Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-25
VOLUME xxxEV.---No. 20.

in the one mode the other The powers granted IN be
Cnnstitu,ion and its interpretations are exactly the
same. The real question in considering the instrument
Is, not how the Constitution made, but what is il,
as 1t Isl What are the powers delegated by it, the pow.
ere necessary and proper TO carry CT the drcgo.
,fd powers iluprohbtions What, in short is the sum
OF lie whole poweru have always understood accord
ing to hstorca fact, that the Constitution as runed
ny Convention, composed Of delegates appointed by
The Legislatures Of The several Sates and that uer i;
was adopted, il submitted Conventions of Dele.
gates chosen by The People Of The several States, each
acting separately by and for srf; and heing ratified
BY the Conventions Of sufficient nuu.ber it became
The Constitution Of the United States or In it's own LAM
gunge, OF The People of the United S,ars.
The series OF resolutions under consdefstonh been
introduced by the Senator frn s. Carolina after he and
other Senators from the South hsd deprecated discussion
on The delicate subject TO which they relue They have
eccssdasd much discussion in which bilher'o | have
not participated herr u,atue tendency OF the reso.
niinns may be TO a1fay The excitement npily
prevails, in respect tn the abolition Of slavery but con.
less. Mr. President that, taken altogether and in con.
nexlon with Other crcu'ns,ances end especially consi.
deng the in which their author has pressed them
the Senate fear that they will have the opposite
etrc and, particularly al The N"rih, that they may in.
and e1asperae instead OF diminishing aud assuug.
ing the existing irritation. apprehend that they will
only 10 furnish texts for frsh commentary aud
further divisions And cannot but regard The unneces.
sary combination ofthe subject abolition with that alien
and the mos, exciting all "crs the present period
the annexation OF Texas 10 the l. S the series Of
resolutions, as peculiarly unfortunate. know that Tex.
is not specially mentioned in the last resolution bu, the
country will understand The intention and ausion Of
the resolution distinctly if il had been expressly
designated it cannot be forgotten that, mediaely
after the tidngs of the memorable battle Of San Jacntc
reucrd this city, the Senator from Suu;h Caroina (ar.
Calhoun expressed in the Senate his opinion that the
independence of Texas oneht Immediately be recog
nzed, and his wish That before the adj Of Con-
gress. it should BIZ annexed to the United States.
solution lies upon the table Of the Srnals introduce
ed by the other Senator from S"uh Carolina (hlr Pres
ton proposing contingent nneXaiin OF it TO the u
Stairs When these facts borne in mind will not
all understand the last resolution although abstract in
FORM intended 10 commit the Senate. in ADVANCE 10
the unneIation; Our purpose, anxious aim, should
be compose the Morrill, arrest the progress of the
spirit Of abolition. aud 10 give strength and confidence
To The friends OF the Union in that quarter.
Is il then wise and discreet to blend these unhappy
causes of agitation together: Had we not better heep
them separate anL distinct, and act the prudent
maxim that sucirn, for the day is the evil thereof?
The Senator run South Carolina han offered his reso
lutiUEs he tells 10 revive aud rally the State tights
party But cannot think That the slaveho!dng States
ought 10 consent to place their peculiar interests in the
exclusive safe keeping Of any one party however cor.
rec, some OF US may believe is principles 10 be-. Are
not the clear, undoubted, acknowledged guarantees OF
the Constitution Of those interests far above and superi.
any security which be derived from the parti
cnar enefs Of any party? Parties rise up and down.
but The Constitution remains perpetual and sure bull.
