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

COOElCllOu tIuL ~ ID " :
suppress this institution, and that 1t Is tAoir
duty to assail such AL embodiment OF nioEai1
social and political evil, By the exercise % u
the public authority in every CONSTITUTIONS
form, and by the rcbutzing pressure OF pun
lie opinion a. every accessible point. An
taeonistic forces hare been working during
the same period upon the hearts and n'ino7
OF the Southern people, producing reVolu-
ton q: complete but in another dire ION.
1t has becomo their universal conTiction'
tina: African slavery constitutes the ",sest
and most beneGcen. adjustment possible o.
the relations between the two races: aao
thar it is to be cherished and defended to
the last extremity.
Now, whatever other elements OF dissa-
tisisction may have contributed 10 bring
upon the country this fearful strife, there
can be no doubt that the convrlSive throei
which are now rcnd:ag It's bosom,
spring mainly from an irrcpressible con-
hict OF opposing opinions AID sympa.h!cs
OF the subject Of slavery.
Look, sir at the expression Of this con-
lct, not only in tie action Of Legislative
bodies in the free States, because wc might
hope that such action--thc action OF the
gcnts-would BE- DC corrected and rcbHked
by the principals; but, III popular demon.
STATIONS, in innumcrabi2 places, and Iii
every variety Of form. The old associa-
lion Of the people has been reduced 10 mere
formal intercourse on the lines Of travel,
and in the great ceutrcs Of commerce and
manufactures the old friendship has de-
parted; the dccaying heart Of the body
polite scarcely lhrobs with one living pu.-
saton Of a comprehensive and unselil>h
American patriotism; the great fellowship
Of Church and State: which formerly en-
braced in one broad aAl uuhroken com
munion every portion Of The country, nave
been rent ia twain; and between the people
Of the North and the people Of the South
there lies 70 day mora! gulf OF angry anu
Jealous passions, wider and more impossible
than tia: BY which the r:valship and fcuds
Of thousand years have divided the people
Of France from the people Of England. lie
Northern people have covered themselves,
b. the repeated Instructions they have Of
ferrd 10 the execution oi the fugitive slave
iaw. with the rcproach OF Z standing lnh-
deity to the most sacred compact CT the
Constitution. They have cherished IN the
bosom Of their society, associations extern
sivc in number and wealth. openly arow'ng
their purpose to incile and aid the escape
Of our slaves, and not unlrequently express
ing sympathy with Instruction, raplne ant:
murder. II similar state Of facts existed
between any two great powers or the con-
tineut Of Europe, it would instantly break
the peace Of Chrislendom. IfFranco, for en-
ample, permitted society to exis! in that
country from which money aud ein!szaries
were sent to India, 70 disturb the relations
between tie English residents and :he natiTe
race, precious a. is the caI5e OF peace 10
both Of those great nations, il would no!
endure for an hour. This same people,
forgetting that the only bond Of unity
which can or ought TO keep together an
empire of frcemcn, is I'M equal participation
Of rights and privileges, have arowed the
fixed and deliberate policy OF excluding us
from our fair and legitimate portion o.! the
public domain, acquired by the common
blood and treasure, and Of localiziDg and
dscrcdting an institution, which lies ut the
very basis Of our prosperity and our ciT!lIza :
ton. Finally, sir, disreEarding the solemn
lessons Of the Fathers OF the Republic, the
earnest appeal, OF a patriotism not ye, who'll
" eytin.uished, the warning premonltlonS
Of al outraged sentiment, Of liberty, Ihci
have, bva purely geographical! combination,
taken possession Of that Federal agency
which was established for the equal ma!ntr-
nance Of the rights and honor OF all, &c exc
cute this Systematic injustice: thus convert
ing the very forms ofour Constitution into
an instrument, for the destruction OF the
great ends it was ordained to accomplish. 1t
is n 5 complete revolution, q, thathy which
Augustus: uniting in his own person Offices
which, under the Theory OF the Roman Re-
public, were to be held 5y independent and
distinct func,ionar!es, acquired nbso! lutte Au-
thority. And ii is a revolution n:
fatal to the independence and hon
or Of the Southern people, as if their liber-
tioG had been lost IN disastrous BATH
with foreign enemy.
I speak these words, NJ. Chairman, ii
sorrow, and not in anger. cannot discor'
or any ground Of rational hope, upon which
20 expect change in the relative feeling
between tho two sections. The great mas
scs Of the Northern people arc not access
bic 10 any argument or any apPea! whIc!
il is within our power 10 make. We are
not brought into communication with them
except upon the thoroughlarcs oftravcl, ant
III the commercial and manufacturing elite:
of the sraboard; and the population o!
Ibis limited section cannot control III,
opinions or action Of the great agricultural
region in the interior.
This revolution which has taken p!ac,
! within the last forty years in the theories
the opinions and the views OF public policy
respectively entertained at the North anu
in the South, renders it,as honestly believe
impossible for US any longer toliyc together
in peace and IN prosperity, under common
government.
1! is no doubt, the first wish Of the
people Of Virginia TO preserve this Union
if it Gamble dSae upon terms 81 equality, OF
honor, Of friendship, aud of justice to Ill
but not upon terms oil inequality, Injustice
or degradation TO any section. II is also
true, that the public voice has declared il
unmistakable terms, that the period has al
rived, when the whole question must be-
settled forever, either bya permanent disco
luton OF the Union, or solid and enduring
pacilicat;on, upon which We can rel for the
enjoyment -four property, for the security
Of our rights, and for the quiet flour soc!e-
~. through ages 10 come.
Now, what elements should enter into
such scheme Of adjustment! shall not
at this time, undertake to compare either
Of those competing propositions which have
been submitted TO the country--the Crltten-
den propositions rs amended BY the NIrgl.
MA Legislature, o. the Resolutions OF the
Peace Observation-Disclosures there is want
ing in each Of them. what IrcgarI as IN in
dispensable element oil any honorable or
does recognize our right Of property, does
recognize our right to equality; but yet
provides no securities By which that recog-
milton is 20 be rendered available
Ii has been the habit OF our race, o;
our English !orc!athers, ofoIr American a.i-
ccs,ors, " heuever questions OF liberty CANE
up for consideration and decision, &c demand
appropriate guarantees Of poweri power in
their own hands, to protect ,ha!r own rights
The English Barons, when they obtained
from KING John the rrcnt charter If Pun.