Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-05-21

, stability of the Union. Antagonisms would
be within the sphere of general interests, 10 OK
protected and promoted by general powers,
and would not arise between opposing Sect'ohe
of the Union This was the theory upon
which the Constitution Of the UnIted o1"'es
WAS built
From the commencement of the opera,
tions of the Constitution OF the Un'tea
states, tho controlling party Of the people OF
the North have endeavored to destroy iS
limitations. To make it sectional 10 itS
ooerations, and subseryient to their secllonal
interests, and to make the government OF Inc
United States itself IL consolidated govern,
vent has been the aim of their steady ana
u~n;ntermitted efforts. By the necessities OF
nature, their industry must be engaged IN
novieation. commerce or manufactures
Amongst the Hrst laws they obtained IRON
Congress, were laws granting them ho'int!eS
in their fisheries, by which an annual trioute
has been obtained by their fishermen from the
treasury of tho United States, from 1853 TO
This day. They obtained 4 monopoly to their
re,sels of the whole coasting trade oil the Cnl'
ted States, BIZ which the Southern people
have been deblrrcd from using the cheaper
navigation of other nations. They havo had
determinations in The duties imposed on lti'
nor.a.ions in the vessels OF foreign nations, so
that tn. people Of tho South may be CON-
nelled, by the increased duties laid on foreign
commodities when brought in foreign bottoms,
to employ their vessels to import theul. No
vessel built in a foreign nation, although pur-
chased by 3 citizen oil the United States. can
be protected by the flag Of the United States
thus fore;ng us 10 buy vessels built by them.
The same selfish md sectional policy they
endenvorcd TO carry cut with respect t.
all branches Of their industry, through the
Tariff und the expenditures Of the government
All encroachments by Congress or Tho ConSt''
tuition of tho United States, they have uniform
~ upheld; until ct las. tho Constitution, By
their interpretation, is virtually abolished, and
now consists only IN three wo-ds-'the geno
ral welfare" OF which they are the jadges and
dispensers. This last phasis Of their usurpa
tions, claiming for Congress the power TO ex
cludo the Southern people from settling any
portion Of the territories of the United States,
1as only q further Development Of their policy
Of sectional rule and consolidation
1t is impossible, We suppose, for the wit o.
man to conceive o worse government than ina
by which the absolute rule Of one people, act
ing under popular institutions, is established
over another people, having different pursuits
of industry, habits, and institutions. In such
a government, the forms of FREQ government,
instead Of oiiording any mitigation, only IN
crease the tendency to excess and ,yranny.-
OF what avail is representation in a legislative
body, where the majority are united together
to asgrandize their section ut the expense
Of the minority ~Hection Tho oppressed
minority IN the legislature may he Zeal
orlsly faithful! Ia the people they represent
and yet they are ~:'crfcclly poaerless To pro-
tect them. d. they show, to a demonstration
that The people they representa- Z sronged
ard plundered BY the measures proposed 81
the majority, they are ot1.TlnS tho oes;
motives and arguments why the measures
should PISS The mlinrlty, mean to plumber
and wrung The minority. They mean To make
the weaker sectiCn their tributaries. Between
u representation incompetent to protect, and
no Representations, there iS no difference.
where there are conflicting interests in q legis'
lative body. And in the election Of a ChieI
Magistrate, OF what use is t!Is right Of suffrage,
when. if every man in the oppressed section
should vote against tho candidate of the
stronger section, las the Southern States did
in the late Presidential c~lectiou,) they cannot
prevent his election? lie is the exponent and
instruIunnt nf the stronger section; and is
elected. simply because he is their exponent
The only effect Of the right OF suifrIgo under
sucn circumstances to n minority, IL to
eject an enemy to rule them; aud the only
elect OF representation, Is TO give the ina
iuri.y power 10 iegislate Tor their op
preston. BY tue forms Of 4 free govern
mcnt, therefore, & nany.headed despotism may
be established by Il stronger section over 1
weaker section, far SOrse than the despotlsn
Of one man. One man may have O conscience
but men acting in masses, seldom exhibit con
scientious s%cruples. Individuality and respon.
sibility are lost in numbers. That "a corpe.
ration has no soul. is ;hc proycr5ial a~phorlsu
Of English law, indicating tue uaecrupulous.
no., ~ mar r-'l o. 81 'n-s-"s \ singh 'iespoi
Ia: u" 'n,i'r. !" "il.r>:': cts" I.'r'I"'s Of his
pnni",: ;i,u's Ga, '"s:thv: on, !,-re. vae-halI
Of ii rnlntr" re, u. =. p~,.Ia.ieG :.i 'ppress
aoother hal.
The S!al"+ :,iHf".'"5 tss E'n:e'i"T.;s 7:ates,
Consolidated goSslr,lu.n; established al Wash
ington, BY tne late Presidential election. 70
satisfy them Of Is d~esno;ic tendencies. With
the Constitution overthrow, and the COVERT
ment Of the United States in the hands Of q
n05tic section, no. only i'oeltJ' OUT se'-prc-
serva,ion, demanded their separation from il
To accom- plish this separation, no uslrpa,iop
Of power was required. They had the ready
iastruneatalily in the sovereignty Of the
States. There is nor a fact il oil his
tory moro indisputab!e, than thnc the
several States which adopted tho Con-
s~titution OF tho United Srates, for the
establishment of a government over them
nj the time Of lis adoption, we're free, sove,
reign. and independent States. ROBBED with all
the attribute, OF sovereignty, did they, by the
adoption Of the Constitution of tho United
States, surrender their sovereignty Ii they
did. the fact should be clearly shown. Not one
of the powers granted, was Surrendered ey the
States to each other, much less TO their mere
asent-,hs government OF the en'teh states