Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-02-01
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To the Editor Of the Ernnklin Gn-ette.

The editor OF AN eastern paper has lately
doue me thu honor TO extract IA passage /. lat
Ire 10 slavery, from my work on South AME-
RIGA, and al the same time expresses sutnr,ze
at seeing my name among those in favor of adj
mittlng Missouri into the union, without the
famous proposed restriction. / do not at once
discover that aversion 10 slavery is at all in
compatible with The opinion that it is proper to
ieace to each state the right to Lgislute on this
important subject Of inte'Rnt police With res
pect To the propriety OF legisating for tht ter
ritoT1eS OF the United States, Oh the subject of
slavery L have expressed II my opinion
that congress has the power aud ought to ex-
ercise IL. There is nothing incompatible IN
my hostility TO slavery III the abstract and the
opinion that Missouri, having attained the re-
quisite population, ought to be admitted into
the union; aud that the United States are
bound in good faith tn admit her. That am
not so tar wrong IN the opinions which have
publishes, Is proved by the fact OF the eastern
members of congress, in the COMPROMISE lately
attempted to be brought about, having ofie red
to make the Missouri river the boundary he
tween the region where slavery Is TO be per
united, aud that whence il is 10 be excluded
Inc difference Is not In point of principle
bat Ia tie adjustment of details; the attemnt
TO effect compromise, having failed i'm con-
sequence OF the southern members of con-
gress insisting upon the present territorial
line, embracing narrow tract OF country on
The north side of the Missouri, CONTAINING
some important settlements.
am IN favor of admitting the Missouri for
another reason, drawn from INV knowledge of
IN" country: IL Us tins: it is not likely to be
come STARE holding state under any circulnsfan.
ceS.-Ihe population which flows into il comes
chiefly from the non-slave hOldIn. states aud
no large slave holders settle in il al all those
VINO settle seldom bring more than a few do
Westlcs. who are attached to their masters |
ann satisfied that much OF the defamation on
this subject 10 the eastward arises from a wan,
OF knowledge OF the county But n will he
asked why do the peOple of Missouri contend
with SO much earnestness for that which is
scarcely worth the contest: That is A ouestion
for tiIemselves.-Ihis,I know. that with very
few exceptions, those among the inhabitants
wh0 are against the Ju'fher Introduction of sLre-
Ty, are as averse 10 the restriction as those
who are favorable to slavery. They consider
il as deprivins them of an essential principie
OF state sovereignty. l recollect an old revu-
intionary ballad, which contains these homely
lines:
King George for d dish of tea,
Dad lose this fine counirie"
Where the principle is important il matters
not how small the Imme daie value of the OH
jecI IN dispute. The slave holding states con
slider this slight put npOn Missouri, to be ow-
ing 10 cause ia winch they equally partici
pate. Having been good deal through The
southern states, have had frequent opportu-
mites OF seeing how quickly they feel wlal-
ever tends TO interfere with their domestic
concerns and of this the eaStera philanthro-
pists, who are In the quiet OF their closets and
by their fire sides calmly writing about il. do
not appear TO be fully sensible Ii the condi
ton of their negroes is 10 be rendered better
the southern people seem TO think that il must
be left 10 them; and l entertain little doubt
that the interference OF strangers will only
teHd To render the existing slavery more Sc
we're. Tile story of Don QuixOte and the
shepherd boy, is familiar TO most readers. Ii
is with reluctance tia, have veutured TO ex-
press my opinion OIL The subject, but il is un-
pleasant TO be misunderstood.
III. VI. BkACKENRIDGE
HnudDOis Jun 20 iS1O