Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-09-13


history OF the Compromise act and lis rcpcal-in
the rejection of Texas, and the reasons assigned
for ii, accompanied, Is they were, with the gross
esl insults and abuse offered 10 Shareholders even
in The halls OF Congress, and in the WRONGS and
expressions, whether tancicd or real, OF which
they complain, much 10 call forth rather consi-
dcratcncss and ioibcarance, than denunciaiion,
abuse and threats towards our brethren Of the
same country.
But il is equally true, thai these expressions OF
sentiment inimical 10 the integrity and perretui.y
of the Union, were no sooner made public, than
they were reproba,cd and rebuked by the leading
politicians OF South Carolina, as we'll as by The
Democratic Party generally throughout The Union;
and il was declared in various parts of The South
ern States, that no Convention would be agreed
10, unless the suspicion even, of lis bcin. I'M
friendly to the Union, should be entirely removed,
hy the rccanlalon or diSavowal OF all intention
10 make even scctionai in lis character by those
of lis propo>crs who had spoken of il as ''South-
crn Convention We need scarcely refer you 10
the public expression of their diSapprobaon of
any such scheme by Mr.. Calhoun Mr. McDutc,
Col Elmore and Col. Pckens of South Caroline,
Johnson of Georgia, Mes>rs Black, Bellingcr, CO.
hen. Carew and McWholter at a meeting of tiom
3000to 1000 persons at Augusta: tothc intignan,re
tuiation of the calumny by the recen, numerous
meeting I'll Charleston, and by the immense multi
tude recently assembled at Nashville, Tennessee
nor 10 the declaration of Mr. Rhett '',hal he stood
isolated and alone among the Members Of ongresS,
in The course he would recommend" But were
any additional evidence necessary, We might re-
Ter 10 The Charleston Courier Ca Wing .Journal,)
of July l2h. 10 whom I'll Afforded pleasure 10
announce rs co-laborcrS in opposing any such de-
sign, several leading journals of the 'I>oit Pm
~" These, and many other evidences which
might be here adduced, show that the general sen
tment of that party was strong and decided dis
appreciation OF any attempt 10 dissolve OF 10 weak
en- The bonds Of eur glorious Uniun-a diSappro-
baton which was as promptly ami dcc'dediY CT
pressed as il was sincerely tclt-indeed the scheme
OF holding such 4 Convention had been utterly
abandoned.
Yet Notwithstanding these notorious facts, and
when the proposition for holding the Convention
was. with the great mass OF the people, passing
into utter Oblivion, the Clay Clubs OF this city,
actuatcd by what motive, or :mpeiicd by what me-
cesSity lei others decide, suddenly awakened nom
that apathy ana Indifference 10 the safety OF the
Union which had permitted 10 pass nnnolicel and
unrcbuied the numerous plots and machina-
tons" for its dissolution hv their own party al,
lies al the North, who threatened 10 put them into
ilnmc iiate execution: and, assuming 10 be the
peculiar guardians Of the Integrity OF our Union,
as if 10 atone for their delinquency when il was
threatened with real danger, displayed The ardor
OF their newborn zeal. hv icroclouS onslaught
on the ghost Of Convention. peaccablc and harm
less in life. long since dead and visible only 10
their morbid imagination. But, when told by all
rational spectators of this QGiAo!ic uitng, that
they did nausht but 'rhc lnlrcnchdnt air with
their keen swords impress" they solemnlv assure
lis. tina, their timely and yalorous interference
had saved us from the presence OF This spectral
monster. whose awful approach they alone fore
saw-and hvmnng p;eGn> 10 their own patriotic
bravery. they challenge The eternal gratitude OF
their country and Of poSierlr, ior saving both
from unuterable woes. The part they have act
ell in This drama-,his tragic comedy, or comic
tragedv-haS been compared 10 The leafs OF valor
and shrewdnc>s OF the FAT Knight OF Eas,cheap in
the battle of Shrewsbury. who, when real danger
was at hand could "counterl-it" the in~aMbtiiy
of death; but, when LETT alone with the dead
Percy, magnanimousy stabbed him again, and
.'swore he killed him. Bu, Fastati is wronged
nv the comparison He le rot confident that
Percy might no, counterfeit 100 and rise" Had
he mistaken dead tiend for the terrible Hot
spur. and borne The body in hoas;ul triumph 10
the camp the comparison wouli have been more
correct.
