Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1819-12-23
FOR THE ENQUIRER.

The congr' IS of the United States have
again before them the deeply interesting
Missouri Question. I'm my judgment,
The petty concern of an acquisition of
barren territory aud even the danger o.
war with decrepit foe, in comparison
with 1t, sink into iDsIgmticance. The
anaiter Is TO preserve the happiness we
already possess; Ia perpriuaie this mob
out deracy; to brighten the ci'atu whlci
binds together baad OF br pthrr,, instead
OF lighting up the torch al dis ord which
Will blaze like a bale fire from one end OF
the continent 10 the OTHER. The Iarmo
NY OF the present moment, the bappi-
ness OF The iHlnre, the indeptud nee of
the states, The continuance Of their union,
even The preservation of the unlmpaIred
sovereignty of this ancient and venerable
member ofthe cenfederacy. may perhaps
lang upon The decision of this interesting
question.-Let not then disgracrful
supiueness possess MS: Let not the fatal
Coma" which has be eloeuently de-
clared 10 have seized upon the people,
overcome us longer with leihargic STUN
Der let mol legislative body which
has hitherto been distinguished " for
acquiring NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. at dis
lance and seeming the approach OF
~ amy in every tented breeze," sleep
upon their posts AT this interesting mo
ment, when iIIeenemies OF our institutions
are throwing up outworks which at pc
rod not remote, may be used for The
subversIon OF our sovereignty and indie
pendPnce.
1t were charity TO hope that the motives
which have dictated the late attempt to
| introduce rtsirlciIOns into the constitu
ton OF Missouri were as praiseworthy a.
| they affect TO be. But we cannot wink
| so hard as TO be insensible TO the polt.-
cal object, which some of the siaiesmen
OF tho east would vain conceal. The
pretexts of humanity, and love of IL
berry, are too tilmsy veil to hide from
our view lhe political hostility which
| governs these. Humanity where is The
humanity OF resisting the only feasible
| plan OF future emaucIpalion2 Can We exc
pect All event so desirable in tie south
| eTn states, while their numbers so far ex
coed the numbers of The whites? Shall
we oppose that dispersion Of them through
the western states, which by lessening
the excess, may az a future day render
| practicable the schemes OF philanthropy
for their relief Shall we adopt The bar
barOU- principles of affected benevolence,
| III imposing check on the increase OF
black population by excluding them from
an emigration 10 country more salu.
brious AMI fertile than they now inhabif,
aud affordlng more abundarily the means
OF subsistence and comfort Admirable
philaDihropist, who have religion and
humanity or their lips, and look 10 tie
diminnlion of slave population { ON the
combined operations of pestience aud
| famine
But while humanity cannot offer an
apology for this outrage upon the right.
OF the south, IL is easily explained by tht
antlpa'hies Of certain politicians, auC
their jealousy Of the influence of ih,
southern states in the councils al the ma
tion.t Rob us of our just portion of tn,
territory which has been Jointly purchas
ed by the treasures OF The naiien, and tn
valley OF the Mississippi will be seltlet
by the Sous of the eastern people, lh
lnheTItors Of their fathers preindices
new states will spring up, emuious O
setting new limits 10 southern d0miua
iiuu; svarms OF" southern slave holders
will no longer crowd the halls OF congress
aud +" scar the eyeballs" of their icalou
! couutFy men -" the scepirs will dcpaT