Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-29
The Crittenden Amendment.

The Crittenden Amendment.
This last hope Of tho timid has to encounter
other difficulties than mere Black Republican
opposition in Congress. If successful in that
body it has TO run the gauntlet in the States,
and before the people, to become an amendment
to the Constitution How is it possible for it
ever to be adopted? To become an amendment
to the Constitution, it or any other proposition,
must be ratified by three. .fourths Of the States
Here, at the outset, appears a fatal difficulty.
Docs the ''three-fourths' apply to the thirty
four States, or to those only which have not
seeded The submission Of any amendment
to the States mdBt be preceded by the settle.
ment Of the question of the right Of secession.
II the Black Republican doctrine against seces-
sion obtains, and the seeded States are held to
still belong to the Union, then it will require
twenty-siS States to adopt the amend
ment. But eight ofthe States will have seeded
and will not submit the proposed amendment
to their Legislatures, and such action necessi-
tates the concurrence of erery State, still in
the Union, to the proposed amendment. If
any one State refuses to adopt it, the amend.
ment fails for want Of the Constitutional num-
ber. Is probable that srery Black Republi-
can State will adopt an amendment that is sat
Slactory to Virginia? Is it probable that Eir-
ginia will be satisfied with an amend
ment acceptable to erery Black Republi-
can State? Does not this show the
folly OF looking to the Crittenden amend
ment? Before that or any other amend
ment can become = part of the Constitution
there has to be some Of the tallest backing
doun DONE either by the North or the South
that has ever been witnessed in this or any
other country. If the Black Republicans are
willing to acknowledge the secession Of the
Southern States, and to submit propositions OF
amendment to three. .fourths OF the remaining
States, then there may be some probability Of
the adoption Of the amendment But will the
Black Republicans, as preliminary to yielding
what they have so stead(astly refused 10 grant,
acknowledge the right Of secession and then
set about the work of re construction upon
principles that rob their recent victory Of all
benefits and place the rights Of the South in
unquestioned prominence upon the letter of
the Constitution We do not wish to be un-
dcrstood as admitting that the Crittenden
amendment places the rights of the South thus
patiently upon the constitution, but that any
amendment 10 which Virginia can agree must
be so plain that he who runs may read, and the
wayfaring politician, though Black Rcpubi-
can and Abolitionist cannot err therein. Can
any man, not rendered rdiculously credulous
by his love OF UronSln. for one moment be-
lieye that the Black Republicans will surrender
their principles, haul down their flag and ac-
knowledge that, victorious at the popular cleo
ton, they have ignominiously surrendered all
to the demands Of rebels and traitors 1t is
absurd TO expect men, bcsotted by fanati-
cism, trumphantly installed in authority,
clothed with the forms Of law, and armed with
the army and navy, would yield to the demands
Of those they hold to be traitors and rebels
What, then, is the duty of tine people OF Fir-
cnia to themselves and their posterity? 10
wait the cventuality Of an amendment that
must be lost, or to place the State in an attitude
of defence? In our opinion the people OF Fir-
gnia should, by their votes, put the right
men in the right place. and, then, voting
down the reference clause Of the Convention
bill, stand before the world in the proud atti-
tude of determined resistance to persistent and
shameful aggression.
Upon the Convention, about to assemble in
Virginia, will devolve the noble work oil con.
tipuing the contest for freedom and liberty-a
contest once triumphantly won, but which may
be lost by ignominious submission to Northern
aggression, or by trucking acquiescence in in
efficient amendments. The vicissitudes Of war
NAV overtakc us in resistance to Northern ar
mics, we may be overrun by Northern enemies,
orr industrial resources ruined, our commerce
conhscated; but if we cannot live the equal OF
Yankee, privilege low enough, we can, at least,
fall fighting for freedom. Men Of Virginia, your
love of freedom and equality, eighty years ago
won the admiration of the wisest the best and
the purest statesmen Of the world. Your pos.
session Of slaves enabled you to estimate the pri-
yilege of freedom and the right Of equality
more highly than those States OF the North
who now deny your equality, will soon seek
to conquer your liberty. Edmund Burke, in his
great speech upon "conciliation with AmerIc"
said
"Therc is, however, a circumstance attend.
in. these Colonies, which, in my oPlnion' iuiiy
countcrbalanccs this difference, ana makes the
spiri. of liberty still more high and naughty
than in those to the Northward. lt Is that III
Virginia and the Carolinas they nave vast
multitude Of slarcs Where this 10 tbe case 10
any part Of the world, those VINO are lrte are oy
far the most proud and jealous OF their freedom
Freedom is to them not only an enjoyment OUT
kind of rank and privilege. Not seeing tnere tnat
freedom, rs in countries where " Is coti'noi'
b,essin. and rs broad and general as the ar may
lie united with much ahect toll, with great MISE
~ with all the exterior ofservitude, liberty IookS
among them, ike something that is more hoo'e
and liberal. do not mean, sir, 10 coil',c"a
the superior morality Of this sentiment, "'hcI
has ut least us much pride rs virtue III it ou'
cannot alter the nature OF 'nan. Inc 'act % "o
and these people of the Southern Colonies are are
more strongly, and with higher ana more pre-
stubborn shirt, attached to liberty than those
70 the Nor,hward. Such were all ancient COM
such were onr Gothic ancestors
snch, in our days were. the Poles, and such
,ciN be all masters Of siares. a'ho are not staoes
themselves. In such people the haugbtlness
of domination combined with the spirit OF 'ree-
dom fortiies it, and rsndersit inrincldlc.
Such was Blu, ke's opinion of the shareholders
IF ,7G those sires Of the Government, who
cop our first battle for freedom and eqnaisy,
and bequra,hed their blessings to us Sna'l
ma transmit them unimpaircd to our posterity,