Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-05-10
FOR THE ENQUIRER.

uon SOME weeks aga, Tor the purpose oi selecting us
gates 10 The Baltimore Democratic ConveniIon. did III
lie honor oil appointing two of The nlterac,es
me great distance which delegates viii haze
10 travel. and some Of them being members OF The
bar, and having charge of professional business
IN the Courts which will be held about the time a
which they wouid have TO leave hore, render i
too probable tina, shall be placed in a most deli
cate and responsible position. We are aware, that II
was generally supposed, al The tune of appoint
ment, that MIR. Van Buren, would lie nominated by
the Convention as the candidate for the Presidency
Since then, however, grave and momenlous question
mas arisen, IN the issue Of which We know constr
tnents must feel deep and lively interest We mean
the annexation Of Texas 10 the United States -
Upon that subject. our minds are made up ard we
cannot faer with it Mr. Van Buren,, we regret to
say, has not been abe concur with U.s. as to the pro-
pretty OF immediate annexation by treaty with Texas
MS letter 10 Dr. finmmett Of Mississippi upon that
subject an able one and the reasons which he
Signs commend themselves TO the kndest appreci
81 ms iienos They have not, however, convinced our
Judgments and that fact, together with the stern con-
V'cuon mat ne cannot be elected places in posi-
ton the most painful and embarrassing IF we attend
The Convention the votes which we may be called up
on TO give will not be our own and there is hardly
time 10 consult with those who have del-pnted TO
the power of voting for them If the votes were our
own, we should not hesitate 10 cast them against the
NOMINATION oil Mr. Van Buren,, for The two reasons
which we have assigned. To vote for him, WILL in
our judgment defeat the SUCCESS of the Democratic
cause-(which, we satisfied prize far above all
personal preerences,) and that we should be unwilling
to do.
We know not what better, in such dilemma, We
car do than to appeal nj 10 The people
and invite them TO consider the expedency of writing
us upon this subject, of informing in such other
mode as may be deemed proper, Of their wishes in re-
ference to the action Of the Baltimore Convention
Under ordinary circumstances, shonld not have
deemed such appeal necessary but in an cmergen.
rvl Iko ho mt ant nur
sense Of duty to you, avoid making IT.
Differing, do, with Mr. Van Buren, upon the
Texas question, and sas6ed-thoroughly satisfed-n-
depsndenty of that from full! free and friendly cons
with others from all quarters Of the Union that
be elected, not willing to sacrifice The
cause in any vain attempt 10 accomplish it. We have
no hesitation in saying, tina, think there other
sound Republicans who are more available, and Tor
whose nomination it would give us pleasure 10 vote
But in saying that, we may b. allowed to express the
opinon that we ought 10 have ne,o canddate
for the Office OF President of the United States. and
thus go into the approaching contest upon the
of our principles. fee fran personal an,roses and
sectional preudIcss, and trust alone to the intrinsic
powers Of the ceuse. But our party is not SO bar
rem Of wisdom aad worth, as to limit selection
to Van Buren, /; for. have many others, possess
ing MI The rtqus IL claims and Qualifications 10 whom
the Democratic party may proudly look tor til repre-
sentative of our cherished creed. Blu, whoever muy
be brought before the Convsntian, he must be- Ia
cordial operation In recovering territory, once
our own, and which we desire 10 reclaimed.
