Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-12-27
To the Editors Of Tic Enquirer /:

WAsuINoros, Dec. %, 1874
The Tsras observation-disclosures of Congress
The Spealer-INc appoiHtmentot CoDlmatces-
The lion. CieMeldca E2is-Ine Lstter-irriter
Of Tic .N1c York Herald, orer The signature OF
"1Es Member trom Nebraska
This great American question is the all-absorb-
ing topic at present in The Capital OF lhis great
Nation, and the eyes Of the people are upon their
representatives, watching with eager anxiety
every move that is made in Congress, because
they are fearful Of losing the golden moment
of acquiring that beautiful country, which was
given away by MIR. John Quincy Adamsln lSl9,
when he negotiated The Florida Treaty with Don
Louis de Onis, and who, after he was elected 10
the Presidency through the fundamentally OF
Mr. Clay, offered 10 negotiate with Mexico for It's
re-acquisilion, and that, TOO, before Spain had
acknowledged her independence. II we had the
constitutional power, according to the views OF
Mr. Adams, then, to negotiate with Mexico upon
the subject, before her independence had been ac-
knowledged by Spain, why have we not The same
constitutional power now TO negotiate with Texas
upon the same subject, before her independence is
acknowledged By Mexico? The Constitution is
the same now both in letter and spirit, that II was
| then, and no man, who is al all conversant with
the laws Of nations, and who is governed by
patriotic motives in the adrancement-steadily
but surely-of the great principles which brought
about the American Revolution will deny that
power because tits coeyal with the great principles
laid down by Yattel, and other writers upon the
laws Of nations, inherent in all Governments
II this is the fundamental law ofnaions, b. which
we are governed in the present instance and
which has been solemnly sanctioned by the peo-
pie through The ballot box in the election OF Gov
Polk, il is moi only constitutional, but 1t is our
duty, as an independent nation OF the earth, 10
th,, H.. which w. = hpOuPath-
ed TO us BY our Revolutionary fathers as lega-
CIV worthy of perpetuaion, By acquiring Texas.
We cannot exist as an independent nation with
oul. because if we lose Texas, British diploma
cy will prevail, and we shall be completely sur
rounded BY her armamen!s, both by land and sea.
The Northern FederaliSts, who are allied with
Great Britain in her phian,hropc movement Of
a5olishng slavery "nronghom Tie ror0,' have
not the honesty nor The independence TO avow
that 10 be their object, but evade the question, by
saying il will give preponderaling influence, IN
political point CT view, TO the South; anu, py
this act Of political legerdemain, they appeal 10
the Northern Democratsl 10 defeat this great Anne
rican measure, prompted by Mr.. Tyler with feel
inss OF deep devotion for The honor, glory ami in
dependence of his country, because, as they say,
il is 4 Southern measure concoccd by Mr.. Cal
houn for the express purpose OF destroying North
crn interests. Is this SC? Let us examine the
subec; for one moment, with honest American
hearts Where, and when, | ask, has the North
ern Democracy, since the adoption OF the Fede-
raj Constitution, been sustained in their great
constitutional and inalienable rights, by these
quasi Federal friends, whenever they had the
power 10 carry into operation their odlous, anti
Republican mcasures2 Have they done il in
Rhode Island1 Have they done it in Massachu-
sets? Have they done it in the gallant Star of the
East, Maine2 New Hampshire true TO her prin-
ciyles, never trusted them. Have they done it in
Connecticut Have they done il in y York? Have
they done il in New Jersey? will undertake TO an
swer, in no instance have they been magnanimous
enough 10 respect minority, much less protect
their interests. The true, honest and faithful 81
lies OF the Northern Democracy, are the South
and the great and growing West. They have
maintained the integrity of The Constitution in lis
primitive purity and, during the darkest period
OF the late war, stood hrm and unmoved by the
Northern Democracy in defending our national
honor, while their New England Federal friends
were coEcoctins treason against their country, in
Convention held al Hartford with closed doors
| am no eulogist of Mr.. Calhoun; in fact, he
needs none. His patriotic course during the late
war; lis towering intellect; his lofty patriotism;
his guarded jealousy of The rights OF the States;
his opposition 10 the ccnlraliZing and consoldat-
ing doctrines Of the Federal party, are monu-
rnenls OF the purity OF his character which will
live in the history of his country landmark for
future statesmen. "The Member from Nebras-
ka," il such he be- is greatly mistaken in suppus-
ing that Mr. Calhoun MIR. Tyler, George w.
