Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-08
ccSsion Of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Michigan
the whole Northwest TERRITORY


would advise, in the melntrne, that the
Legislature make instantly every preparation
for defensive war, under the Sd clause Of the
10th section of the lst article OF the Constitu.
ton, permitting Stale to keep troops and
ships of war in time Of peace and to engage in
war, when actually invaded, or when in such
imminent danger as will not admit Of delay.
Now the 4lh Of March is hear at hand-we
have been and are invaded actually, and our
danger of further aggression is imminent.
in this attitude of resumed 3'0tecrs, antl Q,
preparation against imminent danger, I ac1utQ
not declare ourselves cut I the Union,
but ,rould suspend all relations ciM attending
States, until they accede to such ultimatum as
our Convention may submit.
To all this it has been objected that Our cit.
liens may be tried for treason. The answer is
that they would have precisely the same plea,
on trial, that citizens would have in cast of Sc.
ceSSiun the plea that they had obcycd the
orders OF their sovereign State, to which they
owe primary alics lance. II the sovereign
State may Cover them with her ;egls in the one
cast, she may in the other. Black Rcpubli.
cans will claim, be it remembered that the
States Arc notSorcrcign to cover their citizens, III
either case and the result in either case would
be the sanc-a revolution and war. The only
difference wolild be, that in the way Of resist.
ance proposed hy me, We would not shock the
pious attachment Of our people to our Union
and our flag, and we would unite them heartily
in defence Of their dearest interests and honor
We would still bo in covenant and cooperation
with such Of our Northern friends as are still
! fuilhful confedrrates; and We would be war
like wall TO resist and prevent operations to
cucrce orr Southern sister States bc power
TO force our enemies to reccdc, and q nucleus,
with the blessing Of God, with good courage
and good conduct. to draw back to us the Sc
ceding States, atter honorably saving our Con,
stitution, our Union, our country, our all
This believe, can thus be DONE if We net at
once with firm purpose, manly courage, and
pvompt, unhcsitating decision. am ready 10
stake my all on the trial
clearly see, not only from these Frederick
proceedings but from other sources, what will
be the policy Of the opponents of resistance
They will defeat the call OF IL Convention il
they can; and their course will still be one OF
obstruction and delay, if they cannot.
They will plead for time You have not a
moment oftima to spare to their deliberations.
They will deliberate only to defeat you. II you
don't rush over them or past them in the con.
! tlct they viii! rush over or past you.
! They will urge that the election OF Lincoln
is drluSive and magnilics the strength Of the
Black Republicans that Pennsylvania, for ex-
ample, was Carried by her Protective tariff
policv-not by her hostility 10 slavery And is
il so, that because We would not consent 10 be
taxed unconstitutionally, in order to enrich
the manufacturing Nor tn, they have united
with demons to destroy us all in one common
rain: That plea, intended to persuade US 10
"wait for returning sense Of right and JUS
tcc, only adds 10 4 just alarm. We are to
allow the tax--are wc?-or TO have the dogs OF
war let loose upon US Gy Black Republican
Executive Verify that makes two enemies,
instead OF one for us to encounter in the conflict
Twenty-seycn years ago South Carolina
passed an ordinance multiplying Protective
Tariff Act 10 bc told now that Black Repub-
licans are not so strong as they seem, because
Protective Turifites have united with the Fa-
natlcs Of nnti.Sluvery, is at once to inform her
that she has an alliance Of two enemies, instead
OF one, tu contend against. The Protective
Tariff passed the only bill ever PASSED to
coercc n sovereign State into obedience TO the
mere statutory laws Of the Federal Govern
ment and if it has voted with Abolition for
Lincoln, to sell President for unequal duties
and mpost>, it will have strong interest in
passing another force bill.
Remember, too, that we are not only on the
eve Of the Inauguration nl n Black Power, but
uiso II. tic end of another decade, this very
day, with another Gpportionmcnt under new
census. which is TO dwarf still mere our rela-
lve representative strength in the Union.
And would warn You Of what believe TO
be dcccp:ions practiccd, with no little art, at
the expense Of reputation by the incumbent
Executive of the uaitcd States in his late an
nurt message to Congress. That message
would seem Ia the common mind 10 be full of
the srossest Contradictions and Inconsistencies.
For example, The President is express in the
declaration that q State has no right to sccede
from the Federal Union; lra"i;ig you to infer
that she may be c0orced to remain in the Union;
vet, afterwards. he says that Congress is the
only department to determine what action shall
be taken against the STATE, and that Congress
has no poner t9 deciQre acar against heT--that
the power was expressly negatired by the Con-
ycntion which framed the Constitution. Thus
he seems TO contradict himself when, in fact,
there is 10 contradiction whatever. The two
ideas Of the right or wrong nt State to seccde,
and of the power Of Congress TO declare war
against State, are not corrclatlves at ALL
Either proposition may bc true without contra
dieting the other. The President did not con-
tradict himself; but he obviously, and with a
design, withheld his opinion as to tho only
mode Of coercion. Does he who took the oath
to sec that lhc,laws are faithfully executed, not
know that the Constitution imposes the en-
forccmcnt Of the laws upon the Executive,
without declaration OF war by Congress
and that the execution Of the laws by the
Commander. chief Of the army and navy opc-
rates upon persons ami citizens and not upon
Suites He has not said that he does not agree
with Mr. Douglas and the fcdcralSts all, who
CONTEND that the laws Can and must be execll.
ted, upon persons, whether they act under
State orders or not. No; he would not incur
the fearful responsibilities of beginning war
when he wGuld have no time left TO end in; ; and
he saved himself from 4 commttal to the execu.
tion of law upon i.ersons not States, in order
that hc might turn the Gordian knot over to
his successor On llim-hIr. Lincoln-Mr.
Buchanan intended to throw his own respon-
sbilites, and withhold his real solution oil ap'
parent Inconsistencies, in order 10 avoid the
eyecration Of mankind for bringing on con-
Hict Of laws against their resistance by SOW.
crcisn State Bat has he not been preparing the
wavs and means for coercion Has he not
coupScllcd with the Lieutenant General, and
seen To the plans Of enforcing the occupation
of the forts and arscnaS, and the collection .oi
the revenue BY the United States Will our
forts and arsclIas and dock yards not be
bristlins with warlike preparation to coerce
sovereign States who have moved, or to
restrain US from moving? | warn you to
keep your eyes then, upon the present Prcsi'
dent, and not to he delujed by the deceptive
appearances Of his peaceable attitude or dis,
position. Suddenly, just before the 4th OF
March, Fortress Monroe, llarper's Ferry, and
Gosport navy yard, may he filled with armies
of coercion
We are told by others that the remedy Is
not in our hands, but is with the North. Tint,
LOO, is an error which will. if adopted, lead us
into Il false step. We have u remedy which
needs Only 10 be actively applied, to be eftec'
L., H., Nnrih