Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-05-30

Morgan, Howard, Brdseye, and Hall, members OF the
27ti Congress- addressed ITO the People of the Free
States Of The Union, in which these gentlemen have
referred opinions o. mine, with regard 10 the
anne xation Of Texas 10 the United Staes am sure
you will not withhold from me the privilege OF oeIng
heard by the people Of al! the States, houSn tie NE
d,um OF your columns. In asking this, DO not pro
pose 10 enter 4, all the discussion OF ques' on
winch certainty has not yet arisen but 10 deprecae
the improper uses u which that question has been ap
Piled, IN anticipation, by your correspondents me
preindces which they would excite are most uniaVor
able ory TO the fair consideration oil that question:
# !, should ever arise but The permanent harmony
and best interests OF the Union.
In The letter which | wrote TO friend in January
last; and which published in Baltimore, endea
vored sum up briefly few OF the reasons which
thought would recommend the annexation OF Texas TO
,he calm Judgment of the people OF the United States
as well those 10 whom, and for whom Messrs ADAMS,
Nc volunteer 10 speak-as those wnoln 'hey imagine
To have 4 peculiar local interest IN the question ad-
ve..ed to lies mutual interest, winch wond be
strengthened and enlarged by opening new fields OF
cnlsr2rse, ana stimulating energies which, must be
rdoued for thinking could be better employed ien
IN fostering unnatural and dangerous jealonsies among
The pie of States, uiready IN The Inicn spoke oil
slavery as subject OF great deiicacy, IN all It's rea
tions-but had reference 10 the attempts OF few OF
our own countrymen aided by foreign emiesares, TO
dissolve Union, and not these gentlemen have
imagined, TO any scheme for agg.andlzing the South
did mol speak of annexation calculated to give any
|
of harmonzing national discord which agators,
in conjunction with certain British agents at home and
abroad have long sought to lntiame. referred 10 the
unsettled questions OF jurisd elton and boundary be.
tween the United States and England, along the coast
OF the Pacific, and 10 motives winch might inilue nee
the Brush Government and lis fseads Ia the United
States, TO oppose the acquisition Of Texas or Calfor
ma, especially snce the results OF British valos and
diplomacy IN China-resulis, which believe MIR.
Adams either anticipated desired, time since
,l,. al
s,nr though, think with due Difference, a very
candid) sppeal to the people OF the sleveholdng
States, much against the annexation OF Texas,
against the harmony Of the Union under the pre-
sent Constitution.
1t will have do not doubt, effect abroad than
1t home in pointing out To the astute diplomacy and
active intrigue Of Europe, the only weak points
national positionpoini which, it sFems TO me,
but enem.es can contemplate with satisfaction. The
number al your paper, which contained the al
dress OF Mes Adams, &c, furnished evidence oi Il
design, the part Of Great Bain, to interfere direct.
~ IN The relations Of Texas 10 that country, and TO
this aud 10 dsJ arb The question Of doms slavery
frontier, and IN country already acknowledged by
Eng land as independent, and, therefore, not vet sub
ect to British control. Is not Mr. Adams the last
who ought 10 desire the establishment Of BRUSH power
over the country, between The Sabine and the Rio
Grande Does any man know better than he, that
this territory ought now, OF right, to be part and par
eel of the United States Does any man know better
be slow tn ascsbe him any very patriotic motives
now attempting TO invoke the prejutices of parcu-
lar section Of the Union against slavery in order 10
prevent the acquisition Of territory, now peopled by
countrymen. and lhich has teen improperly lost
10
What has slavery 10 do with this question: VIII The
number OF slaves IN the United S'alrs be increased by
the annexation Of Texas Will lie number of slave
holding States he increased 1t true, that the climate
aud soil of Texas peculiarly adapted to The culture
U cotton, sugar, %c-cropS " hch render slave labor
profitable, than ii can be III grain growing regions:
and this may induce The slave population the
United States 10 advance Southwark, IN the event OF
annexation But, as this population advances 10 the
South will it recede from The North Is it the
object of your correspondents coDne the slave po
| puation of the u. S within compass narrow TO
multiply the hardships OF the slave, and 10 compel the
master turn him loose npan the North and the West,
rominalv free but really burden to himself and a
scorrgc to "me peopie IF The free States" ask the
labuF,ng Of he North ask the infatuated PHI
lanihrop;st Of the North-if .hey have already
enough Of the free negro If their free cnlorpd popu-
lation, which rapidly increasing around them,
already more injurious dangerous 10 them, than
the slave population Of the South is, be TO us
or anybody else Has the condition Of the white
the black man been benefited by the accumulation
there Of free persons Of color such extent as
suggest already the startling project Of anal
ask if there be not many ye, living in Northern States
whose experience testify that the relations between
the negro and the white man were better even there,
as aud slave, than now when there equal
1 ity nominay recognised by law against which every
sentiment OF nature and revolls Let II be re
m-mbered, all the slaves OF the North emanci
pacd. Many OF them sold at the South Int
re-', then, and not philanthropy alone, aided in rem
terlng The work OF emancipation easy the
| North.
|, is time however, for the men of the North as
well The South 10 pause, and To deliberate calmly
on The present dangers which surround us They are
yet within the control of that patriotic reason which
founded our Union, and which induced our fathers 10
lay ASIDE the political, moral and religious preudlces
connected with the slavery Of the black in order to
accomplish and secure The freedom of the white man
The true question is now nny more than IL was in
I7S7, whether there be more territory added 10
the Union, or more slarehold.ng States admitted; but
whether the States have can continue 10 be govern
ed by Constitution which universally belize we'd
until recently, have settled forever The relative rights
ard obligations Q! the States to slavery
/ Your correspondents use The io!loaln lanpuage-
"t he acquisition by sa,lop If Texas)
would be u violation Of national compact, its oh
jecls designs and the great elementary principles
which entered into lis formation, OF character so
deep and fundamental, and would be attempt TO
eiernize institution ard power ri nature 80 un
jas; III themselves, So injurious 10 the interests and
nbhorrent 10 the feelings Of the reople OF the free
States as opinion, not only inevitably to result
in dissolution of the Union but fully 10 Justify it.
and We only assert that the people of the free
States ought not TO submit 10 il, but saw with
confidence, THEY WOULD NOT SUBMIT TO IT. We know
their present temper and spirit this subject TOO
we'll 10 believe for moment that they would become
p1rticepeS in such subtle continuance for
the irremedeHe perpeuation cf an lSsTlTrTIoy which
/ the wisesi and best who formed Federal Con-
sttuuon as well frcm the slave as the free States
regarded as an crit and curse, soon 10 become ex
,lnc under the operation oflaws 10 he passed prohibit
ing The slave trade and the progressive principles Of
the Revolution.
From the peculiar pains taken 10 emphasize certain
passages this portion CT their letter, your correspon
dents leave to doubt tina, they contemplate the
abolition Of slavery in the United States by the agency
Of the Federal Government. These gentlemen can
not be ignorant Of the fact that The Federal Cons,n.
ton recognises slavery Of the objects entitled 10
ls protection and of The elements cfthe Govern