Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-12

N''Ns - oSSN'Niiot ilAlC ilISli eUICHUSTGu tncSc
evils IS continually nagaiiying then, by every
TORN and effort OF incendiarisln, until they are
no longer eudurable; until the people actuated
by it have obtained the reins of federal au-
thority and control in all the departments of
government; and until several Of the sovereign
lies, parties to the federal compact, have been
compelled to resume the powers granted by
them under the Federal Constitution, and 10
form separate and Independent con!ederacy,
thereby disSoring the Union of the United
States Of America
These wrongs have been perpetratcd in part
oy the Federal Government, either by acts of
omission or commission, in part by the nor.
saveholding States, and in part by their peo.
pie, unrestlained by lawS, such as conlederates
are oounu to enact Ill respect to the rights and
safety Of each other.
! and the secession, consequent upon these
wrongs, IS now met by every Indication oi In
intention and an attempt to GEORGE the srlblnis.
sion of seeding States, by tho authorities OF
the Federal Govcrnmenr, who arc but the mere
agents of the sovereign parties 10 the federal
compact, without even an appeal to them fur
the sanction Of any ultimate resort to force.
| Thus, under the preteSt of enforcing laws Of
the Federal Government the jurisdiction oi
which is now denied and ahjured by the sece.
ding States, the nation is in,nnently threaten.
cd by an unnatural and unnecessary civil war;
equally unnecessary, whether the Cnon is To
be tinai'y dissolved or restored.
These indications are made but too plainly
manifest by the failure Of the Conference, in.
augurated By the Legislature Of this Common
wealth herself, TO agree un any terms Of al.
justment; by the disclaimer OF ali power on the
part Of the federal authorities to negotiate for
peace with the commissioners of the seeded
States by the inaugural address Of the incuIn-
bent President Of the United States. declaring
the policy, powers and purposes Of his admin.
| istration of the Federal Government and sup
posed to represent the sentiments Of large lna-
jorities Of the States constituting the major sec.
zion of the United States; by his failure to sug-
gest any mode, whilst disclaining u!i powers
oi adjustment; by the failure of Congress to
recognize the results Of the Peace Conference.
Of to reconmendsany other plsn Of peace; and
by the concentration Of Fedora! srovps at rari.
Gus points, ard the reinforcing and holding Of
certain forts and arsenall, with the obvious IN.
tent and purpose af overcoming any Resistance
to the execution Of federal laws by the seeded
States. and TO overawc the further secession
and free action Of the slavcholIng States.
Under these circumstances of peril to every
| thing precious to a State, this Commonwealth
feels compelled to appeal 10 her cGnfedcratcs
still remaining in the Union and to ask for
their deter,ninate conclusions on the following
points of difference and dissensiDn. rs to which
she is bound to demand, aud seeks to obtain
satisfactory guarantees and ussuranccs for the
future:
|. As to a full recognition Of the rights of
property in African slaves.
9. As to slavery in the District Of Columbia.
3. AS to the powers Of the Federal Govern
.nent over African slavery, and the employment
OF slave labor in the forts, arsenalS dock yards.
and all places ceded by tue States Cor federal
uses
+. AS to protection against the pretcnsion to
lay ard collect excessive diree: taxes on slaves
.. As 10 the rendition OF fugitive slaves.
6. As 10 protection Of the right and comfy
Of transit with slaves through the limits Of the
States, by land or water; and Of the right Of
transportation Of slaves on the high seas.
Z. The protection Of the right Of citizens Of
the United States, owning slaves to sGjnurn
temporarily with their slaves in waiting, i'll tie
limits OF non-slaveho!ding States.
g. The protection OF equality Of settlement
by owners Of Slaves, with their slave property,
in the common territories Of the United Sta!es.
Q. AS TO the rights cf negroes OF free per-
sons Of the African race ~ all the privileges
and imiuuuities Of citizens Of TIE Scvsra
States.
TO- As to tho equality OF The A;rcaE: racc
with the white race in th+ States where II NAY
reside, and the projections Of that equality by
State laws, and hy the laws Of the United
States
H. AS 10 the better secnrity Of tie indc.
pcndence Of the Judicial I!cpartmen! Of the
Government of the United States by changing
the mode Of appointing the Federal Judges.
p As to the protection 0! the slaveholdns
States against the abduction Of their slaves,
by repeating such State or Federal laws as may
countenarce the wrong, or by passing such
laws by the States and by the Federal Gov
ernment as may be necessary aa1. proper to
suppress it.
l3. As to the protection Of the domestic
tranquility Of the people Of the United States,
by supprcssing the nccndiary asSeinbIages,
associations anal publications which have en-.
gendered the sectional wrongs and hatred
which have rent the Union asundrr mud now
threatens civil war.
IA. The protection of the public peace ny
suppressns societies and individual cifor;s Tor
the collection Of money and olher means to
invade the States or territories Of the United
States.
10. And BY suppressing all organizations
seeking and introducing foreign aid and inhu-
ence, to ncte domestic violence in any Of tie
States or Territories Of the United States.
Upon these points, oud any others which
may arise requiring them, this Commonwealth
needs and ought To demand additional asst
RANGES and guarantees to those now existing
and those assurances and guarantees can, on
the main ppints cf diss.nson and severance,
only be made sure by obtaining, not merely
Constitutional amendments. or the pledges OF
States by resolves or otherwise, but by grants
Of power to check abuses or wrongs b7 mn.
iority OF the States.
And with view Df adjusting these points
and obtaining these guarantees, guarded ny
The necessary md proper checks and balances
of power, it is recommended that tins Con-
vention shall appeal to the States still remain
. iug in the Cni"n. 10 give, at as early daE "S
practicable, their answers 70 those demands .,
this Commonwealth. say within the period o'
tue present year and by the lst day oil October
next, il possible.
In the mean time it Is recommended that
every step be taken tp preserve the peace oi
the country.
That to that end neither the Federal Co7crn-
,nenr nor the seeded States shall commence hos
tilitics; that the States DOW in the Union should
confer with this State upon II mode Of sanction
ing the claim of the ri sht CT peacea5!e SeccS-
sion, and Of determining all questions arising
thereupon, such as the free navigation OF the
Mississippi river, the maintenance OF forts anu
arsepuls, and the settlement of commercial
and postal regulations &C., &c And the
Federal authorities should avoid all acts what
ever tending to cause or to irri'a,s the causes
Of civil war, by ahStaining from the execution
Of all laws which may require the force of arms
against the seeded States; by withdrawing
sil M occupation oi their forts, arsenas, dock
pard. and other places ceded; and by reducing