Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-10-10
RICH M Nd, VA.
Morning, oc,oher 10. 1871.
BEAUTIFUL TEXAS.

quest ol lllenu, lu whom 4 copy oil II WAS SIM
by the gentleman who prepared il. That gentle
man was formerly citizen of Virginia. He IS
now, and has been for some years past, citizen
of the State of Mississippi He is as remarka-
BILE for his fine intelligence, as he is Tor his stern
integrity and manly independence II we were
al liberty 10 publish his name all who know him
here would al once accord 10 him these qualities,
SO strongly indicated hy the Circular itself. we,
of course, differ from him i'll The view we take o
Mr.. Claws character, and cannot unite win nm
in awarding 10 Mr. Clay either generation Tor his
supposed patriotism OF respect Tor his presumed
purity. But all must admire in the writer OF this
Circular that independence OF character ana IN
teeritv of purpose, which will not permit hun TO
s"ii.'der h" own opinions; or "handon Inc iilicr
esls of his country, even ii the DlaapS uI MI
Henry clay-unhuunded as is this writer's ad-
miralion and devoted as has been his regard Tor
Mr. CLAY. He nobly prefers the preservation oil
the Constitution 10 the elevation OF any human
being: and we doubt not there are thousands,
who like this writer, will never permit their de-
yotion 10 man, (Which always may be, and We
thinl, in this instance is mistaken and misplaced
10 Swerve them from their duly 10 their country,
(which is ever due and can never unsteady we
only add. that The CIRCULAR was prepared, as the
writer states, with The view oil ceiling many
he had no, time 10 carry out this purpose. when
he forwarded the copy oi ii 10 his iiend here:
LETTER
Mr. Clay: We who address YOU, yield TO no
class of your admirers. nor even 10 your most
aiectionate friends, IN admiration oi your extra
ordinary talents generation for yonr exalted char
actcr as a paiiio,, and profound respect Tor the
purity of all Your principles. If, then. there
should he in this address anything offensive, you
will ascrihe il To inadvcrteIce and believe il re-
purnant 10 our will. But we should I've wanting
in canLor not 10 say. that some OF us have since
the appearance OF your letter in opposition
10 Texas annexation, ceased 10 be your support
ers for the Presidency
So early as the formation OF the Constitution
of the United States when our ancestors were
united in the closest ties, by reason OF the dangers
and privations which they had together suffered in
the glorious achievement of their independence,
the existence otslaverv was an clement OF d>cord,
and the Constitution could not be agreed on until
the slave States ''toharmonise the Union, conccd-
ed lwo-tiilhs ot The representation OF their labor
ing population in the confederation.
|, was then supposed that all discord was a, an
end But was this so
From lealouses and reproacheS our northern
coniederaes proceeded Ia acts OF hostility 10 our
institutions. and on the application OF Missouri
admission on accoun, of slavery, altho the only
conditions prescribed in The Constitution, VIZ: "A
Republican form OF Government and sufficient po-
mutation" were complied with. II was on that
occasion that YOU gave proof OF that concliaory
and patriotic love OF the Union. which, We think,
was m;scalcuating as 10 the object 10 ,c attained.
and has been the fruitful source of continual
expressions on the slave States. Inc Missouri
compromise was your work. The Union was
=, AL h,. ho " SfAN
CONCESSION from the slave States. 1t was by an
innovation on the Constitution which had left the
whole Territory OF the United States, as free for
settlement by slave owners a any other class ol
citizens. that the slave States were required TO
mn, barrier 10 The increased stability and per
petui,y which their rights would derive. from
other slave States North OF the Both degree OF
latitude.
Did this aharmonise the Union?"
Immediately thereafter abolition petitions load
ed the Speaker table, and The most angry and VI
;uperative debates disgraced Congress. The es
element and diScord increased annually, and the
Tariff policy of the Government was opposed by
one party as oppressive 10 the slave labor OF the
country and pressed on ~ the other as neces>a-
~ 70 sustain the manufacturing labor OF TIE Tree
States.