Hopkins and John Winston Jones, ;Ie anxious or
willing TO do any thing inconsisten: with their no.
nor. which is identified with that OF their conn-
Try, 10 injurc such patriotic and magnanimous
statesman as sSItAs Wrionr, whom Of the
South dclgh,to honor and cherish for his talents,
genius and patriotism. No man is more dearly
identified in feeling and principle with The South
ern Democracy than Silas Wright; and why
should not Mr.. Calhoun be equally identified
with the Northern Democracy? Federalists in
The North and the South are alike: they actin har-
monous conccr, 10 break down The Constitution
and consolidate the Government. Democrats
in the North and the South are The same; they
act together for the great purpose OF preserv
ing our free institutions and maintaining the
Constitution in its original purity. Suppose Mr.
Chessedcn Ellis is friendly TO Mr.. Calhoun, is
that any reason why he should be so uDgenerouS-
" denounced by "1The JIenbcr from NebraskO?"
This objection to that gentleman is puerilc, and
unworthy of one who processes TO be Democrat
and member oi an American Congress. | hope.
for the honor of the nation, that no member OF
Congress ever condesccnded to write such baldcr-
dash, in which there is neither logic nor reason,
and worse than that he has no idea of synt0r, and
does not conjusate his rcrIs. However, he pro-
fesses 10 be friend Of annexation, which, arm
disposed TO look upon as a rR& 10 enable him
the more successfully 10 defeat this great Ameri-
can measure. The object OF The enemies Of an
nexaton is, 10 get as many projects for that mea-
sure introduced as they can, hoping that each in
dividual will stick 10 his own and thus defeat
it BY division To give 10 you some idea Of the
motives Of this writer, whom | am disposed to
think is some penny -a-liner lettering about The
pcrlieus of The capital, in the employment of the
Federal party, for the purpose OF producing dis
cord in The Democratic ranks make the fol
lowing extracts irorn his letter rcr6alim cl Hcra-
tim, CT pua1tuatim, copied from the New York
Herald, which will last forever as memenlo
of ''The Member from Nebraska, and as
piece OF composition unequalled in the science Of
political economy
"Tcxas is all the go here-all look upon il as
beacon by which to steer. The Speaker lives
in district, Wing BY 250-hence, 10 please Cal
houn, Benton, Wright Dallas, andlhe lesser lights,
is an object; else he may fail 10 obtain Loaf or
a small fish, at least, from Mr.. Polk. In no
other way can any sane man explain the peculiar
constitution of his commuees-commtees for
The full understanding OF the arrangement of
which wonld require a long article upon tha,
subject alone. will only say that his commit
tees give great and widespread dissatisfaction
10 lUuuCc HNIl Iudu " CuCuutltel ouIu
dissatisfaction as lie must have known would fol-
low his appointments, there must have been pow
erf,l motives Look at the Committee OF Fo-
reign Affairs-Ingersoll, it is we'll known, wishes
10 go 10 the Court Of ST. James-Tyler and Cal
honn, | can say without proof wish TO kill
off Benton, Wright, Allen and others connected
with them; and you will shortly see Buchanan,
Woodbury., Dallas, and their coadutors thorough
ly united with them in the work of destroying
n r.
who wants foreign mission, is placed upon and
at the head Of the Committee OF Foreign Affairs
10 please the formidable list of men just named;
all knew, at once, that if Calhoun thought il
would kill of S. Wright in the South, should
his friends vote against the annexation project,
purposely made offensive in its terms, lngersoll
would obedently bring the prepared bill forward.