Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-08
and unite the South have cherished hope
for the perpetuity Of the Union, and until q
few weeks past, mine has been The sentiment Of
the poet,

the poet,
"Lonc be our fathers temple ours,
Woe 10 the hand b. which II fAls
Departed spirits watch its towers,
Let living patriots guard lie Walls.
7 felt that when dead and coifincd, could
look back upon my clay cold FORM it would be
nleasant to see that sentiment written across
INV heart. Such have been my attachments
such my feeling for this Union but under
the present circumstances, see not how II can
be maintained. would rejoice in 1t II we could,
| in honor and Justice to ourselves and TO thaU
race committed to our care, stay where we nave
been. But live in degenerate times W no
cannot see that our great want is, men 81 ere,
cutise and legislative ability? Wisdom ana
peace have departed from US, and anarchy, con-
fusion and passion reign. Already separation
has commenced, and that is the tocsin vi alarm
to all the Southern States. It is better, no
doubt that the States should act separately.
once thought cooperation BEST but IL Is clear
that there are Il great many side issues OH
which the South could not agree and division
| in 4 Southern convention would be anarchy
As l believe God designs that the Southern
should be Il distinct people, so think the sepa-
ration Of the States, Ole by one, is proS'denlia.
| When out OF the present coniedcracy, the ne
cessity for Union will over ride all conflicting
elements and bring US together on some com
mon basis To-day, while we meet to humble
ourselves before God and ask his guidance and
protection, the work Of disruption is gong
on, and we are in the midst Of revolution
3. The North has been almost entirely unit
| in this crusade, and for years past we have
been distracted and disturbed. Our Congress
has been unfit for legislation, and in such
state of passion, that we have mad no calm tie
lberation-no Just observation-disclosures sound
legislative judgment.
One party has dcat out abuse, which has
been returned by the other. On the South have
been poured vituperation, caluplny and anathe-
mas, which have been hurled back into the face
| of AbulitionisIn. Such has been the state Of
things among our politicians and statesmen,
| that, years ago, concluded We had 4 Federal
| Government only in name. Can any man read
the history Of both branches of our Congress,
for years past, and say they arc competent
Legislators. Fanaticism rules the day. 10 be
carried away with one singl idea is tailaticlsm
We are in the habit OF calling only Abotionists
fanatics; but if you examine it, you Will see
that any man whose passions get the better OF
| his reason and will, is fanatic AbolltIonIsts
are fanatics for this cause; but there are many
such besides them Look at the condition Of
Congress! | hesitate not TO affirm that we must
have an entire revolution before we can have
Congress. If we have no hope OF a change in
the character OF orr Legislators, what, ask, do
VIC want with such Government? There is
no harmony, no unity, and but little states
manship lief, in the halls Of Congress.
IT, Had the time would like to 20 largely
into the inquiry concerning the causes 81 this
state Of things, but must content myself with
only 4 few remarks. The root OF the matter
is deep, and, SO far as We can see, beyond the
reach Of human power. | have sought for it !;
| have looked and thought, long and earnestly,
after the source Of our troubles, and after years
OF investigation, the best solution of the pro-
blem is that which am about 10 give you:
]. Wrong idsas on the subject Of hnniua
liberty, received in early education and de-
vclopcd in all the qualifications Of our civil
Jurisprudence and social relations. That "dll
men are GOrn free and squaL," is the idea
which has obtained power, grown and strength
cncd, until it begins to bc the bane of our
society, and threatens our liberties and peace.
1t has been pcrnicinus ut the South but, since
the agitation Of this subject, the Southern
mind has taken different and more proper
views Of the question. In the North, however,
it has had full sway, and its influence sweeps
all before it, and the consequences are now the
subject Of intense solictude in every part Of the
land affecting alike the interests of all classes,
both at home and abroad. These erroneous
views are seen in the history of your States
men, in the textbooks OF your Colleges, and
in the general literature oil the country. 1t
used to lie that the first thought the boy learned
from his spelling. book was "slaSeiy Is n sin. i"
The first book learned left the impression on
my mind that slavery was wrong; grew up
with the idea When young man, friend
Of mine in conversation witt! me- asked Inc if
| would consent 10 own servant, i'll case he
made me present Of one: answered, No!
and this sentiment was prevalent among all
classes in my time. | never met, in that day,
with man WHO believed otherwise than that
slavery was wrong We got it from books,
| from teachers, from the pulpit and the press
About the time Of the Southampton insurrec-
ton, it was openly ayowcd in Virginia, and
earnestly pleaded for in our State Legisla-
ture. But if it be wrong per sc, to hold a
negro in bondage, then it is wrong, so fur rs
| the abstract principle is concerned, 10 hold
your son in subsection, till he is twcDty-onc
| The same principle is involved; and thus tho
doctrine which has developed itself into the
abolitionism Of the Sorth, strikes Il blow at the
| very foundation Of law and the order Of society,
as its history shows wherever it has prevailed.
| But while these erroneous views have been
corrected at the South, they still prevail to Il
fearfully increasing extent in the free States.
| There the masses conScientionSly believe
slavery to be Il sin. and this antipathy to the
great principle Of political and social taa9uality
underlying the structure of all well balanced
society, has been encouraged and fed by the
politicians and statesmen Of the North: First,
Us hobby, OIL which to ride into office, and
second rs safe guard against the overthrow
of the political and social equilibrium Of their
section of society and Government. For if the
free labor system bc confined 10 positive limits
the increase OF population will, (undcr the laws
Of competition bring pressure upon the Ia
boring classes, which, with their loose notions
of human liberty and the comparative supc-
riority in the condition Of our aboring classes,
will prccipitatr thcmanto terrible revolution.
And hence, We say the badly educated moral
Sense of the masses ut the North, under the
guidance OF acute and in many instances I'M
yrincipled politicians. is one OF the causes OF the
agitation which now threatens the country
D Another cause is found in the 'oidest
and wiidest political liberty given 10 our pep
pie, IN accordance WIN TIC Pic'aIenI 'thu '"'Ne
notions of human liberty alluded to above
In Virginia and all the Southern States the
right Of suffrage is restricted to the white po-
puation 1t used 10 be- very properly, restrict
cd to certain class of the white population; but
in the. North all classes exercise the elective
franchise. Foreigners, and, in some instances,
negroes and nenias of every sort exercise
voting power 1t seems to be bad enough,
| when restricted to all native born white citizens.
But the ENHANCEMENT Of our affairs is not sur
prising when VIC sec thousands upon thou
sands of the most stupidity ignorant native
born citizens, with boards Of foreign menials,
without any principles or just ideas Of our
institutions permitted to guide our interests
by their votes mean not to attack the intel
ligcnt or monied class of foreigners who, from
choice, come to our shores. honor them and
We should receive them gladly, nor should we
,II, b,. ih. IA ct