Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-29

AT no one period oil our eountfl's history has
the public mind been more excited than in the ad-
lustment OF what has been usually termed the
Missouri Question. In the year 1870 the Terilo-
~ OF Missouri applied TO Congress to DO admitted
a State OF the Union, on the terms prescribed by
the Constitution. To the original question before
the Committee was attached, by the advocates OF
emancipation. an amendment "ofdaining and e..
lablishing that there shall be neither slavery nor
involuntary scrvitude in said State" This pro.
posed ams ndmsnt opened wide field for discus
son upon the much yexed and irritating subject OF
the abstract right Of slavery. Il called forth all
Ihe ieeings which deep pecunlary intere.t on the
one side, aud opinions, based early and fanatica
prSIud'ses on the other. calculated To elicit
u WAS moreover Intended aud received by the
oon'hofn uelegauon, az an effort the part OF the
states called par 'reshenes Jree ITO secure the pow
or OF making their own President aud Governing the
other elective Offices under tho Federal Govern
mont. n discussion involving such important and
conflicting ntcrcsts. to he conducted with caimness
aad dchberation, required more philosophy than
belonged to the American Congress. Foisted as il
was, unexpectedly. upon tho deliberations OF the
House, a moment Tor cool aud dispassona,c deli
bcration was precludcd. pcrtinaeious ia ther pur
pose, the North relaxed no exerIon TO accomplish
their ends. Whilst the South, whose interests
alone were to he inuriousy affected, woro exas.
perotod beyond control. at the unius;i6ahlo
sutes which were so s,ocay proposed. The
poles were no more diverse than these two parties,
IN all the feelings which should form doliberatve
body. Even the frank and friendly Interchange of
tho usual courtcsies of the house suspended,
and those residing north and south OF Mason and
Dxon's line, formed two separate. social bodies in
this bellgerent Legislature. This high state OF eX-
element reached every portion OF the southern
country. Every State partook largely Of its innu
ence, but Virginia moro than any other. MIR b.
hal. for several years, been her Representative in
the Senate, and welded on influence inferior TO
in that body. Conscious of the importance OF his
trust, he saw weish,y responsibility awaiting the
eoutse which duty would prompt him to pursue.
On one side were his constituents cxhoTting him. by
! daily communications, 10 stand firm in support OF
the principles maintained by the South; whilst
cloud. oil pottenous aspect, lowered over the Union
and throatsned 10 break with defeat and ruin to the
Government. His situation was, in the extreme,
delicate and embarrassing.
At the samo session Maine was nsk;n, 10 be nd.
mited member OF the Union; bill to which ei-
iect was at that time pending before Congress. Mr.
Is. discovered that many who advocated the reslric.
tons TO the Missouri Bill felt deep interest in the
success OF Maine; whereupon he introduced an
amendment consolidating the two bills, so that if
Missouri was rejected, Maine would be also. This
latter amendment was truly odous to the advocates
OF Maine, who theFeupon opened a cannonade Of
scurrility and abuse against the mover OF II, and
even resotted 10 threats of personal violence with
the hope OF driving him from the vantage gsound
which he had taken. Such warfare had no ter.
rors in to him. This "elum imbelle ct sine ciu''
was an nIr-drdwn dagger which those ensconced DO
hind nomeless communication, might brandish in
safety. But 10 him. agans, whom il was directed, il
brought neither fear nor concern.
IL was conceived alI.important that the action OF
Congress on this bill should be prompt and final
Delay was fatal to the hopes of the South. for the
people from the free States 1ocking to Missouri
IN such numbers that the period could not b, far
distant when they would constitute n maority-
The venerable Monroe, then President Of the u s.
saw and feared the evil TO which this question would
ultimately lead, and used his influence TO effect
satisfactory adjustment. He sought frequent inter
views with Messrs. Barbour, Crawford, Lowndes
and Clay, and coriured them TO concoct such .nea-
n all. ~
happily disturbed the legislation of the coun,ry-
a private conferences was held, at which n compro
mise WAS effected, conciislory as IL was hoped 10
the several dscordont interests involved in the con-
troVersy. lhs compromise presented 10 the
Southern delegation for their acc pance and every
argument exhausted 10 enforce a cordial and undiyi
ded support. large majority wished to see il carried
into effect, but excused themselves from acting on
the ground OF constitutional scrupcs-;he usual re.