We would not consent 10 sacrifice Mr.. Van Buren, 10
any mere persons: preference for another ataadoa
him to any such design; for, sincerely believe thni
he deserves n better fate HIS administration wall
stand the tas Of t,;na and scrutiny, far lis
sues and leading principles concerned, and impa'-
al posterty will as1gn IN place by tie side of the
yrea author and founder Of faith And sincere
" ,rast tina. thne of his friends who do not think he
can now he elected, Will not suffer the folly madness
of his more sangu1e adherens II betray them,
hereafter into of Injustice unkndness to him
The pecupiary arrangement of the ;imes-t snf
erinps and losses Of III people, from bank m;srue md
proflgacy aided by other accidental causes which
prudence could avert, foresight could have enabled
hun altogether II prevrn-served to weaken the conf
dence Of the people tie wisdom of lis sdtun, traon;
and an unpopular party, which had i'self been con-
demned allylns Itself with ell tho dsaf-ced and DIS
ccrdaGi political elements Of the l1nd, seized upon the
prcp,ous monlent-engaged in a fierce aud unrslen-
ing crusade against him-and broke down his admins
aton. The popular feeling has not yet recovered It's
jus, and wholesome equipose-is yet tretied and DIS
turbed and will not come to his rescue. Mr. Clay ~
personally and politically Unacceptable 10 the of
The peope-and, be wee him and sound Republican,
who free lrcn the prejudoes of the past, Mr.. Clay
vii! he rejected again But, in contest between hun
and Mr. Van Buren,, ieur, dread the result Pat
r,o,isn, in judgments, never more earnestly and
porngly called upon the friends Of freedom to pause
and ponde. WELL before they resolve to drive the people
an alternative fearful that CT choosing between
Henry Clay and Martin Van Buren,, at such a momen
this II It mus, be doae and the former be elevated
to the Office, and invested with the powers Of President
ofthe United States, no man shall say we ddt Thus
impressed. 10 the which high of duly
requires 10 take, have not stopped 10 cacu!a e
the COST 10 ourselves Ii there he any venal enough
to suppose, that, IN choosing between Remuneration
and duty, shall fatsr or hesitate, will save IL
future the proof rena,on of such supposrlion
IL is possible, trust, in such emergency the
present, that, in m5s, if not all of the cfntes, the
people will take up the subject, and furnish with
come information TO their wishes. Something ough,
to he done-and t,o much cannot be done 10 prevent
the election Of MIR. Clay. For, with all respect for
Mr.. Van Buren,, aud with all our desire 10 him
deemed from The shameful defeat of 1910, do moi
think his election within the range of the remoes
probability That the ought not TO be sacrificed
any vain attempt 10 elect him, viii, we think, he
admitted by any true and dsineresed Democrat. We
have always been proud 10 believe, that 'ev"ry thing
for the cause-no.hng for men was Idle and ho.
To- -hearted wa.chword with us6ut faithfully reflect
cd the sentiments of the Democratic party IT, in d,r
ing ~ assert those opinions and sentiments, honestly
ente sianed offend any wouldbs rulers Of The peo
pie, or any congressional or other organized centra
clique, we offenders, end da:e meet the issue be
fore people, rs lc influenced By :slHsh cnnsdsra
TONS and as much devoted to sound Republican princ
pies, these who may be ready 10 impu,e 10
lives which would find quite as congenia atmos-
phere in their own hnsoms.
We hope we entertain much respect for the popu-
lar will "a others, and tuated may be, no spe-
cis plaadiags, no differences nor implications shall IN
duce US to disregard what we may believe IN be The
wishes Of those for whom may be called upon t.
act But we shall not shrink from any responsibility
which the dictates of duty may suggest, and shall do
regardless of all consequences personal to ourselves
whatever duty commands u, 10 do. We have no de.
SIRE, Heaven knows, TO ornd-no motive 10 misrepre
sent those who have thus honor.d US with their con
fdence-and with whose interest and destiny, our own
IS SO separately identified.
GEORGE w. HOPKINS,
AUGUSTUS A. CHAPMAN.
TO the Peapic Of The 18Th Congressional District Of ia
The undersigned was appointed by yonr confidence
an Alternate TO the Baltimore Democratic Convention
of 27lh May. Having observed from The Cards of HI.
co-aerna,es, that in all probability the Delegates wi,
be unable TO attend, and The nlcrnotss may be re
CURED to represent the voice Of The Democracy
of the South West; aud, IN the stat. OF fact
which have sprung into existence since you com
missioned hlm being unwilling to take the RESPONSE
bily of selecting Presidential candidate without pre-
vously consulting you be seizes the present as the
moet direct mode OF s"cing your advice and nstIuc-
tons 10 the persons TO be nominated for ths high
Offices OF Prrsiden; and Vice President Of the United
States For himself he can truly say that he has III