Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-11-22

such amendments Of the Constitution as were
necessary to adapt it to the changed condition
of the country. But all their efforts having
proved abortve, and dominant sectional ma.
jority having clearly indicated its purpose 10
trample on the rights OF the Southern States,
!; no alternative was left to them but to seek re-
lief from oppression, by separation.
A similar necessity OF conforming our instl..
tutions, to the growth Of new relations and
interests, which arc constantly arising in the
progress Of society, requires that changes
should be made, from time to time in our
State Constitution. As Virginia is now about
to commence new era in history, il is impor-
tant that her organic law should be SO framed
as to guard her citizens, efftctually, against
the dangers ofoppression on the one hand, and
anarchy on the other.
Governments are instituted for the protcc-
tion Of the rights Of persons and property; and
any system must be radically defective, which
does not give ample security to both. The
great interests Of every community may be
clessed under the heads Of labor and capital,
and it is essential to the well being of society,
that the proper equilibrium should be estab.
lished between these important elements
TIE undue pred0mnance Of either must,
eventually, prove destructive of the social sys-
| iSiu. N'dp'S"' W Luo ION W tbS
many In those systems in which capital has
the ascendency, the government must, to some
extent, partakc Of the character of an oligarchy;
whilst in those in which labor liz predominant,
the tendency is to what Mr.. John Randolph
graphically described as ''the despolism Of
king numbers" II in the Office OF enlightened
craftsmanship 10 secure to each its appropriate
Influence, buL 10 give the absolute control to
neither.
The political condition Of the Northern
States presents q striking Illustration Of the
evils incident to the preponderaDce of the ele-
mcnt Of labor. In the early periods Of their
history, these evils were not so apparent az
lhcY have since become. Their population
was sparse, and the western territories afford
ed convenient outlet for their restless citi-
zens; labor was in demand, at high wages
property was easily acquired, and consequent.
IL tho line Of demaTkaton between labor and
capital was not strictly drawn, because the
aborcr Of to-day might readily become the
capitalist OF to morrow. But within the last
twenty years marked change has taken place
in the North. Population has BECOME dense,
and the salety-valye afforded by emigration TO
The western territories has been greatly OBJ
strpctcd Wages have not kept pace with
the cost Of Subsistence, and the difficulty Ct
acquiring property has increased. The ten
dcncy OF this new coalition OF things hns
been to divide society into two distinct classes,
and 10 array the one against tho other. This
tendency to a corhct between labor and cap
ita has already manifested Itself in many
forms, comparatively harmless, il is true, but
nevertheless clearly indicative o: spirit Of
lcentiousness which must, in the end, ripcn
into agrariapism. 1t may be seen in the s,s-
tenn OF free schools, bv which the children Of
The poor arc educated at the expense Of the
rich in the various forms Of exemption and
homestead bills; in the popular cry Of lands
for the landIpss," and 'homes for the bomc-
less :" in Fourierism and communism; in the
habltnal disregard Of the ordinances Of reli.
gion, and Of the institution Of rnatrimonv;
and moro distinctly, in tue iorm of abo!
tUnsm.
The radical principle ofsbolitionism is agra
rianiam. II is war on property, ur?!cr The
mask Of simulated philanthropy The pro-
pcr,y selected as the object OF attack is held
exclusively in the Southern States, and By u
comparatively small class of citizens Hence
it was supposed to be the most drfencclcss-
But this is only the beginning Of the contest
1t is war on the outposts Of capital, which will
soon be followed by more formidable assaults
on the owners Of land and other species OF
property. History teaches that when mum.
bcrs," unchecked by suitable constitutional
restrictions, have the control, agrarienism or
despotisn must soon follow.
1t is notorious, that already, in most of the
Northern States capital is forced to obtain
temporary security, by paying tribute to labor
Money constitutes an important clement in al
their elections. Bribery OF voters is matter
of every day occurrence. Preparatory to cv-
cry political contest large sums of money are
subscribed by capitalists, or exacted by leTcs
ON ofice holders, for the purpose Of corrupting
the voters and the journals Of the Federal
Congress disclose tho disgraceful fact that
Northern members Of that body have sold
their official votes for money.
But this system OF prohigacy and corruption
can only serve to postpone, iUr luc, the ''!r
repressibe conf ct," which, under their forms
| Of government, must eventually ensue between
slow to learn that the power is in their hands,
and they will not scruple to use it for their
own advantage. They will not be content
with the brbcs lavished by unprincpled par
tisans, but under the lead of graceiess dema-
gogucs, they will act on the assumption that
''all property is robbery" and that the great
est good 10 the greatest number requires the
division Of property among the down trodden
! millions.
The agencies By which these m!schevous
| fal,acies may be rendered potential, are. uni
versal suffrage and the election of all officers
by the direct vote Of the people. The former
gives controlling power 10 men who have the
least interest in the community, and tho latter
renders that power etfectual, by giving direc
| ton to the legislation and administration VI
the government.
In the opinion of your committee no system
Of government can afford permanent and cffec.
.tual security to life, liberty and property,
which rests on the basis Of unlimited suffrage
and the election Of officers Of ev,ry department
! of the government by the direct vote OF the
people. The tendency Of such system is to
demoralizo the masses; to encourage the habit
Of cthce seeking; to foster corruption at the
polls, and to place unworthy and incompetent
men in positions Of trust and responsibility
These, however, arc The vital principles Of the
social organization Of the North, and, rs be-
fore stated, their bitter fruits are already in
course OF rapid development.
| In the Southern States moro conservative
and rational principles still prevail. This is
due, mainly, ID the institution of slavery, which
| constitutes partial restriction On the right Of
suffrage. In the North, men Of every class ard
condition of life arc entitled to vote. In the
South, all who arc in condition Of SerYltude
are necessarily excluded from tho exercise OF
political privileges, and the power of the coun.
try is welded by the more intelligent classes,
who have permanent interest ID The well, be-
ing of society.
Slavery also constitutes an etfectual barrier
against that tendency to cEtagonisln between
labor and capital, which exists in The North.
There, capital is the casual employer Of labor,
and is interested in diminishing its wages
Here capital is the owner Of labor, and, na;u-
rally, seeks to enhance its rewards.
Virginia is Now in the midst OF Il revolution,
the results Of which no human sssacity can
accurately forsee. II is our duty, however, 10
! -. al, ~ ~, :.J,