Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-12-08

This The society SETS uI III as It's grounds OF

This the society sets frih Of ls grounds OF en-
commencement snd adds: the threat is grown stare, a"'
its terror can never be restored Ihe lntenhon IS a'
IT, t.c,rcd Of ur-r ,.p"n Congress tie nitnedate apo
i,nn Of slavery n ,tr District Of C"un1'a ano Tue
bnoc is !;at the ITALICS at that b"ay VIII es'a
with ,:n;iii weight CT pr;i't'nS
Il aii. a-,arrrt:tha, long as Inc mans oi LIN
erss s,: BE- open lie d:>cass:n {" iiils question,
We eau have n"heT f"ac" nor src":i'y; ana IL IS sun
more ap.aia;, tl7: Whenever the Federal Legislature
shall usurp tie parr ni erncipatng the slaves III lhe
District OF Counig The only srcutily ut LIE Southern
States will consist in Promptly and Praceasly w'thuiam
fnr from the Union With view, therefore, OF warn
ny M people Of the North Of the Consequences OF so'
au usurpaton that they may be restrained from iongt
asta,ing subject deeply involving our Vsiy r
ence Il people, | suggest TO you the eaPeI I.
making solemn legislative dreIrai1ni Of Cou
has RICH, 10 abolish slavery in The D'St.ct u n
bin and is under no constitutional obligation 10 receive
the petitions Of the people Of any OF Inc nates
for such abolitionj and tat WI; s,rc, or in uny of
enancipae the slaves in The saso Dis'et' y, ~ 9 =;
the 7cr,;,orps of TN. Uaited States, South Canlha ~
common with the other sla"ehpioins Stases' WI. Ve
solved from all constitutions! OF AioIa ooE u,ri ,d
main any longer IN Tie Chion, u"o i'~y' "S"'''' 49,
peacefully, withd7a" from IT, :. -, ,,; III
While South Carolina thus Indignantly repeing ai'
FOREIGN attempts violate the sanctuary and enuaneef
the existence of her domestic institutions, IL becomes heI
in peculiar msnner to abstain from every sort OF utter
ference with the domestic or domestic conro-
versies of all other States foreign or confederate lie
doctrine of non Iner.srence Of the most important
in the code Of international aw-and there are no coni
munes on earth who should hold it so sacred as Tue
sare-holding States of this Union-If 0y thet e1Hn'
p!e in giving coun,enance to the una"iul sh.e ~
ihcr own citizens gunst ncigborng and neutral pow
er they should weaken the influence o tllat pr!hsiPe
umong nations, they would commit an "tence against
their oy institutions by npairing the sanchy ot lhel'
surest guarantee against foreign intrusion.
Entertaining these opinions, have looked win aeeP
concern not unmngled with regret, upon The occnrren
ccs which have taken place during the present year. IN
various parts Of the United Siates relative to The cV
flirh ia sill n
of Mexico, and Of her rcv'ilted Provinces
It's true that no county responsible for the sym
pathes Of its citizens; but nevertheless utterly ata
loss TO perceive what title either OF the parties 10 l'is
controversy can have the synpahes OF the American
people. Ii il be alleged that The insurgents OF ie1as
are eugrans from the United States, 1t 10 obvious 10
repy that BY their voluntary eNpatrlaon-under what
ever circumstance Of adventure OF speculaono hnn'
or Of namy-tey have forfeited all clAn to our Ira
te1na regard. If il be true that they have lett
land Of Freedom for land of despotIsm they have done
wlh their eyes open and deserve their destiny lherts
too much believe that many Of them have gone
Adventures, specializing upon the chances OF es
tabshing INDEPENDENT government in Texas ana OF
Selling that immense and fertile domain by the li;le Of
the sword But he this 1t may when ley became citI-
zens OF Mexico, they became subject to The Constitution
and Laws Of that country; and whatever changes Inc
Mexican people may have since made IN that CoIs'tu'
ton and these Laws, they matters with which TO-
reign States can have no concern, anu OF when they
have no right take cognizance. trust, therefore,
tina. the State Of South Carolina will give 10 counie
nance direct indirect, open Concealed to any acis
which may compromit the neutrality oi the U. 3, or
bring into question their pighted faith Jusce-sern
and unbending ustice-in our intercourse with otheI
Staes would be paramount to all the considerations o.
mere expediency, ii il possible that these
could be separated But they cannot.-Justce rs the
highest expedency, and am sure 5. Carolina Is the
last Stale in the Union that would Knowingly violate
this sacred canon Of political morality.
If any consideration could add 10 the intrinsic weight
Of these high inducements TO abstain from any species OF
interference with the domestic affairs OF neghboring
ha Itti,u
to which we are so peculiarly exposed on our South
Western frontier, from measures Of retaliation
Should Mexico declare against the United States,
and aided by some great European power, hoist the
standard Of serve Instruction in Louisiana aud the
ncighborng States how deep would be our se!t-re
proaches in rejecting that these atrocious proceedings,
received even cclorabe apology from our example, or
from the unlawful conduct of Our own citizens
There is question, connected with TING coaNo.
versy, of definite character, upon which may be pro-
per that you should express opinion You are doubt
less that the people OF lexas by an almost unahl
VOTE have expressed their desire 10 be admitted
into Conederacy, and application VIII probably be
made to Congress for that psrpese In my opinion, Con
gress not even TO entertain such proposition IN
the present state of the controversy Ii we admit Texas
into our Union, while Mexico is still waging war against
that Province, with view establish her supfena
cy it, shall by c Gerry act itself, make ourselves
party to the Nor take this step, without
incurrng this heavy responsibility, until Mexico her
self shall recognise the independence OF her revofted
Province.
We have official information Of the precise state of
relations with Mexico. Enough is known, however,
to satisfy that the conjuncture is eni:uenlly critical
Let US be scrupuously careful that we do nothing 10
counenance, and all to prevent, the calamity OF
a war. We are now engaged in ieariu and doubtful
struggle to refrm our Federal system Of Government
by throwing o the corcupons under which it is rapidly
sinking.
In this state Of things, war with any country would
be the greatest Of caames; for could scarcely hope
10 come of with any thing but the wreck of
free constitution and the ex.e.nal Sores ote free CO.
vernment.
But may Heaven avert thece rausPc:ors oNens, and
direct all your to the advancement Of
glory and lasting happiness tree and favored people
GEORGE .McDUEFIE. !