The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-10-12

/ DINNER TO MR.. HUNTER SENTIMENTS or
| VIRGINIA ON THE SUBJECT OF THE IN
TERMEDDLING OF GREAT BRITAIN IN
THE AFFAIRS OF TEXAS
The Richmond Enquirer gives a short sketch
of Mr. Hunters able speech on the occasion,
from which we make the following extract:
Among other things, he alluded TO the oyements
| of Great Britain, in relation to Texas and Mexico
lie had never made apy professions of being imbued
with prophetical spirit; but on the present occa-
sion, he felt strongly tempted TO rsque his character
| as a prophet, and he accordingly prophesied, tina,
within three months, would hear that Great Bri-
tain had rendered her mediation, between Texas and
Mexico, IN order TO establish the independence of
Texas, condition of her abollshing slavery within
her borders. He graphically placed before our eyes
| the effects this might produce on the South and
boldly proclaimed, that 1t the bounden duty OF
| the South TO move in body for the annexation OF
Texas 10 the Union. He showed the policy and jus
tice of the measure the beneficial effects it would
have the whole country and he placed in strong
light the unreasonabeness of the North, if she were
to oppose it-that all opposition from every quarter
would be bootless, if the South only true TO her
seii-that the young West with giant strides would
come to the rescue"
The following letter from Mr.. Wise was
read
WAsHMGToN, Sept. oath, l843.
To Messrs. B. +. Dabney, T. w. S. Gregory and
others, committee.
Gentlemen Yours of the 10Th instant addressed
TO in Philadelphia reached in this city yester
! day. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to
| accept your very kind invitation, to partake with you
and with my friend Mr. Hunter of the public dinner
| you propose to give him in King William on the
29th inst. But regret to say, have been detained
necessarily so long from home and business by fam-
ly atllicton, that II will not be in my power to enjoy
the pleasure which know should feel in short
terchange of sentiments with the democratic citi-
zens" of your country.
shall assuredly continue TO oppose every measure
| in Congress deemed by detrimental to the whole
country" and particularly those obviously injurious
to that section IN which we live. From the move
ments OF Great Britain abroad particularly on the
relations of Mexico and Texas, and of the latter
| the United States and from combinations o. political
abotloniss-ior they divided now into political
and religous-at home | foresee the most imminent
dangers to Southern institutions, tending fear
fully and certainly tie subversion Of rights founded
and established by the Federal Constitution, and of
course, to violent BREACH the destruction, know
not which, of that Constitution itself The foreign
news is ominous. The debates in Parliament, the
questions and answers of Brougham and Aberdeen,
openly develope the fact known to for some time
past that Great Britain is interposing her colossal
power between Mexico and Texas to establish the
independence of the latter the condition of eman-
cpatioh of her slaves, 1D the rielc her main OBJ
Ject, Of a5o!isng slauery IN the United States. This
presents new and most momentous question for the
Democratic and American spirit of this nation to
solve. 1t is not whether slavery shall be abol-
lshed in the North American slave States and
Territories, but whether the slavery, and all the
other institutions OF the United States shall be
touched, disturbed, interlered with, in any man.
ner, directly indirectly, by Great Britain treating
with third powers, against or without at least our
consent or our being even party to the diplomacy
or negotiation which disposes Of purely domestic
concerns. Whilst we are contending in Virginia
that our own Federal Government itself has the
power to NEEDLE with slavery in the States Terri
tories or District Of this Union, England is officially
Boosting, that she is attem png to abol sh through
out the N. American Continent, by her intervention
IN the affairs of Mexico and Texas. Thus the ques-
ton OF slavery has become at last National one,
and no longer remains sectional question. 1t is no
longer, shall the Northern fanatics, but shall foreign
diplomacy or foreign arms, be allowed to deiraud or
force out Of our rights The Northern as well
as the Southern Democracy-aye, the Northern as
well the Southern .4nericanism of our people will
answer this question but in one way-with one voice.
North America belongs to Republics to Freedom
and the brave who will defend it Let philanthropic
kings and princes have and possess the WORKOUT old
world oil monarches, that would yoke in chains of
bondage, white well as black slaves-this new
world belongs to Liberty never known to Europe,
and which Europe would DESTROY under the very pre-
text Of emancipatng slaves England's philanthropu
is the Lore Of commerce and the lust Of universal dominion
If she be allowed to interfere with African slavery
IN any OF lis relations touching interests or ns-
tutions this Continent how long would it be before
she would control some other establishment besides
slavery in our country How long before she would
have Mexico and Texas in the condition she has
placed old Spain And after we have stood supiney
by and her avail herself of the weakness of our
sister Republics exhausted by with each other,
to interpose in their settlement of differences how
can expect her not 10 take the lions share of
the spoil OF this hemisphere, she has Of all the con-
tinents and of all the isles Of all the Of the ord
dread England's rapacity. She ha es the IT, States
we alone upon eartn, stand IN .he way of her DONNA
tion she is wise crafty and hypocriucal, and has
party OF fanatics among ourselves composed Of partly
political and partly religious crusaders, against
Constitution and forms of Government, to aid her
power, unparalleled in the history of nations. There
is but stand to be taken, and am for taking that
stand Immediately. Ii is the stand of Mr.. Monroe
when, during his Administration, the Holy Alliance
audaciousy Threatened to dispose of some other
American destnies. l. was then that in calm and
sublime dignity he warned the crowned heads Of Eu-
rope that the United States would not submit 10
their unauthorized interference in American affairs
either north south of the equator. He in effect
tod rope that legitimacy should not be allowed a
oothod on the virgin soil OF the continent Of Repub
lies. That the Republics Of the New were united
by instinct against either the open or ins-
dious aggressons Of the Kings Of the Old World
That they should not under any pretext-and the pre-
text IS now TO abolish sayery-eXtend the sLauery
over any portion OF the American lands laid for
! a heritage Of the free That Americans of every
border should be left TO the regulations and dspos
ton of their own affairs: That if the Holy Alliance
lnterposed the hand, the United States would
on the other So would say 10 England "You
shall not nterpose at all to the injury Of or nterfe-
| renee with, our institutions in any way whatever; if
you do, it shall be at your peril and cost will de-
fend my institutions, at least against your
vention" How Texas is " bone Of our bone,
flesh Of our flesh" Yer. Sat Sap.
With thanks, gentlemen, and the wish that you
will accept the subjoned toast, / am, most truly,
Yours, HENRY A. WISE.
England and Mexco-Texas and the United
States Whatever we may do with slavery this
/ uI... LII l.