Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-11-18

Stand unpNnciiled as 1t is, COULD d;so,, no
OF n''ne into sentiment hostile to the Union. or
suen 10 that reverence Tor the Constitution. which
nave ever regarded essential TO ih. ch,r,r,c,
o. good citizen; more especially OF one. ,ororsd
win such nigh trusts as we are. Unjer this i'm
Pression determined nj that the qualification
should remain forever unanswered by me
but In reading your letter in the Iate,l;oe,c.,
OF wednesday last, feel myself called on, 10 al
ofcss you IN public because Of your position.
anu .he whole Character and air Of the Composition.
appear to iinpngn statements which have made
In respect TO the proceedings OF the meet;ng refer.
req 10; statements which I know to be true and
winch communicated to few of the most en-.
hgntened and confidential Of my constituents: not
WIN view to crininate others; still less that they
.oua oe Puniisned: but simply as part OF that no.
".ica information which II was my duty and NV
pleasure to give.
will therefore proceed to contrast the stnte.
ments which l have made, with your positions.
lou say IN your letter. deny TINT any propo-
sstion was ever submitted to the ,eIcestion of
South Carolina that the members should imn,et.
s'e'y abandon their seats, return home and there
oy end all further political connection with the Co
vernmenf. And will you deny Sir, that, after all
sae southern delegations (except Gcorga) had pos
useiy reused 10 Unite with in such protest AS
was thought efiectuaI by you and others. that a
proposition was made by one of our rn,mbers. that
We SHOULD formally secede from Cougress:retorn
nome and say to our constituents that our service.
were no longer Of any use!That when this PROPOSE.
uon was made 1T was imm ediateiy opposed nv Col
D..who at once declared. that he weud not concur.
.S the act mus performed would be
proposition excited feelings too strong 70 be forgot
ten. thought, it il were adopted that 1 should
10 placed IN the most trying Of all situations. To
remain alone at Washington in opposition TO the
views oithe whole delegation, would be- assuming
fearful responsibility; to shrink from tina, respo.
s,b'li'y and yield TO their views ia opposition to my
own, would be coatc mptible weakness Besides.
what was to result from it! what was to be tn. fate
Of the people whom we represent Imagination
shudoered at the prospect. These were my feel.
ings-theec were the ideas which the proposition
called forth. And have never in my life been
more relieved than when IL was Immediately nut
down by Col Drayion.
Again. Sir-in your letter you deny that auy
" determination ever made that the members
OH their return home should visit their consttu.
ents generally, and make every effort to inculcat.
among them such doctrines and principles az
would induce the people 10 agree to, and advocate
aseparaoo from tho States" And will you deny,
sir' That proposition was made that ice should
on our return hume communicate Ly letter or
ofhertntse ,oifh the principal men IF our respec-
tive dief,tefs, on, the subject If The IoriF.-er.
PLAIN TO them its fatal effects on their trade ana
agr1cmf"re its az gression on the sorcreign-
ty Of the Siate7 FiYfEer, that il rns prouosea
that sre should, during ne sunnie, mn,unicate
70 each other 6y letter the state Of feeling ,chich
zee discovered ~ our ,espectiue disfricfsY find
finally, that the delegation should meet at Co.
inmo'a IN october or .Noue,nb,, for the purpose
accusing and maturing some plan Of acfion
for the state Goce'nmenH do you not remem-
Der, that one gentleman Mr.. M'Dufie) dill say,
mat IN his opinion there was no other remedy for
the cvh than separation of the State from the I'm
'on-that 'emporixing measures would prove una.
vaiting-and that he, himself, was prepared to go
all lcugths:-and when il was remarked that his
constituents might not approve such a measure
dtd ne not reply, with an exclamation, that he
would not then represent them: that he consider
ed his services i'll Congress as an obligation con-
terred on them, and that whenever they failed 10
support his great views the affairs OF the Union,
ne would abandon them To this did you notre
ply that others were as ready 10 make sacrifices as
lie could be: Further, when il was observed that
Mr. NJ Dutie's plan was il-advised, because the
United States Government would force the State
to submission (she single handed, not having the
power TO resiso did you not ask, where were the
means OF the General Government; 10 coerce the
State! That the standing army was no more than
handful oil men-Dothing could be feared from H.:
tnat with regard to the militia, no Southern mill
tall called out by the President, would take arms,
against our people, and that the Northern militia
would not be permitted by Virginia and North
Carolina to pass through their territories for the
purpose OF subJecting South Carolina. Finally. af-
ter NIL attempts 10 obtain cooperation OF the
Southern delegation had failcd after one of our
most influential members fMr Senator SMITH
had peremptorily refused to attend, and unanimity
was not iouud to exist even among those who were
present was it not then that you proposed to abaI-
don all the foregoing plane, lest any increase OF
excitement in South Carolina, might prove injuri-
Gus TO the election Of Gen. Jackson.
On the adjournment Of the meeting, called ON
Senator. Smith, [being in the habits Of intim &C
and confidentiai communication with him relsted
what mad transpircd, and remarked that the dele
CATION had been saved by the wisdom and firm
ness Of Col. Drayton.
With regard to the views Of yourself aud others
| could say nothing. Having never respected ei
liner the principles or course Of the Calhoun pae-
ty, was not i'll your confidence and was there
fore LETT to mere conjecture to whs, your mo.
tives we're, and what your Interior projects might
be. In this public development, ! have moi
volunteered. you have forced me to IL.
an, Sir, with due respect.
Your obedient servant,
THOS. r. MITCHELL.
Georgetown, Nov. Sd, 1923.