Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1864-01-05

uGubuu e peI4iEcut ahS tucfc UEpH 2Ey tiueS-
ton Of their right to withdraw at pleasure
from the union it was designed to form.
When the Constitution WIS, however,
adopted, il vas Obvious to- the mast ordinary
sncacity. that, unless it WIS construed. and
: its admitted powers were exercised. in the
spirit to which the Constitution was indebted
for its existence, the gHVerntlen. authorized
thereby could not hst. Yet it is we'll
known historical fact thSta great party was
speedily formed to change the whole cherac-
Ier Of tic Government. and, through the
agency Of the implied powers thereof, utterly
10 sub7ert the reserved powers Of the; States.
! This was inc more remarkable, ss tie powers
OF the Federal Governpent were exclusively
/ VI Il delegated character. that Powers- not
granted were dcnie,:.f ff'ae evidences On this
! subject might be multiplied az the leaves Of
autumn, were it necessary; hut as | refer I,
it only Cor the purpose OF pointing out the
fountain Of bitter waters, may he spared
further specification and be allowed to follow
its low 10 that great ocean. the storms Of
{ which hure carried sorrow and death into the
bosom O. almost every family in the laud. |
shall contine myself to one subject only as il
; Illustrative OF that want "of amity, and Of that
! mutal deieraHce ard concession which the pc
cuiiarity Of our poitital situation rendered
+, Indispensable
Oae OF the great isiere,ta L. be protected in
! the new Constitution was Toe institution Of
slavery. Thu. Interest well knew that great
Efforts would br Inade for ia overthrow: AID
although ut the adoption OF the Constitution,
| slavery existed in Ill the States but one, yet
! tie unorring lGw III race allowed Il" doubt
/ that Ks final resting place w"nM he in the
! Southern States. IL provide Er lis safety
+; :t.il protection wasa plain and o!,inas 'im;y.
Provisions were accordingly inserted in tee
Constitution, which were deemed ample and
! snll;sicni: and lkc price Ter them r'rcnrfn'ly
] paid, in the power oTeT coDimcrcr and naTi.
siti0n. notwithstanding all which, 1T the
| first Congress agitation began. The act Of
f: l192, known rs the fugitive slave act, was
:assed 10 vitalze the clause Of the Cunsttu-
;ion authorizin. The return Of fugitive slaYr-.
General Waahlnstou was tiIo frs! T. claim the
,oorcr than provoke the howl which was
a7,ou: 10 he raised l,y tIe l:lnatica of Masu,~
: ,:irusct;-.
| And he, the Father of Lia Country and ;lsc
. President Of the United States, was denied tie
! ,eteti; of clause 81 the Constitution i.nd oi
/ al act Of ConS:css intended la give j: effect
crcssluS in strength and volume, until, IL the
claimed bY. the North, in debate, that the I'D
mission Of Missouri was P question Uf pOwcr
:,ud - such, cvarrqlG Ill other considerations
! IL is wel knG"n thar t!Iis question ~ that
Tine seriously endangered ;ic Union. tpon
lis uforana te a6ius.:nenr,d did fanati:iso cease
lis efforts! Nc: ill work was only partially
accomplished, and agitation was resrElrl Wit!
Increased activity, in nttcr disregard ct that
trsternn! Split, wi,hnut which the cry %!
Union VAS nothiD. 1ore than an empty sound.
1t again culminats1 in 800 upon the
territorial question: Gnd the Union once
/ raore trem bled 70 its base. Bat the wisdom
~ cCnyrcs1 effected t-noe, -"d ''g :, series
nf measures. postpoDed tire impending biow.
| This adjustments. however. gSfe 10 peade' no
repose. ranasieism. hnlsel tf ii entire
purpose, relouhlei IT. eiEnrtt-.it GaSn warn
! ing ca the i!5or Of the Senate rtict asi!r'!"n
should ncver cease an.l its desises sh"n!i !e
iull, a.complishs,!--i. entered tic halls 81
| Stat, Legislation. and ohtaiHs! the pas
| say. nE ,f.sonql Htsuty Ia,r&; Laws denonnc-
irr citizens. in rarsuit oC their property,
| AZ cnity Of u crime punishable by cnntae-
| Inent in the peritentary; laws for removing
] jndgss who proved ton honest and indersn.
