Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-05-07
Rtrio Of Mr.. Claus Leiir-No. l

will IS law, and whose power is circumscrbed only by
the promptlngs of an unholy ambition. What pain
u spectacle OF servie submission and AFFECT obedience
has been presented by his partzsns, upon the appear
If the letter about to review But short pc
has elapsed since The proposed xa;on of Texas
hailed by men of all parties among u.s. measure
calculated and destined to promote the best intere
Of the Union, and to preserve to the South that secu-
rity from the fanatic assaults of foreign and domestic
Atoonists which she could hope 10 obtain by no other
expedient To the support of This measure crowded
the people Of the South, and, indeed Of all parts oil
the Union, and esteemng it only great national
benef,-seclona differences were forgotten, and
party discussions mognanimously sacrificed upon the
altar of patroiism-and all were prepared to unite
an achievement WHICH was To shed ddtona lusre
around our Confederacy lf opposition did exist
m the minds Of some who live only in the sunshine Of
party leader it's expression confined exclusively
to the manner in which The treaty originated, and ihs
supposed preciptancy with which il had been pressed
The importance Of the acquisition, none were bold
ENOUGH to question few there were CT the initiated
who, having consulted the augur knew VIA, mus, be
the ultimate party action upon the subject and be-
ing allowed to speak, were only permitted To "hes;a,e
dislike" agans! the measure, and were thus cons;ran
ed TO limit their objections 10 the mode of proceeding
adopted by the Administration, and TO exhaust their de
nu cations Upon The Executive alone. So popular
length ,hs seemed likely to prove that vigor
Gus efforts made by the partzans and presses OIL
Mr. Clay to arrest its onward march. With The m
/ NO near IL 10 ODey, anu people were al once
voaed not to form opinion until they had examined
the subject and loud aud long were the changes rupc
upon the magnitude OF the question, and the impor-
lance o! seriously considering proposi,ion frauGht
with So much oil good or of i'll to the country In
the true spirit OF demagogueism, whch none kne W
better how to affect, WHEN it is necessary 10 carry
popular measure, and, in the name Of the people,
whose vanity they sought to tattsr, they demand
ed time to investigate The subject, and opportunity
TO collect the information upon which the people
might make up an opinion, understandingly. To
| this there could be objection. 1t not no
| eessary to decide at once upon the question, the
! Treaty being undetermined, and all the advocates
of annexation sought was, fair and impartial nves-
LEGATION. Some months have now elapsed, aflcrdins
ample time for consideration, and Offering abundant
opportunity for research 10 the LATEST OF the peo
pies advisers. And who is there, that resorts TO a
Wing newspaper for information, who has found the
promises Of those presses fulfilled has the pro-
prety of annexing Texas 10 the Union fairly discuss
ed or right TO the Territory thoroughly invesgat-
ed On the contrary, the proposed treaty has been
perverted, distorted, and denounced by them in ad-
vance; and, while they dared not then openly declare
opposition TO the project popular mind was instdious-
ly preudccd against as preparatory step
to the favorable reception of the letter. which, after
much deliberaton and careful pruning has but lately
made its appearance.
This document, whose advent anticipated with
all the eagerness with which the children OF Israel
await the second coming of Messiah, penetrates
over the food OF light where all before was
darkness. The blind and deluded followers of Henry
CLAY are enlightened. The God OF their idolstry-ther
magnus Apollo has spoken, and happily for their future
guidance the response is not couched in the ordinary
LANGUAGE Of Dephic mystery. Before its magic inhu-
ence doubt, difficulty and hesitation vanish like the
spectres Of night before The approach of day. end they
Offer the homage OF grateful hearts to him who has
kindly relieved them Of the wegh,y hur;hen which
rested on their minds and has formed their opinions
for them
The information they so eagerly sought is fornshed
the investigation they desired 10 make is made for
them-the profound reflection they wished to devote
to the subject, given 10 it for them by another-and
this letter is the grent sore-house ofheir learning
of their thought upon The question. They have adopt
ed its sentiments, without probing the motives of lis
au hor without testing the truth of his reasoning,
The Russian serf who besses the Emperor for his
meroy after receiving the most cruel punishment, ex
hibi's no tanner sprt-the Mussulman who bends his
neck 10 the bow string, believing Allah has decreed
| his death, shows nbject subm:s5inn, than
the Wing patzans have displayed in adopting The OPT
Mons of Henry Clay, upon the most important ques
ton ever presented 10 the American people, without
pxamna alton and in spirit of humble ihnnkfulncss.
