Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-06-05
No. S.--VOLUME XNNVH.


are nothing; the deficiency of the powers of the Gen
erel Government is nothing the acknow lodged and in
c"ntestable powers of the States nothing: civil
war, dissolution of the Unon and the overthrow OF
Ia Government in which concentrated the fondest
hopes Of the civilized world, are nothing. 4 single
idea has taken possession Of their minds, and onward
th"y pursue 1t, overlooking all barriers, reckless and
regardless of all consequences With this class the
immediate abolition of slavery in the District of Co
nba, and IN the Territory of Florida, the prohibition
of the removal OF slaves from State State and the
reiisa! TO admit any new State, comprising within rs
limits the institution of domestic slavery, are but 50
many means of conducting to the accomplishment nf
the ultimate but perilous end at which they avowedy
and boldly ann are but many short stages in the
long and bloody road TO the distant goal which they
would finally arrive Their purpose is Abolition uni
versa Abolition; peacefully it can; forciby if il
Their object longer concealed by the tlnnest VEIL
it is avowed and proclaimed.
'Sr not in the habit OF speaking lightly of the
possibility of dIssolvng this happy Union. The Sc
nate knows that have deprecated illusions ord-
nary occasions TO that drctul event The country
VIII testify that if there be any thing in the history
Of my public career worthy Of recollcction il is the
truth and sincerity Of my ardent devotion to lis lasting
preservation But we would be false allegiance
to IT, If we did not discriminate between the magi-
nary and real dangers by which ii may be asSaed-
Abolition should no longer be regarded as an ina gina
~ danger. The Abolitonss, let me suppose succeed
in their present aim of uniting the inhabitants Of the
free States rs one man against the inhabitants of the
slave States. Union the side VIII beget union
on the other and this process of reciprocal consoda
ton will be attended with all til" violent prciudccs
embl,tered passions and mpacable animoses, which
ever degraded dciormcd human nature. 4 vir
tual dissolution Of the Union vii! have taken place
whilst the forms of It's existence remain The most
valuable elements Of union, mutual kindness the feel
lngs of sympathy, the ratnrnul bonds which now hap.
PLY unite us, viii have been cxtn.ushcd forever
One section viii stand in menacng and hostile array
against the other The collision of opinion VIII he
I t.l,f .lI "a
tempt to describe which happily lie conceal
ed from view. Abolttionists themselves would
shrink back in diSmay and horror at the contemplation
of dcsoated fields conilgrac cities murdered iuha-
bants, and the overthrow OF the aires. fabric OF human
government that ever to animate the hopes Of ci
vized man.
Ia thus coqrcn,ly proclaiming ''undisguiscd oppo-
slLion to the reasonable movements Of Alb ltionsts,
1t has been Justly observed, that Mr.. Clay .ook the
ground of PATRIOTISM, and extended his hand to the
smith. He then irt that h, was the competitor of
Nr. Van Bur"n for the Presidency, and ~ Substance,
hc Sa'd - hiun:
Sir shall nirasurc strength with you openly and
!" honGraby. | h1v. no conc"almrn,s You do not
" rcproDa" the bartul agitation OF The subject of Abo
I" lton more earnestly than do. Yon are correct IN
pron"uncing the proceedings of the Ruthless faction
. Affirming scrv L. and CIVIL war, and DIS
" solution Of the Union You Spurn The moral traitors
50 and 20 with you. For the Presidency would not
" be restrained from denouncing thcm--much less
" Ter into an open or secret alliance with them
Instead Of displaying such devotion to the Union and
decsiation of faction which threatens to dissolve IL
what General Harrison tins disturbing subject
He tells you that he will make further declaration
Of his prS-0t nGihog couid iRducc him to'l0p
The patrioim oramp'e IF Mr.. Cag IN mking gr0und
agans he .3Joiuonsts and WdrHing his tciio~ci.eOs
II the daHgcr 10 be "pp"hc"ded from their trcaSonaMe
conduct
Mr.. Clay, as the leader OF powerful party, was will
pra!ed to the ballot box" When he saw them busy in
elections prepared for civil and the overthrow OF
Government in which concentrated the iondest
hopes of the civilized worldhc was ready to a'd III
their annlhilalon-but Gen. Harrison not Mr.. Clay
wished the Aboonists TO be disowncd by Wings ana
Democrats believing that the faction when thus repu
dated and spurncd by the two great political parties
would sink into ns gnItcance but Gen HARRISON
wants their votes and therefore desires To perpetual"
the alliance formed with them. Patriotism prompted
Mr. Clay proclaim the fanatics enemies OF the Union;
po!icv or conTenalty of feeling Gen Harrison
to seek their cooperation and hail them as brethren
! Need we extend the contrast.
