Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-05
Tho Franklin Substitute.


Notwithstanding the great pressure upon
our columns, we feel impelled by a sense OF
duty 10 occupy portion CT our space in call
ing the attention of the people Of Virginia to
this most extraoi binary and monstrons propo
stion, by which Virginia and the other Border
States if they accept it, are to be degraded and
dishoncrea
We have asked for bread and they have
given US a stone ior fish and they have given
MS serpent; and yet there arc men in Virginia,
and unfortunately in the Convention, who will
gladly accept the store and the serpent, and
return thanks to Black Republican bounty
aud goodness for providing so dainty repast
These men, however, be il known, are those
who could never see uny cause OF complaint
against the Federal Government, nor any
reason why any Southern State should leave
the Union; and have have always Justify
demanded to know Of what grievances the
South complained. Among the most promi-
nent of them too will be found, men who have
ever maintained the consitutionality Of the
W!lnot proyiso.
These rlen will endeavor to make the honest
patriotic and confding people Of Virginia be-
lieve that in this settlement they have full
recognition of their rights, and that the Black
Republican, party have by it made concessions
TO them; whilst in truth and in fact, IS in
every Other settlement or compromise that has
been made Of this re2ed question, the South
has still further yielded and surrendered to the
unwarran,ahc and impudent demands Of the
North, her clear, ascertained and adjudicated
rights, and the North, Us usual, has conceded
nothing.
This miserable eSpedisnt, calculated if not
designed, to cheat the people of the border
States ought to be secuted and Scorned by
every man who holds dear the honor Of Tir.
GINA, who insists upon her equality in the
Union, and who has regard TO her future pros
pcrity and glory. Let the people of Virginia
adopt this settlement, after all their brave
words upon the subject Of demanding their
rights, and they will have fully vindicated
their claims TO be regarded las they were some.
times ago styled by member of the present
General Assembly, Us the "reso lutiondry sons
Of revolutionary sires."
The first object which the Black Republican
party will secure by this proposition is one, to
the accomplishment Of which all their energies
aad efforts have been heretofore directed, viz:
the cor Snememt cf siurery seithin itsprtSent
LINKS. More lar-sishted and Statesmanlike than
those Of the South who advise Il settlement
upon the terms of the franklin substitute. they
look beyond the present hour and generation,
and ale ,nsent 10 ''place slacsry en- course
Of ai:."iuis sStinc:ion," although years and
years ana even generations should pass away
before their object can be attained; while the
sio7t-sigh;ed statesmen Of the South are con-
tent, il :ksa t;:m escape, III their day and gem
Grafton, strife. contention and perhaps war, and
pass in quiet ard peace 10 their graves, to
leave posterity to take care of itself as best it
NAV, and settle the question vi slavery as it
can. with many blessings upon their patriotic
and peace loving ancestors, vino inaugurated
the policy by which the slaves Of the South
were - Dc CNtSTiiii!latcu VI SihdliSlpaleu, anu
possibly both, unless some means shall be
found 10 prevent the rrepresSiblc conflict which
uust arise between the two classes. The e.
puasivn IF tie SouM by this propositio" is tor
ersr pre1sntsa.
We have lao; the time now 10 80 iully into
the consideration Of all the provisions OF this
proposition; We may recur to the subject at
some future time We shall, therefore, as
specimen, take the first section Of this plan OF
adjustment BY it slavery is forever prohibited
North Of the line Of thirty-six thirty, and the
Shareholder, with his property, is forbidden to
inter- upon that soil '.consecrated to freedom,
and he thus surrenders without any equivalent,
his equality in the common territories of the
Union, and foregoes the rights adjadged to him
by the Dred Scott decision But say some of
our Southern friends, you lose nothing BY this,
for nature has settled the question, and slavery
can never exist North Of that line. We'll, il
nature has settled , Why have the Abolition
lists been so arxior. IL &c. Congress to endorse