Butte proceed more seriously with 4 narration
OF the facts Under these circumstances the Clay
Clubs of Richmond in solemn conclave assem-
bled did, on the 18Th Of .Iulr, adopt 4 preamble
and resolutions, in which, after a tedious recital
OF all the toasts and resolutions, offered or adopted
by individuals or meetings in South Carolina
however obscure or insignificant, and announcing
them. as the declarations of the POLK Parry,
>cruplei not 10 charge that party, upon such
evidence a this. with ''l:eason and disoyaliy 10
our glorious Union;" declaring, that having
heard Of the Convention proposed 10 I've held
in this city, they protested against such an
act oi Dissertation 10 our soil and ireSi,lcs. ami
here socunlv declare that, with cur consent, II
SHALL. Nor pE HELD HERE.
Bul that no one may say that we misrerresen'
,hcm We quote the whole resolution in their o"n
words:
IS. Eesolred, That in the declaration Of the
Polk Party, that they will dissolve this Union
sooner than abandon TeSas.'-that if the Fcde-
raj authorities should fail 10 ratily the Texas
Treaty. no consideration aof cren DlSaRi0n a.
slf is sufficient To defeat annexation, tina; they
must seize the moment when the South is aroused
br the rejection OF the Treaty. 10 propose i'm
mediate steps towards Soaidcra Conrehiton, and
leave Disunion TO the NORTH, that in their pro-
position for Convention OF the slave States Tor
The purpose of requesting The President 10 call
Congress together immediately when tue f.SA;.
lsscE shall b. made up, an! III" alternative dis
tinctlv presented 70 the Free Siaicscither TO al
nit Texas INFO the Union, or 10 proceed calmly
10 alran9. the terms of a DlsSoLuTloS o. THs
UNrov'-or. 10 assemble 4 Convention of the
States friendly 10 annexton'-or any Other pro-
position which BY arraying one fragment OF The
Union, upon the assumption OF hostile and scPa-
rate interests and feelings against the rest, tends
TO entrcble the sacred ties which now link tosc-
Their the various parts, we discern the revolving
indications OF treason and dis!oyaliy 10 oIir So-
riouS Union-lha, we regard these sentiments
and al! who inter them, with mingled Indignation.
contempt and adherence; and, having heard OF
the nrooosal 70 holl some such conclavc in our
city We protest against such an act OF desc
Grafton to our soil and freSideS, ard here solemn
IL declare that with our consent, II SHALL NOT FL
HELD HERE"
Here. then we have in a free and efficient con-
sti,utional Government the extraordinary specta-
Gle. of BODY of men, sitting in judgment, as
sef-conS;itutcd tribunal upon the mottres and IN
tcaiioas of large portion OF their ieow-cilizenS,
nreudyng them without 4 hearing and without
form of trial. guilty OF the highest crime, known
TO human laws and threatening 10 be themselves
The cyecu!ioneis in the int,ictioa Of punish
ment, whose nature ard extent might AMI pro-
baby would, b, as igaominiols as rioen', and
as unlimited, as it was uncc!incd That such
was the correct Interpretation Of this resolution
as we'll as the Obvious common sense one, viii
sufficiently appear by considering what would
have been the proper, PeGccabhc, conaitu ionaf
course for these men TO pursue, had there really
been any reason to suspect the delegates TO such
Convention, Of any such designs as those imputed
TO them As the criminality Of those designs was,
necessarily merely conjectural, and as our Con
siitu,ion and laws had provided the most ample
means Of preventive and precautionary admins
,raiVn of Justice, one would suppose, that v9;lant
readiness 10 use those means would have salts
fled all peaccabe and law-loying people. Our
Courts were still open, our Grand Juries still
regularly assembled, and men may be bound
in any amount to observe the peace and dignity OF
the Commonwealth But these tcdions forms,
established 10 protect the life and Itery Of every
citizen against the reckless violence OF faction,
were as uiisuled 10 this novel law, against sre-
cies of treason heretofore unknown, as they were
uncongcnial To the rccklcssness of those who
would thus expound and enforce it by penalties
equally unprecedented Such a Convention
mialu il is true. be restrained and prevented by