speedily effected, every species Of property
must fail 10 merely nominal prices. AMI Il
scene of general and ruinors bankruptcy, far
exceeding. in extcm; and severity. any that
has preceded It, mnSi lie the inevitable result.
| Even now, hundreds and thousands have been
thrown out OF employment. ara ut this Incienl-
emf season poverty. want and misery must he
the portion Of them and their dependent ia'n'-
lies. 1t is time the conservative spirit oi lic
country was aroused and stimulated 10 cncr-
gctic action. No time is to hc lost IN putting
into immediate rrquisitIon all fair, honorable
and constitutional means that promise To Sc
cure II satisfactory and permanent adjustment,
What. thcn, is necessary to he done: Tho
Northern States strike from their statute bopks
their personal liberty bills, and fulfil their con-
s,itnii1nal obligations il regard 10 lisl'ive
slaves ard r~rgi;vcs from justice. If our sl"Ses
escape into nan. slavefollimc States. tEey r2nSt
be delivered up; if abandoned, depTavcl and
dcsperat.lr wicked men come into slave States
to excite instructions. or tn commit Other
crimes a-ains: our laws, and escape into free
States, they must he ri"cn nj for ira! and
punishment, when lawfully demanded by the
constituted authorities Of those States whose
laws have been violated.