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

Then suppose that ms Constitution fa;,s'
all these great and leading objects oi is c,," !"
ton, where, then, is its vitality. and WHERE"
sacred obligations: Let it be. sir That ip,...Ss
of establishing justice, it becomes an enr;ns",
injustice and oppression; that rights er,,..
teed to us and intended to he protected ~
are not only not secured and enforced, bu::..;
denied to us; that. instead Of securing dorr,'s
tic tranquility, it produces domestic disco,
private insecurity and civil war; thai, ios.'.;
of providing for the common defence, ,l,e .r.
of the country-thc guns, sir, bau.ht hv, W.
common treasure, or w0n by the ccu,o.,
blood-are turned upon our own boyrn.. h.,
be that instead Of liberty, we are 10 t,y.'
body.guard for Republican President; Slim;
ing army, military despotism, to coc.cs ~.
into submission. Can standing army anGs
military despotism lead US into Suhi-cticn r.
Union or Government against cur own ~.
sent2 Wherein, then, do NC differ from u.
provinces Of conquered Gaul held down b. D.
man legions Wherein do wc differ iror:, H. ~
land, coerced by English bayone;S. Or yr
Hungary suljugated by Austrian de$po,:.1,
4lr. President, too love this Union ~.
il because it is sacred heritage Nv,
our fathers. ! love it with voa, s:r !.
cause it is haswrd in the fa7cwyi! -
dress of the Father Of this coua.s7 ~
of prophetic vision ard warning a,,,s".
like inspiration love it, revere il ci..
lsh it because il is halowcd By JGrcers,y ~,
author OF the Declaration; b. M.r!,o% -.
called by you, sir, the archi;rc: Of he Co.,
tuition, and by HAMILTON, JAcg.cS Wa. 8.
Clay and 4 host Of other national pali5,. -.
the Revolution down 10 the hope.pS. yn.,.:
1850.
But, sir, dear as is that love 10 the Union .m
my own BOSOM and in the bosom Of yr..;,
and OF Elrginia's sons, it cannot be maiaIa;,.i
by force it cannot be maintained at .ae -,
pensc of our interest Of our honor. o! orrl.t
crty it cannot be forced upon free States ~
free people, unwlingly and against h..
consent Such Union would be The wsr,,r:
tyranies. A government protesting to he tusl
ed on the consent Of the governed, based uror
that principle; Union, Government ii.ld b;
coercion and by force, against lhe corsen: g,
the States, and against the consen; {! The
governed, would be despotism that ne fee Or
brave people ever can or will suba. 70.
How hold, sr-how hold co equal tie Sta...
Of the Union by force? The very fact Of force
would destroy all equality and I'll lksr,y.-
Force, if effcctual, must reduce State 10 the
posi,ion of 4 conquered province. or via, is
wOrse-no, no; not what is worse, b.,
what is better far, would lead TO the ey.
termination Of it. II the General Go:cra.
ment may by force conquer and hold one State
or seven States, why not having raised AZ q.
MY for that purpose, conquer and mold success.
fully seventeen or all the States in conso,t.
ted military dcspotism : What then s-: =
What next \ standing army, oy:irs: vile.
we complained in the Revolution haTass;sa
our people out Of their substance; Ii miil;;a.7
deSpo,isln 10 reduce US TO state of subjectic.
and degradation far worse than colonial ben;
age.
Mr. President, some other mode besides :o;.c
must be reSorted 10, in order 10 preserve or!s
store this Union. The cause Of the diScoH,ra.
and disruption must be removed. Public SEA
tment must be reformed and rcyolntionizrl I.
the North The men of the No,,h--!l:e coa
seryative men Of the North. if there be SIC.
rise up and, with their heel. crush
out the spirit Of ianaticiSm und Of aboi!oniSm,
their worst enemy. II has lost them millions;
it has cost them millions: it has alicna,ci
friends snI allies; it has literally destroyed
this Union; it has subvc-tcd this Government.
and it has brought us row 10 the very verge
Of an awful civil war Ard ior what NJ.
Why, we never invade them; we rcvyr
interfere with their rights Of property or the.
domestic institutions Were We TO deny 10 tie
TO the capitalists, 10 the property
holders OF the North the right to employ tie
labor peculiar 10 their section, the starving Is.
oorers thrown out of employment, would rise
~ and demand bread or blood; were We toay.
peal to their agrarianS, whose name IS legion,
and say, "these men have grown rich up1:.
your labor--rise up, take from them Their
property and divide it, or cytngnish it by ,br
charge OF some would.be Cataines ard 1s.
MONS" some Justification would exist Tor the
warfare made upon US. We scorn such ;cL;'.
ncnts. Why then, sir, should re be pur.
sued by an unrplenting war upon US and 0n
Institutions, peculiar to Us, and which in no
manner concern them Some have said thatlhe
cohesive spirit which binds them together is
Iower, plumber, place No shall see in ew
lays whether or no it he the fell spirit Of fara'
:c>m which never reasons. which reve;
1auses, which never regards IL caution or G
which never tires, which neve,
stops, which never dies, until It revels in cX.
.itelnent and blood
Mr.. Presidential is said that The sent
nent Of the North is that the Union must aid
shall be preserved. Then they must not msEe
t. otious by making it n never ceasing annoy
ince. They must not make it odious and H.
:oerable by making it oppressive and desruc.
i've by any measures Of coercion. II was en-,
ieared to met was endearcd 10 the county
by the blessings which it was intended to
shower upon our great country. They mG.!
ct it still be endeared to US by its blessing,
md especially by the peace, security and tan.
guilty which it was intended to afford.
Sir, it must be union of lraternal attach
ncnt to be permanent. Its cement must be
Of interest. linked together by
common attachment. But, sir, ! will has.eh
'n. What would be the result Of measures Of
coercion to keep this Union tose;herf Wheneyer
he central sun shall succeed in drawing back
wen IN erra,c star by force, consolidation w!.
md its fatal career. The tendency CT force vii,
DC to centrazation Of power to conso!ita,
ion Of the Government and to subiucstioz,
I not annihIlation Of States and their litcr.
les. am, then from these considerations
opposed TO coercion. VIA, i:
coercion, SIR: ] reserve the consideration
81 it, until we receive the report OF cur C9ra.
a'eeeS' '"h ohIJ D utS ll!'lt Win the Ir.
low before HE, would regard the collCcilOa
}! the revenues from the seeded States. win.
'ut their consent, CT m attempt to re;eke he
orts within their limits and jurisdiction as CO
.rcion, as much ss an armed lorce TO f9lts
hem back into submission CT subsection,
here then shall Virginia go Upon IT,:
point ! shall not long dcain the attention CT
his patient usSeinbly. Where shall Vlreiai.
.o' In answer 10 the great difficulties sus.
.e>ted b. my friend upon the other eide, |
rave 10 say that Virginia will 60 rn where u@
ii she krrws the tel MS upon which she is 10
%. She will not blindy rush into this Onion
n into that until in fair council she has con.
'idcred, consulted, deiberatei and determined
What will best protect her rights. | have OIL:
o say that think she must soon come to
:oncluslon. She must stand either sl6re,
neutral, go with the North or 60 with ;he
south, She might stand in ! neutral position
as al armed neutral, if you please, between
Jelllgerent uOWcrs hrStlin.r ~. al .illy