Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1865-01-31
s7.vrgoLpINe RECONSTRUCTION
ISTS,

lSTS. -
T. i .,..,i thss .hoso arc os'sain ,,;.a
:, Congress. representing large f'"
a,,:.esnc;.e, who have creD', de"larea .asi,
r.,;s1suor FL Reconsideration WIZ $
. ....,:v & slavsrs, to Che emaae'f 49,.
60 ~ y mssns Of occurring tao '"s'Pe"
a,ace &C "a. C,ateaa-ass osS''"'
o. tn,v sf no proposs$;oas i'r 'maac'pa'
t;on by IKE s.st.s. That suhj.c' is sa,rou.t
~ bv 50 many loyal and eoolal cssts.''S' ~,
.w.,,;o securing the only object Taioh wou:e
Justify its adep.ioa, is so doubsa. that theF' IL
i,..io probability Of its bsing sven co2sldsrsu'
But NO contemplate with Advertisements Tie a0-
ols,ssioas to which 70 have rsfer'e1' ,.
C.u il b, possible that men Representing
s!,sshold;ug Constituencies would pfa'ef 70
.orninr 10 the Union to Tho dedication OF taeir
n,onsr,y 10 tia ososs Of independence.
what constituted the rroximats cause OF
.h;sua,2 Toe prohibition OF slavery exion-
,;on and tho unwArran:abls interference with
~, institution of slavery within the Sia!es.
Why have cur people rallied to this cause
Oajy because they regarded it ono io'm Of m
ss,f4-.n,. Wal, tho rights Of property within
tbs StR.as.
"a .ha arm5 Of lelencs composed exclusively
.r Lay sholdsrsY They have responded nob'y
:, ia, ,;.d:oa.ion If tie pub!ic rights. TksY
have contributed their means snd thsir lives
10 Tho comnonaisfsnce. Bat, as Q class, th'y
hay. sniaysd $asrsain praoticsl exemptions
f.ou, tho general CONSUMPTION. Man owning
s,a7.s hsy, bssn able to employ substitutes.
,rh.y t,a-. h.sn exempted from military ter'
yics because they owned fifteen hands or less
TIA non SHAREHOLDERS have, On the contrary
enjoyed no similar privileges. Thsy have not
soaghs them.
Nov Whist contributors to the aauss have
h,ea made BY the non. slsvohoid!ng rsctions OF
th:s and other S.atesH Talks the Valley OF
Virginia for insssnco. Thee the 0iave pre-
p.rsY has bten carried away: the leasas burn
oil and tho country sbandoucl to conflict be-
tween ths oons,aaing armies. Tho men from
this region havs endured TO faio os VAL
They hsY. bs.a musi!stsl sad bsgga,ed ~
r.. VA. T5sy hare lost the special interest
r,L.s a caisf pIZs occasionel tho war.-
I!sys 10y f:a;asi f:on OF abandoned the
eau:e hs3sase ihoi7 ;aie:eos ID tbs cause
mas ie-n eztinyuisLed Ga tas contrary.
ta.y ding che clo,or to She principle of indie.
rs1::nos wien -;,sii property intsses. in ito
nr:s-e7a:ioo his tesn diminished.
C.a =, :Aasa. De possi5ls tist thcss 30 dosp!y
i.t.cgs.s2 n ia, causa Is ITO slAEeboldefs from
r:s interior af tho cotton States should prefer,
uaIs. any o;-cu instances, the security Ct their
rr,pasty TO tAe independence o. these S:atst
Z: you'd b in ef,os to ray 10 all other inter.
:.:s " You have fought for this integrity OF
u vs. si:le, ysu. country hss bean Desc
":Hssi, you: lives snd limbs lave boon saari'
htod 70 h. SUCCESS Of this object, but we
''toub. your api.ity 70 guarantee, by your
"vslo,. sas satisfy cfour Gtie. fou even pro-
"Toss 70 ea.s!s:. Ills tit!s - tho sui caSa o.
aJcu. :aus.: Ag tie oljso; Of tho war wal
:" she aatsiy =; sGTe :itl., 20 must sock thai
"o:i&t - c?e,lcr ccurre. We shall throw
cG:s.!res rtan tito protection of the enemy
:; iIrLey will gE.a: rs, at least, tho temporary
use q nur rwn Slaves"
Ills lie :br alleged proposition " certain
B'svsAotAiaE members translated. Wees1no'
admit ttss apy rcc,ifce Of interest or matt"
tutor i, to great to be inside, il sueh uaari-
doe will s.ccre praue and Independence. W!
repeat, that VIC DO not believe emancipation
sill sneure independence and wo w2uld not
.5oTe1ore, 1:ake tho experiment.
Blu. il Rry ili-sdviRed shareholder should
s.so<. 70 reconstruction for The protection 81
his Or, p,rty, Jet US BsSwhns 10 would gain
Ths n,7thi,sl proposals. Of Eiai. sud Singleton
aff-m tho supremacy Of tho FsdsTsl GrAs'i-
tuition. Now, under the: Consultation, pro-
l,sitita la. been Introduced 10 tie Federal
CoDgrsrs ICY 60 amending tho Constitution Of
e suto2rlz. The abolition CT slsve,y.
EAis p,,eosition rsquires iDR v''rd to BE-
hece,. lsw, Ii Is said, we think W Mr
seward, that Congress will adept The measure
during the tItuing sss.icn, Tho Feeeis]
Constitution moreover author;z,s that tho Leg
;slaturss Of tbrso lGurths CT tho States may
change their Constitutions. Now, upon re-
contribution, there would be ten slave States
and, we think, scme twenty four or five free
S!s,ss, with other territorial States either ad
m;tt.l OF ready for admission. TIE number
Of s!sv, States is 8xed, that of the free S:ateb
will bs iee-es.sd by the formation of.neW
Sss..b fiola rational domain and alien POPE
lx,iop. How long, then, would tho protection
Of slayerY last Fer tow mSn7 months or
days1 Long enough, say soels, 70 reap the
pr0hss Of their lsbor for the maintenance OF
thor owner. Then We should have prems-
tnrs resos to secure to comparative foW the
temporary uss Of thor property? Thsss men
would have given life. limb, property, and .
er.s. cause, for the special gain Of a few.
Now ". repudists the Lertiment attributed
to certain members of Congress, as tho ssnti-
meat Of tho slavebolding class. We know
hundreds who have given property, ard life,
TO tins cause OF Independence. Wc know hum
i,sds thu. would DO willing If sny guarantee
of freedom could be giysn-~to subscribe c0esy
slave ,hey possess to tbs succsss of the cause.
Sach concession is wholly unauthorized by
tbs shareholders Of Virginia.
We have no disposition to discuss questions
befors they sriss. But We have no idea Of
permitting suQb declarations to 70 before the
world, AZ binding any moro than the inaiSid-
, uals who msy have uttsred them, end, possibly,
sas GOES :i.csa!s which they represent.
/! would b. singular spectacle if it should
appear that either one cf these States, which
invited Virginis into this conflict, finding
.hsir interests likely 10 .uffsr by tho further
prosecution Of the war, should compound Tor
their own safety, by surrender of the pin
ciples of State Sovereignty involved in the