The intrinsic advantage Of protection OF our
domestic industry was merged under the jealousy
and discurd between free and slave labor The
South was overcome. and driven To The verge al
civil war. Then, again, your love oil The onioi
was displayed in your efforts to conciilaic anu 70
"harnonise the Union" But again, he cohceS'
sion was from the Slave States. The Tariff was
submitted TO- but with promise oi annual me.
Iteration. until it reached 30 percent. I'D ratorr",
which was after 10 be the rate Of duty. AND here
lie; us contrast The pressing on the American sys
,c,p against The WISHES and strenuous opposition
of all the Slave States except henthchS, anu u
the verge of civil war, with the REJECTION o
Texas. from ''rcspect 10 4 considerable ana re
spectacle portion Of the people, "or 10 four State
Of this Conicderacv." But to return: Did sub
mission 10 the Tariff "harmonise the Union =
Abolition petitions continued TO ohs'fncl Inc ie
yisla,ive acknowledging annually became more
characterization societies increased in mum
ber-rich;s of property were violated, by aiding
h3rborins, and even forcibly OBTAINING slaves
missions were sent TO England for all to ahollsl
slavery, and applications made even to the PRIME
Minister of England for aid In destroy tic mos
important institution of the Slave States Ahi
on the formation Of the Treaty toI Annexation
of Texas, the North openly avow, that The ratili
ca,iop of The Treaty will dissolve the MON, ant
viii Justify its dissolution. Had these decara
tions come from the Slave States, the obioqn;
which is shameleSsiy heapcd on South Carolina
Viii snow now tl"N WouIu H!'t p'Ih 4SNe''S'
but coming as they did from the North, they ar,
respected, and when it had been asccnaincd tha
a constitutional majority of the Senate were
about TO ratify the Treaty, your letter OF oppo>
lion 10 this measure your third effort In mar
monisc the Union" defeated the treaty.
Texas is now rejected. The most importan
measure which ever came 10 the conSideia, alton o
the National Government, has been sacrificed t'
Northern dict:,ion and cncroachment on the right
of the slave States. The slave States may no" %
said 10 be enclosed in the folds al The great poitica
Boa-antislaverv The slave States are now ex
cluded from al participation The wild lands IN h
territory OF the United States, winch are open 10
and NAV be appropriated by, anr or all oil TN
nopula,ion OF Europe who choose III cmigra
! thereto We are locked in and excluded als'
| from all the waste lani on The whole coniincn
or America. We. children Of the patriots q
the Revolution. hertors Of their rights are made
an isolated people; and insult 10 us and Inlurle
| to our properly are applauded. Has even I'm
great concession "harmonizcd the Unions" NJ
sooner is the treaty relected-erc Texas has tim,
for the inroads Of European paupers 10 ahoisi
her slavery-bcfore the people OF The slave States
have time for reflection, before they have per
ceive that they are circumvaacd by anii-slavc
~. an that in the natural progress oil poPuia
ton and The construction OF the folds oi The grca
Boa, slavery must be stillcd; it is proclaimed
from the North, that Ajduton is 4 principle O
he Wing party; ih.t yol have done more 10 abo
li>h slavery than anv man living Ih0t M
nomination Of an Ajo'itoaid as Governor Of Yer
moui mW cnru iog 10 the heart OF the sage Of
Ashland And the hope is expressed, that ere you
die. You will bc Jealous aboliiionis
Can any thing sho; oi the abolition OF slavery
remove this element OF discori and "harmonlse
the Uniop7' Are you in favor OF Aboliton!-
Do YOU think the slave States will or ought 10
make enormous concession even 10 mar
monte" or 10 preserve the Union?
Was the Federal Constitution intended TO he
perpetual2
Was slavery, which is recognized and guar
an,ecd therein, intended to he finitel
Will slavery nc perpetual, il CONSTRUCTED WITHIN
its presen, territorial limits or must il necessari-
~, in the progression ofpopulation, be stifed!