Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-05-07


fore in the very teeth of tho decision Of
the Supreme Court, Southern men shall
have no protection for their property in
one-half Of thc Territory, while the pro-
prrty OF Northern mea is protected in all.
nevcr will, willingly, give my vote for
any resolution which SANCTIONS such q
prnciplc.
The time las come when, il We are tG live
with these Northern people, they must 1--WE
up the idea that we are i degraded class
They mus. admit that this busy-body inter-
mcddl!ng Of theirs, in which they under
take TO brand Us and our ancestors with
being an inferior race, in moral point OF
view, shall cease. They must cease to in
suit us by telling us that Our property in
slaves is Il claim so infamous, so pollutin-
as 20 be nut under the ban Of Northern
morality and excluded from its constitution
al right 10 protection in the Territories,
or there never can be peace between us,
and the sooner We separate the better.
The distinguished gentleman from Au-
gnsta, (Mr. BALpwIS,) illustrated his views
in favor of division of Territory, and the
exclusion Of slavery from onc-half, b. this
example: Suppose, said he, Northern
man moved into 4 Territory belonging to
tn. United States, he would have what he,
(Mr. BALpwIy,) termed TO be q very natural
prejudice, but what conceive to be most
outrageous one, against the institutions Of
slavery; he might consider that there was
something degrading i'll slavery, and
therefore be unwilling that his family
should live in n community where such al
institution was tolerated. Well. sir, what
is the meaning of that; The plain English
ofitis you gentlemen Of Virginia: South Ca
rolina Georgia. Florida, Louisiana and Tex
as,aud the other Southern States, hold en- in
stitution which iscucrvatinS and degrading,
contrary to tkc spirit Of the age, TO free
dom, clIiva!Tr, honor, justice and right.
Now, sir, is not that an impertiaent and
most unjustiiiable stigma upon our lnstltu-
tons: our social system. "Look upon this
picture and then upon that.
Suppose Southern man chooses TO go
there, and to say, Il don't like this system
b. which boys are kept NIL day long learn
ing tricks of Yankccdom. in making
wooden nutmcgs and SwinGling clocks,
which are mo co." without any opportu-
nifty vf cultivation or refinement. do
not intend that this Territory, to which
[ have brough; ny children, shall be with
out that peculiar institution to which the
South owes SO much Of her civilization-vir-
tue, refinement and chiralry, 1demand that
the Northern men he excluded and that the
Southern institution be planted here.
Now, sir, would it not be just as fair and
right for him to exclude the Yankee, as to7
the Yankee TO exclude him Both being
citizens Of q free country, | say, in the Ian
gllagc Of the Supreme Court, ''that the ter
rtory is acquired for their equal and COM
mon benefit, and, if open to any, II must
be open to all upon equal and the same
terms" ;" and, that the Constitution, recog-
nizing slaves rs property, and plcdging the
| Federal Government to protect 1t, Is bound
TO redeem that pledge as to the Southern
mans slaves, as we'll US to the Northern
mans $ clocks or nutmegs. If Southern
men go into the Territory with their slaves
i'll sufficient numbers to make il slave
State, then it ought TO he slave State. If
Northern mc:l have the ability to exclude
the system. not by Emigrant Aid Societies
and Sharp's rifles, but by superior indus
try IN emigration, and consequently b. su-
| pcrior numbers. let them exclude It, and
let the matter be determined when State
Constitution is formed by p Convention Of
the people Of the territory according TO the
true States rights doctrine. So much rs TO
that resolution, sir.
Again, sir, there is the Sth resolution.
which acknowledges the right Of States to
withdraw from the Federal Government,
and il 80 far right, and which says that the
neople Of Virginia "will never consent that
!he Federal power, which is in part their
power, shall be exercised for the purpose
Of subjugating the people Of such States to
the Federal authority" The objection to
that resolution is that it is not strong
enough. Ii does hot recognize the fact that
! Virginia not only ought not to consent
| that the Federal power shall be cXcrted
for the purpose Of subjusating the people
Of the seeded States, but that she ought 10
resist the subjugation Of those States with
| all the material power at her command, for
the simple reason that if the seeded States
are subjugatcd, we will full on easy prey
TO the common enemy, the North.
But, sir, the most extraordinary rcsolu-
ton Of all is the eleventh, which, after some
preliminary sentences, goes on to say
Virginia, therefore, requests tho people OF
the several States either by the popular
vote, or in Conventions similar TO her own,
to respond, at their earliest convenience, to
the positions assumed in the foregoing rcSo-
lutions, aud the proposed amendments to
the Constitution Of the L Cnitcd States here
unto appended.
Well, now sir, that gives the Northern
! people Of this Confedcracv c1rie btdnche to
delay this matter if they please 10 all eter-
nty. There is no conpulsion upon them
even to call Conventions. They have under
this resolution an absolute unlimited right
to respond TO the action Of Virginia by
their popular vote. Now, sir, let US see
how that will work. take it every
body knows that the mere popular vote
amounts to nothiEg-that all the people
can Go By this popular vote is 10 influence
those who, as their representatives, are
bound to carry it out as an indication OF
the will Of the constituent body.
Now, mark you, the redress sought for
the South is to be effected by amendments
to the Constitution. Well, how is the
Constitution to be amended: The only
two modes By which it can be done are set
forth in its 5th article. One is that Goa
grcss bya two-thirds vote shall propose
amendments, which, when ratified by three
fourths of the States, by their Legislatures,
or Conventions, shall become parts Of the
Constitution. The other is, by two-thirds
Of he States, by their Legislatures, uniting
in the cal! to Congress for National Con-
"cntion; and the action OF that Convention
is also TO be ratified by three-fourths Of the
States, BY their Legislatures, or in ConTen-
! tions, before il becomes valid. Well, sir,
under this resolution the people are to re-
spond. The popular will is to be brought to
bear on Congress, so that by two-thirds
vote of both houses it will propose the de-
sired amendments to the Constitution, or
upon the Legislatures Of two-thirds Of the
! several States, inducing them to apply to
Congress to call a National Convention for
proposing amendments, which in either
case shall become parts Of the Constitution,
when ratified by three-fourths Of the seve-
raj States. The popular voice then to be
Of anr avail must be brought TO bear upon