Such houghtess svotnn and passive subsetviency to
one man, who has already given Us an example of hia
arbitrary temper ard his tyranncal eP'r, during the
brief period of his sway in the Extra Congrers, fills
every patriot with apprehension. But how painful
to every Of Virginia IS the retsctIon that The PROUD
old Dominion may be ruled by the nod of place hunt
ing politician easily # she were trained and dis
CT plined cohort. Most eIventy do We trust that this
monstfous natuaon is bot momen,ary, and that rea-
son, dignity and Stale pride will soon resume their
sway.
| or all the public men in this Union. to whom the
friends of annexation were authorized, by ms former
conduct and policy TO lock for aid and advice IN The
proposed remuneration Of Texas to the Union, Henry
CLAW stood most prominent. II ever experience, or
observation Of politicians career, justified p'edc-
,on cs t. his future action those who venured 10 hope
for his assistance, in the recovery of Texas had the
fullest reason tn anticipate his ad-to expect his cor
dial end earnest cooperation Committed ~ ITS 'tVor,
by denouncng, in lis very inception, the Treaty OF
llslq which nlienated it from us-charging the Sc
crelary OF Stale, j. Q Adams, with base and coward
w suhservience TO foreign power, in abandoning our
claim to demonstrating our indefeasable tile TO 1t,
w,h oil the force and clearness OF his giant intellect
then in the zenith Of its powers-declarng that
the Federal Government Rad Constitutional
mower 10 ALLEVIATE foot of Territory
cxcaimng with all the yehemence OF his iervid elo-
ouence against the monsirous insuciency OF the price
for which il was sacrificed, md insnuatng, amid tor
rent of fiery invective that Texas was peace offer
ing to the offended dignity Of the Holy Alliance. And
finally seeking upon two several occasions 10 re-pur'
chase it-who could have supposed, that now, when
this much desired territory is waiting with ANXIOUS ex
10 return 20 us, that he SHOULD be fore NEST IN
declaring that upon conditions for such is viru.
ally the putport Of his letter. will lie assent to its
annexation
Fortunately for those 10 whom the task lie committed
of contrasting his present and his former position upon
this subject, the canning proofs OF his apost3cy and
the abundant testimony of his inconsistency do not rect
upon vague rumor uncertain tradition The re-
cords of The country furnish the evidences Of his guilt
and FIX upon him the incapable offence of treason ,o
the South, and aithessness to tho State which holds
his birthplace
II is with no feeling of pleasure that these grave
charges are preferred against him; nor have his emf
men. services in former trying times of the Republic
been forgotten II 3 has, Ct two different epochs
s,led the tempasts which threatened 10 destroy our
4derncy; and whatver his opinions have been Up
IN qacstions OF domestic policy, his sword slept not in
i,e scabbard when the SAFELY If tho Republic was en-
dange.cd by foreign loss or intestine dsse". ions :
This tribute is due u him, ard had his tame depend
ed upon these services postery would have vene'
rated his memory the country, honored by his genius
would have been proud of his name. But tempted BY
that sin which wrought the fall Of Lucifer, and urged
BY morbid craving after the Presidency, which has
long been The goal of all his aspirations, but when al!
timed could not have added one ray 10 the halo which
surrounds his naue-he has sacrificed fame which
illustrated his own and the counys history, 10 secure
worthless bantle- which, when won, upon the ccndi