wark against all attacks upon The ghts of the savehod
ing SIutrs from whatever quarter they may proceed -
No, sir, do let put trust in purity excIu-
svely let invoke the united qua tdanshp OF uIl-tts
Wings the Democratic party, the Republican party, the
Jackson Van Buren, party, the Federal party the Union
patty the Nullrrs and The Locnfocos-aH III pesefv-
ing the inyolability of the Constitution and protecting
against every encr0ach,nent delicate und ent"us
eresis which BE- serios touched without Ell
dangering the stability of our entire political fabric
We wunt in the savrholding States nothing done mere
i'm VIGILANCE. the subject
nf our present drberatiuns We may differ there III
the degree of sensbilIiy which display; bnt we are
all firmly and unanimously resolved ~ defend snd Hsn-
tain our rights all hazards And, should The hour OF
trial come those who appear the least agated
will not be behind those who arr luremosi and loudesf IN
procInming the existence OF dagger TIE object OF the
Senate should be tn ailay excitement quiet the public
mind and cueck The progress f thu spirit of ab!tlIou
at the North and, above a 10 strengthen the wedIs
posed, and give advantage ~ agitalors. 1t was
with that view have rnqured OF Northern Senators,
charged with the presentation Of abliun petitions, whe
Their The spirit Of abunnsin sprradingj and II so,
what was the cause Their was. that II was IN
crossing and that The was the impression which
The abnlillunss had been able IL make the Northern
mind that the constitutional right Of petition was dc.
MED them by the two Houses OF Congress bis state.
mrnt is corrohoraled and confirmed by Information
which has reached rne through variety of channels
Many who abolti0nisls induced TO JOIN them,
because they believe the ght Of petition has been prac-
cay denied On this subject, aIl"w me 10 read an eI
from letter (the prrusal Of The whole letter 81
tn" service Of any senstor which have lately received,
addressed To me by highly intelligent and patriotic
gentleman in Rhode island t'iere Mr. Clay read the
following extract:
81 have been much oratifed with your remarks in
relation 10 the cause of the increase Of the abaonsts
in the North that thought IL night do some good and
least relieve my mind. If stated 10 you what we
think the subject here. There rs no doubt bnt that
the ub"onis,s recruiting here by TIE artful mode
in which they turn to their account the spirit or sensi
xp ,a uhafI m ma
subject Of slavery and they encouraged, nso to
greater efforts because they think they see in all this
proof that the work nf agitation thus begun in the
South, and that the eaven will work until the whole
lump eavencd IF the petitions for the abolition OF
slavery in the District uf Columbia had been duly re-
ceved and considered other petitions would have
been, have d,ubt this sghating subject, IT not put
entirely al rest OF least would not now have been 30 con-
nrced with the sacred right Of petition rs 10 enable 10
produce the efi.cl il NOW does amongst u.s.
"At last election for members OF Congress, letters
were cent from The Secretary Of the Anti Slavery So
cetv TO each Of the candidates requiring OF them CONF
municaion of their sentiments the right ot Congress
tn abolish slavery in the District Of Columbia, aud The
right Of petition to Congress this subject Each can
ddae answered except onc) in such way as tat ne
might have consistently received The votes Of The aoo.
,inniss If the simple question had been upon the eS-
pedency of abn hing slavery in the District Of Conm-
ba these gentlemen would probably have oh answered IN
the negative. You therefore, how this question 10
brought to bear the People, and through them on the
members of Congress, and who feel opposed TO the
whole of this slavery machinery find ourselves de-
prived of the power of doing any thing effectively by
tue impolitic zeal of Southern gentlemen 10 then',
therefore, would appeal unlrss, in lroh they ,re Ge
srous of abandoning the Unon that they wopio 50 let
their moderation be known all lint the tana.
tics of the North las they choose 10 call ienl may BE-
put in the wrong before the whole People, so ths ne1f
own friends here may have ground TO stand upon
"l look forward with great apprehension 70 we une
wien the North and the South shall be unanimously DIT
rided with that zaI which may urge each 10 seton on
the subject OF slavery The Union will not only men
be dissolved but the People Oh both sides so
thai furious fanatica aDti-sIavery and Prosiavery war
w;lI be inevitable. Men enough will be found 10 seek
to ride Ie upon the phirl~nd and direct The storm in The
ortb as we'll as the South. and the Union and the spirit
Of Rppucanism will expire together amidst hroes and
! " -, which v i'll cover our now beautiful land