Here it may be ainss To introduce the sentiments
fthe Vice President An Abolition petition was lately
transmitted by Lewis Tappan of New York, TO Colonel
Johnson with request that he would present II to the
Senate. Col. johnson dcclneda compliance with The
request, in letter. from which we make the following
extracts.
.'Thcre are considerations or a moral and political,
as well rs of constitutional nature, which would not
permit to present petitions OF character evidently
hostile to the Union, and destructive OF the principles
l O iOu0ucl
ton made great sacrifices Of blood and treasure to cs
tabl;sh and confirm the doctrines set forth in the De-
caration of independence. Each State was tleh an
independent sovereignty; and 10 form perpetual Con
t;.dcracy for the safety and benefit OF the whole, en-
bodvinr the treat doctrines of the Declaration, COM
promise of interest and feeling was necessary That
compromisc was made; and the principle winch your
fair petitioners now agItatng was settled me
rrht of regulating and abolishing slavery was re-
served TO the States and Congress have no more right
IL, IN MARYLAND
they have TO establish slavery in New York or New
England.
THE right of Congress to exercise exclusive egsla-
ton in all cases whatever in the District OF Colnnbia
does not mean omnpotcnt legislation. Congress have
no right in the District of Columbia to take away the
right of trial BY jury pass post taco law; to
abrdge the freedom of speech of the press; to es
tablsh religion by law nor to destroy the rights OF pro-
pery, the personal liberty of the citizen These re-
served rights are as sacred in the District of Columbia
as in the State of New York. They have the same
right to consider the abolition of slavery in New ok
grievance, and petition to Congress to establish u
there as the citizens of New York have 10 consider II
grievance in the District, and petition Congress I"
abolish it,
"With these views cannot reconcile 1t TO my sense
Of duty to present the petition. shall enter nto n"
discussion the principle of slavery as that IS not m
yoyed in the subject. ! can view II III no o'ler '9ht
than that of an interference with the constitutional
RIGHTS Of others and in such way as tends I" the de-
tructon Of the rich Inheritance purchased by the blood
and toll of the fathers Of the Revolution
| cal Johnson. Mr. Clay and Mr. Van Buren,, speak
ont like friends of the mon against the AboItt'oniss,
hut General Harrison dare not. And why:-he owes
his nomination to Them is dependant on them, and IS
now under the guardianship Of Committee composed
of Slavery men, who abhor the doctrines avowcd
IN Mr. Claws speech against Abolition. General iar-
rson's mouth is sealed, else he could have redeemed
The pledge gwen in good faith by his friends IN the H.
of Representatives. of this State Ofthe nature OF that
pledge and the circumstances under which was gwen,
he has been sufficiently informed, you viii perceive
By recurring to the letter addressed 10 him from tins
place yet he dare not speak out-he shrnk9 'r"T an
avowal Of his priucpleS-and tim dly or hasIy ias !"
redeem tn" GIFTED word OF gains ana g"! '''!.r
an,;,l f. end. Can conIrr, - un'c, ing and unm"nly
he accounted for IN ,nv other HYPOTHESIS 'nah ms
that the Abolirons's knew liner H.'n' ana y" ny
! ,rounGc.s, claim i nom m; on oyer Mf LAY, as
some Of h" heavirs' blows that 'Ar N i,Ss "l'
yed IN Tins unir.. -tlIt ~ InHt . W.