Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-28

Mercury" which is regarded as the organ OF
the Southern States, NJ least of tho State OF
South Carolina.
Speaking of Virginia, the Mercury says:
"She is completely lelnora!lzec IN the csti-
nation Of the South; and no Southern Slate,
intent.o on vindica,ing tier rights and preserving
her institutions, would 60 into n Conference
with her. She has placed the Union nbove
the rights and institutions OF the South. and
will only seek conference with the Southern
States in order to bring them down to the level
of her fatal Union policy. Virginia and the
other frontier States may rs well At once I'M
dcrstand their position with the cotton States.
They are not expected to aid the cotton States
in protecting themselves and redeeming their
liberties. They will practically aid The North
crn States in attempting to obtain in the South
an acouiesccnce in the rule Of AbolitonSts ut
Washington. The Southern States, however,
will disregard their counselS. They want n" no,
conference BET in the ConrentioE ishtch Ni!
assemble to frame the Constellation. ara conl'
plete the organization Of q Southern CcHjsde
racy. They intend to Sccede from the Union,
and construct! a Union among themselves.
This is the language oi one Of the leading
journals of one Of the leading States OF the
conctteratcA Republic Of tire South. These
were the sentimen;s then entertained b; those
who were part and parcel OF tn. State.
will not say that they we're tie sentiments %
those gentlemen who appeared before this
Convention, for the frankucss and courtesy
which marked the demeanor OF those gentle.
men, and the character for sincerity to wh'cn
they are entitled would repcl any Such IDEA
But, sir, should we so into that Southern
confcdcrated nation, can anybody tell Us how
long we are to remuin there? They tell you
that the Government 1T Montgomery has
adopted temporary Constitution or s"rin oil
Government Has it attracted The attention
of those around me that That very Constitution
has laid the foundation for an iIiserw'nahie
strife in relation to this very question which is
the subjec, matter af dispute here. Tie Con
stitutitn Of these confedara:ed States oil the
South, as understand, provides ,iet their Cen
greSs shall lave the power TO regulate the save
trade between tho Sls,es. and the power Is re-
served BY Congress to forbid 1t aitossther.-
The very thing against which $50 have been
contendinc, as enc Of tho powers OF this Hen-
era! Government, Of which we are members, is
to be incorporated iato the Constitution OF this
new Union Of the South. I ask, under this
view of the case. il we arc TO rush out OF this
Union, in hot haste. without knowing where We
are to 20. / would hope not | lore the
Union. no: rs it is. but as It vas, and as it was
designed to DC, and would tiy and have the
abuses, Of which We all complain, corrected
We must hare the ASSURANCE Of the North to
that effect, and they must give US security ioI
the future, if they canDct gise rs indemnity
for the past How, then, is such result TO
be accomplished : lie, the border States make
a Constitution which shall protect their pro
pertY in all time. ard then invite ali The STATES
Of this Union to uotur and unite with theul-
invite a'l-stop not az tho Hudson, as some
gentlemen would do. say would invite all,
but they must coIc in upon the terms which
We prescribe.
But gentlemen talk aDou. diversity Of in.
terests es being irIeconci:ahie 10 such 90 Union.
Why, sir, the philosophy Of British statesmen
mas long since shown that i diversity Of int.
rests in great republic or great nation Is
wta. makes people great aid mighty. dn
not mean diversity in regard 10 peculiar in.
sti,ution, such as slavery, but in reference 10
other interests with which Virginia is connected
MS one of the members Of thiS Union. There
ests. There a,e dIvpr>iteS in families, in coun.
ties, in States and in nations. And let me ask,
beca us of .iivcysities in the social or polilica!
system would you, therefore. u'akc this an ar
gument against the system itself? Why, sir. car,
rs out such an idea and yon would destroy every
thing that you hold near and dear, and you
would destroy many "f tie relations ina. you
now hold most sacred. Such feeling that 4
diversity Of interests could not exist here when
applied TO our State, 10 the interests o! the
East and the West, would he calculated above
all things to stir up strife md that Kind OF feel.
ing which should not exist between citizens of
the same State having the snme common desti'
ms. would be no more Hing to part with
Maryland. with Western Vlrg ina, with Ken
tucky, with Tennessee or North Carolina, than
would be willing to par; with my dear and
honored friend who had accompanied INC thus
far along the journey OF life, and to whom
had been indebted for the many good coa!tc-
sizes which mad strcwn blessings in my path.
was proceeding to say something Of thu
provisional government Of the South, and |
would ask what assurance IS there that Such
provisional government is ~ reIuain the gov
eminent Of the Confedefatea States c! the S2uili;
Is it not government that is only temporarily
established! Have these geatls,rea in the South,
who complain Of the North. and rightfull:
complain. too complaint which | do no!
stand here to derend-erer asked themselves
the question whether they have always been
true to the interest Of the South, true
to that Constitution which these gentlemen
tell US in this coniederated repubuc OF the
South givesI assurance 10 the people Of Virgil
MA that her rights all time are to be protected:
Have they been under this Constitution? In de-
6ance of the allied navieS Of England aud France
and our own country, although re haze law
here against the Importation Of Africans fcom
abroad, we have found that they have been
landed,upon Southern soil, and we have found
that this law, written upon the statute book;
almost with letters of blood, and with the
severest penalties attached 10 it, that could be
inflicted, has been violated, and that when
iuries have been found unwilling 10 convict
Judges had il no: in their power TO punish
Let ne ask, is Virginia 10 re secured agai1s,
such violations of LAW bv the making OF lev
confederated Southern Republic, when she ma,
not been able 70 protect her rights upon This
great and vital question: We have already
heen informed tia. this was one Ct the great
subjects for diScuSSion-one OF the great inter.
ests which was to he looked after III future
the re-opering OF The African slave trade.
ask gentlemen around me, when we EeE INTO
the con!eucrate,! CGinn Of toe South, and when
Virginia, with the other bnrtcr States, Nal De
Us i've 10 nine, ash if it De not in the power
of that conirderated Union cS Inc South, 20 al.
ter that Constitution, Though she mas told Us
by her temporary government that the slave
trade is to be forever in a: time prohibited .
vii! not their interest lead them to G" 10 the
lngrket where they can buy the cEea pest an d
where they can sell tic dearest p?
Have not tncso gentlemen D'vays preach
ed this doctrine and called our attention to i:
Where, let me ask, - The market wherein
you can buy the cheapest? It is in the valley
Of the Cong; and the market wherein you ca !
sell the dearest, is in the valley CT the Miss!s.
sirpi With these competing forces b. which
We are surrounded, with Gordon Of free
States here upon one side, and rcpellag
E,rce unon the oiher T;rrjnia will be placed