Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-05-24
From the PETERSBURG Republican, May H.

From the Petersburg Republican, -hdy M
/ Never have we witnessed more respectable meet
inc than that assembled on Saturday night Every IN
terest every class of life represented. Among
those who took prominent part, might be iouno Tue
successful and respected mechanic, the experience
and wealthy merchant the soldier OF Inc last war; .he
distinguished lawyer, the eminent physician Tue
NOR The manufactured, the Bank President, The ha
Road President Officers of The State and OF the United
St,tes-in fine, il meeting, where all, OF every
Grade. seemed 10 have forth TO join in The coun'
try's cry for the enumeration OF Texas
TOWN MEETING.
| In pursuance of previous call, large number oil
the friends Of Immediate annexation assembled at the
Court House, on Saturday evening The meeting was
called to order by David II. Branch, Esq who, IN
brisf address explained it's objects and its Importance
On motion Of Mr.. Branch John Pollard Mayor OF the
| Town was appointed President, Thomas s. Ghoison,
ESQ, and Gen ID. c. Butts, Vice Presidents, Wash
,naon Greanhow Secretary, and j. Travis Rosser, as
| slstaLt Secretary.
Richard Krdder Meade, Esq offered the following
resolution, which was adopted
Rcsoirsd That Committee of thirteen be appointed,
who shall report TO this meeting Preamble and Reso-
lutons-w hereupon, the Chair appointed Richard KID
der Meade, Dr. Ben. II. May, Thomas Wallace, Dr.
Joseph T. Cox, james Alfred Jones, Robert Leslie,
I H. b. Gaines, Col. John A. Peterson, Col. Joseph
Bragg, Col VIM c. Parker, David II. Branch, VIM.
Robertson, Jr., John Sturdivant
On motion of Mr.. Wallace, the Vice Presidents were
added to the committee.
! MIR. Gholson being requested by Tbs meeting to
address during the committee absence, in an able
argument showed the policy and proprey OF re-annex-
alton.
Mr.. Meade, from the committee reported the fol-
lowing preamble and resolutions
The Committee appointed by meeting OF the C'ii-
of Petersburg called to take INTO CONSIDERATION
The subject of annexng the Republic OF Texas to
the U. States
REPORT,
That in the history of all governments, occasions
sometimes present themselves when political parties
imperIousy required, by love OF country 10 sus
end their mutual ho,tes, and unite MS one family
in common council for their countrys good:-The pre-
spnt crisis relation to Texas seems TO be one oil these
Impending portion OF our happy Union's an an
ripated calamity of most serious nature, imposing up
on The other portion hereohe sacred duty OF assistance
or the alternative Of a cul pabe disregard OF, and
Indifference to- the welfare of their feowcounrymen
We are unwilling to believe, that the hostility which
s said to exist the Northern portion OF the confede
racy against the peculiar institutions of the South, s
fixed, that the South may never expect their breth
rem of the North TO unite in repelng dangers that
threaten them II The South entitled to the protection
of the Federal Government when invaded from with
out or in danger from instruction within, she is aso
titled all those precautionary measures, and that VI
GLANCE which shall prevent the necessity of such assi.
lance No sectional anlipahies absolve Govern
me Mt from the discharge Of those duties.
II cannot be denied, that the present unstable md
critical position of Texas is charged with imminent
danger 10 Southern rights and INTERESTS and so, they
may ghtully call for the nterpostlon and protection
of the Governmental protection that shall be ample,
and free from future contingencies While we believe
that Ration is the most certain cad secure, yet
any other be pointed out, which ought to quiet
our reasonable apprehensions, the South would will
ncly Weld to the majority of any opinions it may
terrain in relation the general policy of the measure.
But we can see security equal TO Anne1atIon which
recommends itself not only TO the South, by the safety
it nsures but also to the whoe Union, by The incalcu-
liable benefits that would result to the whole, and more
the Northern portion OF H. TO which It's
immense commercial advantages would be almost en-
trely confined. We of opinion that IT would be
much safer for the South that Texas should belong to
Mesco than that she should maintain nominal inde-
pendence under the banefnl Influences which must, in
that event. direct her future destines Every Anglo
American would of depreca'e such an al'erna
tive But il is better that the Southern States should
have neghbor like Mexico, than on active, enterpri-
sing Anglo-Saxon race, raising the same productions,
sharing commerce, opposed to slavery, severed
from us in interest and feeling, and favoring
scheme which tends to injure the Shareholder. That
Texas to remain independent, must become a free
State there every 10 tear. England has al
ready declared her purpose to use her influence to abo-
sh slavery throughout the word-shc has offered to
mediate between Mexico and Texas. and she avows her
settled purpose 10 counsel the Abolition of Slavery in
Texas. Her schemes will be favored BY portion of
our own brethren at The North Texas hard pressed for
means 10 sustain herself the interest on her debt being
already 100000 per annum her slaves being paid for
by England for certain commercial advantages and her
independence guaranleed-her fertile soil leemng with
foreign and Northern Abotonsts inccndlary publica
tons and Abolition schemes a,sang US from North and
South-our slaves enticed away-eforts made the
while 10 abrdge representation in Congress-what
situation can be imagined pcrilous Tor the South
We only ask our Northern brethren to assist in OBJ
tanning future safety or at least in guarding against f
turc danger, and while shall obtain that, they will
reap the immediate benefits Of 4 new market, and an
extended commerce. We shall purchase rival at
great price and they will obtain friend by dischargDg
duty. II is not 10 be omitted, that great benefit
would probably result TO the African race itself by
having Mexico as contiguous Territory 10 the United
States. There many benevolent owners Of slaves
who would emancpate them, were they certain their
condition would DO improved. All the cmancpated
slaves required by the laws Of the Savebolding
States to emgrate II is known that the North afford,
but miserable refuge where all those maades, incl
dent to degraded and impoverished condition. as'ail
them. Their masters are deferred, by charitable mo-
tivss. from consignng them to so miserable stale -
Might not the hope be reasonably entertained, that IN
time to come Mexico, with large portion of her po
pulaon somewhat similar, and scarcely superior, viii
offer them home, where climate ana population VIII
both conspirc for their comfort and haPPne>s-while
the North would be relieved from any further Increase
Of race, which they are far from desiring:
IL is be lamented, that the tendency OF Presden
taI Election should throw many and so unnecessary
obstacles in the way of Annexation No party should
appropriate this question. No party can, but by keep
ing ii alive Let the question be now settled, and the
6re-brand be extngushed Parties divide only pend
ing questions. The question has been before the Anne
rcan people for years, and every man has made
up his mind pro The indications throughout
the Union the side Of ultimate Annexation. The
supposed rights of Mexico alone stand in the way OF
mmed ine action Are we to be postponed by Mexico
indefinitely We have already decided this question
for ourselves-lst by treating with Mexico for the re-
lnquishment Of Texas, while Mexico much at
war with Spain as Texas is now at with Mexico;
and, 2ndly, by treating with Texas herself concerning
boundary-we may have already acquired territory
which Mexico may deny riehtto. We had as much
right to establish the Trinity the Colorado as the line
we did establish.
But the condition of Texas is not the ordinary one
of resolted province: She part of Mexico
under federative system of government, regularly
and rightfully established The first revolution re-
sstance 10 this Government commenced by rebel
lion and usurpation on the part Of Santa Anna who
had been of the Liberal Party and had assisted 10
tabsh the Federal Constitution, but who suddenly
Joined The Astocrats, ana May, 1884, forcibly dis
solved The Congress before its term had expired, and.
also the Council Of Government, which he took INTO