treat from an unpleasant emergency. When i, was
iound that members refused their aid in support Of
the compromise, proposition was made that the
whole delegation should resign, and the question
I"What was proper to be done ?" should be sub
mitiei 10 their constituents. IL would be unneces.
sdry TO add that this too was refused All hone Of
conciaton then seemed lost, and the rmest patriots
yielded 10 despair. At this porious period the TIL
umphant powers of Mr. Clay were called into reoui-
stion. lie went forth 10 his countty's defence M
noplled IN the majesty OF his power--an eoquence,
of which Greece, IN her proudest days might have
/ boosted, was his. warm political opponent and
distinguished contemporary member Of Congress
(tho late Judge l. L BlGJour) said IN our presence
oil TINS effort, that was the only instance IN which
lac had realized conception OF the irresistible inln
ence OF oratorY. a compromise was adopted. and
we hazard nothing declaring that 10 the efforts
oi Barbour, l.owndes, Clay, &c, living
under The Government which our fathers establish
/ ej.
Hir Barbour twice returned a Senator to
Congress the duties OF which Office hc continued TO
discharge ill the election of MIR Adams to the Pre-
/ la In 4 -.
tia, election hehad, with much ZEAL supported the
professions of Mr. Crawford and Of course expected
/ ment In forming his cabinet, Mr. Adams forgot the
petty slrIits ongendered among the conflicts OF n
warm political campaign and merged every personal
consideration in qualification for Office. lie there
lore invited Governor Barbour as Representative
oi Southern interests, to participate IN tho councs
OF the national Executive A proposition so wholly
| unexpected, and one involving weight of respon-
sibilty not to be lightly or unadyisedlv assumed,
demanded time for consideration. The principles
on which the Government was - he administered
were unknown, which we're required to he settled
as conditional precedent 20 his ncceptance. In re-.
! ply 10 winch, MIR Adams assured him that the ex
amplcs Of his predecessors should he essentially
pnfsued--that he should ondeavor 10 conduct the
Government in strict conformity to those princi.
pies recognised by majority Of the American peo.
pie as according with the spirit of the Constitution
IheTeupon, he consulted his political friends who
with one exception, land but one,) warmly advised
'oWao winch NC hhu uuppteu. lie look charge
OF the War Department, and for years discharged
the duties with lelity which his most unreenting
opponents have never vontured to question.
Before the expiration Of the term for which Mr. !
Adams was elected, Governor L. was Induced 10 |
relinquish the War Department for an embassy TO |
Great Britain In making this appointment, MIR |
Adams bad reference TO those important and DELI |
cate questions the satisfactory adjustment OF which
the predecessors OF MIR Barbour had failed 10 |
negoate. From the peculiar talents temper and |
manners no individual could have been reectel |
better adapted TO the duties Of such mission than
Mr. Barbour. Although but ieS months an &c
credited Minister near tho Court of St James, 10
Representative of the American Government ever |
made more favorable impression on the Brush |
Public. The marked and 1alteIing attentions which !
were paid him from his introduction ut Court by |
the most distinguished persOnnges Of the Kingdom |
are testimonials Of tho Influence he was likely 10 |
command IN the settlement OF these questions, en-
bTacne os they did the deepest aud mos, intricate
principles Of international law. lie was, however, |
recalled by Pfesden, Jackson before time was nj |
lowed him TO effect the object Of his mission AZ er
short stay IN London, IN the arrangement of his |
private affairs, lie visited the Continent, and re-
turning through Paris landed in tho u States in the
FaD OF 1929; from which time, till his death, he
lived in retirement, actively engaged in agricultural
Occupations, IN the pursuit Of which he never ceased
10 take deep and abiding interest.
We have thus hastily, and very impcrfectly, OF
tempted to sketch the outline Of life Teplcto with