Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-08
,,.ohoi1;nr and on.slavclIoldins classes i

I llf.ttt II lllC Ll'iI't VI GU
J~rr;icc of the interest. Of either OF the non
sIayrholdinc States. We ask nothing, there
f,rr. which is not clearly right, and necessary
~ ORR protection: And surely, when so much
K -, stake, it will be freely. checrfully and
nrnrnptl passcntcd to. 1t is the interest oil the
North aa,! the South to preserve the Govern
mem, from destruction, and they should omit
the Use Of no proper or honorable means Ia
avert so great 4 calamity. The pubic Ha'ety
and welfare demand instant action
Many of the fanatics in the Northern States
are constantly calling attention to the TACT, that
the number of slave owners, as compared with
The white population III the slave States, Is
small. and hence the inference that the non
STAKEHOLDER is not loyal to the State, ami would
not willingly defend the institution. This is a
most serious mistake, and is well calculated 10
make an erroneous impression upon the North
crn mind. Such 4 representation docs serious
Injustice TO that loyal and patriotic class 81 our
citizens. Iii is Il reflection upon them, not war
rantcd by their conduct, now or heretofore.
The number Of persons in this State, III the
YEA: 1860, charged viii! taxes on slaves
,rns 81 S14 The number Ut persons charged
with taxes on lands in the SAME year,
wa. l59,0sS. Most ur the persons charged
with taxes on slaves, are the owners OF
land; also aud others who own lands, OWN
no slaves. The number Of persons charged
with taxes, other than 0wncrS oil lands anu
slaves. is 20l 900. All these parties have a
common interests in the protection oil persons
and property, ard each feels that in protecting
tl,, rights and property OF the others, nc is
securing and protecting his own, whether OF
Ii,iI, or Of great value. As the chief magistrate
and n, n citizen OF Virginia. 1t is i source Vi
Measure 10 me To know that there Is no Jcal-
ousy or distrlSt, and that harmony anl conf
drncr exist between these GLASSES. II me
Northern people crtcrtain the opinion that The
ron shareholders of the South are not ~
liable and trustworthy in all respects, they are
most grossly mistaken and deceived.
have seen it stated that in the empire ci'y
of N,w York the owners nf real estate NUN
hercI less than Is, 00u. Do those who are i"t
owrrrs Of real estate feel no INTEREST," III the pro
p.rty Of the 1000: Would they he unwLi'nE
Ia defend W pro:rcl il. if il were IN danger oil
d.struclinng It. might be charged, "itn t'!c
saline nroprictv, aud with rs much truth, III tIl'
instance. that feeling no interest IN common
with Ike owner, they would noi risk Their lives
(nr the protection Of his rra! estate, worm
millions of dollars. They are Interested
drcrIy interested III all that relates to the pup
lie prosperity. Their prosperity, Their com
fart and the comfort Of their families arc &c,
rcudcut uroi the protection "i The rIga'S u
nnrnncrrv ci every individual in the roium'i'!tE
in which he lives. ~
h,vr oIwuys rryrrcnccl the State E;sh'S
dnclrjncs Of Virginia, rs irctiicatcd III TIC rr""-
~ln,inns Of '9S and tic report OF ~. "e.ie'e
Ire doctrine. therein asserted, anu the lr!hcs-
tiles therein affirmed, 10 lac worthy 81 a.! no
crpta,ion. cordially endorse them, an! IN 30
DOM. endorse The doctrine OF secession. I'D
not propu,r to 60 into al argument IN support
Of nv opinion upon this question. lac Su'JcS'
has been ably discussed for fcarS, Oh notiI s!'!cS'
and those arguments are familiar 10 all reading
aud VOL informed ,ncn. | am content To rest
the question upon tEc discussions "hicti nave
taken place, and leave the people TO Iorln thclr
own ouiuions and draw their Own conclusions.