dent "a become the tnol of its wi!i-nnu ~
| n;eudcd "a nul!ify clause ot &c C9nsc'
tuition ard acts passed IN pursuance thcrs-
cit inci;cd mobs ~ CO The work o.! death
anon respectable citizens in pursuit q! tfei7
lawful and constitutional rights. And. iipll-
| II, in disregard to n!l prectdenl-t" tnat
| "sDirH Of gmHy" and nl @tlIat mutnot dctt'''
fnre and esacesseon 10 ~ Lsch hsve so frequent
| " rete,red-dared to run Nn entirely sectional
ticket fer the highest offeet OF the country. de-
clarips that i. would no longer be dependent
uponNhe slsYpholding States to arr extent what"
ever The position .hus tnken and successfully
maintained by Northern faNaticism III the elsc-
ton of lis candidates. filled the hearts ., lhe
Southern Stscs with dependency and giooln ana
impressed taein with the melancholy coIlTlrtion
| .i... there WAS no longer hope OF living IN the
Cuicn, in the enjoyment Of tho rights 1t was
designed to secure, Rnl hat 'ths time bal come
when the existing form Of Governments having
. become destructive of those ends for which it
was instituted, il w:s Mrir ri"H as 1t was fhe!r
! dniu, in the language If the Declaration ot ln>
,,ependence, "to alter or abolish It, laying It's
| foundation on such principles. nnd organizing
| is powers in such FORM AZ 4" hrN sha'! seem
I most likely to affect their safely anu ihlp''
| IeSs. ,
| But, notwithstanding iii, loag eontinneG
! wrongs and Injuries which the South had
sustained at the hands of Ihe non-s!avrho!d:: =:
inr North, most Of the SouAbern States still
clunr with fond tenacity TO the work OF our
fathers AMI essaycd III various ways II re-
adirat the disturbed relations Of the Sta:ai.--
Oar ae.r old Virginia made extraordinary
efforts. NJ we'll bnfitted her, for reimbursement
| and ior rcacc: hut all in.yain. The North.
stimulated by lfcr hatred of the South and the
consciousness Of her strength, and believing,
nnhap,;ly, tha; wo would not dare the laet
| extremity, turned deaf car - every 07erturs
| and resolved on force On the 18th day OF
Anil, 1SGi, President Lincoln issued his pro-
c!ama.ion ror seycnty.iivc thousand ,nHa to
nit down tho ins direction. as he WAS. l'!c"sei
r. tern it. Virginia WAS called upon Tor her
quota. 20 dra:qtn h.r Ssutbern sisters int
submission, an, she rosrthnlct by passing. ~
the 18th Of April, lsGl, her ordinance OF s"-
,ession, uniting her fate - ,their'. 1t !ya;
unlnr this condnct on tho part Of the Ecn'
slavckUlding States, and after every effort t.
ur,serye tho Union which oar ancestors ':at
;oraed, had failed, that ,nr Convention tel
ti.soli eosatrains! 10 iik. 1hIshveanl" and i,iih
stau "which deu0liucrs our separation All
!iald them, as wa bold tho rhst Of mankind
| enemies in war; in peace, friends" This nr
i;,r,nar rrag als;r suhnitt2d 10 3 vote ri tht
rco;..e, who, v;itn rare an! noble uuann'atY
appruycd It, and in support OF it, plei.sd /
1 stch other, '.our lives, our fortunes and GU
Il sacred horror"
); have thus referred 10 GRE Of the gren
/, cause. Of or unhappy diMculhes-toa briefly
: pebays, for pcrap:cuity: too much at 'enGst
! FOR such m occasion ..s the present ani ye
, trust of sufficient fullnesa to c!e'T Y sl.ov
: | tina. tho sentiment or the Northern nI.d ha
t waged iipessant war npon one OF the gtea
| compromises oi the Constitution, frodHciNt
thereby the irritation and injustice whie
+, have destroyed those pleasant und harp
: relations which twas expected the 6nlo
/ | would establish and assure. and wSleh Ia
: cuinirased in this frightfnl ard blood
:, war, While the South evinced her love {