I refer 10 il, in this connection, TO declare my
unoualificd hostility 10 the doctrine CT coercion
hv the Federal Government. ,
In INV canvass Tor ilic cllicc now hold. /
declared my opinion frankly AMI ieaiirsSiy on
this question. and every man III the S!atc IN
the auplc,t opportunity 10 he Informed oil my
~nosi.;nn. In Il written address 80 the voters
If virginia" issued on the 18th @! May, lHd9,
stated. should it bc the pleasure Of tho pee.
nlc To elevate lic 10 the Office of Governor. |
win cnGcaror in my administration 10 carry
out the time h0nnrrd State Rights principles OF
Virginia. If ar any time during my admins
tra,ion the Federal Government shall attempt
TO interfere with the rights and institutions OF
Virginia; il it shall at any time interfere win
the rights Of slavery or thu rights OF s!a'c'i"lH-
crs il, our State. will hc prepared. with the
aid Of the people, to resist any efforts L" cocrce
ne into submission. will resist any attempt
of Federal troops II or ,ss our line 10 execute
s,ch urius,. iniruiiouS al:d unconstitutional
laws. either in Virginia q: an: other Southern
State" Ny position now OH this question Is
wha; It was ti:cn. II has not been changed or
modified. will regard an attempt 10 pass
Federal troops across the territory oi irS'ila,
for the purpose Of c~orrcing Il Southern seeding
State, as an act Of invasion, which should hc
met and repealed. The allegiance Of every
citizen Of virginia is due to her; and when her
uar is unIIrlcd, it is his duty to rally 10 lis
support and defence. The citizen Of Virginia
who will not respond 10 her call. is 4 traitor 10
icr rights and her honor.
am not without hope that the prcSen; d!l!i'
cultics will find 4 satisfactory solution III the
end. Let the Ncw England States aI'i IVES
tern New York be S%loughcd of. In the last
war with Great Britain. the New England
Stat"s entertained the reasonable design oil
forming an alliance with Canada. Let them
now c%onsnrnmatc il. At the time the Hartford
convention met, the most reasonable BODY
that has ever assembled in our country, 1t was
declared in their report, NV henever It Shall
appear that these causes (ot cur cala:nltIeS) are
radical and PERMANENT, Il separation, by cqnil;l'
bic arrangement, will be preferable 70 an ALI
ance by constraint, among nominal friends, but
real enemies, iullalncl by mutual hatred aid
jealousy and inviting, BY intestine divisions,
contempt and aggression from abroad. Inc
cause Of our ~caluniticS "arc radical aEd perIua-
nclIt," and nc arc indebted to Mes England
for them. They are our "nomlia friends, but
rc:ll enemies : they have originated more
trouble, caused more S~lliir, ai'd created more
hatred, disSeaSiDn aud division IN oar country,
than all the other States combined. They
have uniIptaly opposed tho acquisition ri Ter,
ritorr, and consequently the organization asa
admission Of new States into the Union. Ii
their policy had prevailed. We should have iiad
ut this day the original thirteen States, and no
more. All those States carved OUT OF lie LOUISE
ana territory, the n0rtilwc3tcrn territory, Ailn.
ish territory and Mexican Territory, w"tIid
have been excluded from association and union
Will us. IllcE na'c Hno"i L''e'"s'''"' ~"
uncomprornisins enemies of progress; they
have s~trrnlc resisted every attempt 10 extend
our empire, under the fear that 'ihs " ssie'W
States, multiplied IN num6cr and "uymc"td
IN population, riU c0Htroi he m;.rt"tS ~ me
uh0is." Existing difficulties furnish ah'Inli;ii
reasons and the best opportunity lar ScTrrlns
our connection with tIrctm anu wr ought not
TO permit the occasion To pass unimprn'rd.
4 confcdcracy, composed Of the rentsinlnS
States, can arrangc terms under which ,t:y can
live harmoniou>ly anlhapriiy t"sctiIcr;an'i now
that the Uninn is disrupted, wc should avail
ourselves If this favorable opportunity 1" c"rn-
mrncc the work Il! reconstruction. Ia com.
u%,cnring AMI proceeding this important work.
we must look To our >rrnr'tr. tie lr"i""t'"i oI
o,r institutions, a!,i o,:r 'i":Lc>ric peace. Let
the fabric lc reared. G;Sca''!in. Ill rotten
and unScuni mnirIia'. Az! ".ninjtI"g ;l "rdi.