Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-04-30
RICHMOND VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, April. 80 1871
COMMUNICATIONS.

TO THE EDiroRS OF THE E.fQCfRER
ne enclosed letter is from the pen OF one hn en-
'a'"td IN M T'xas enterprise in The spirit described
By him. mus. II 'ad guilty II the charge ke brings
against me. have been iasxcusaby supine aud
warirg N my duty, not only 10 the public at large
but 10 him aud many other friends similarly clrcum
s'aAced. am more than wiling TO repair my fault,
nut do not know ow better DO so, than by asking
leave 10! HIM III plead ms should despair
oil acding any hing 10 The cleanegs of his statement,
the iorce OF his argument, The ,nefgy Of his appeal
peg, therefore, that you viii give this letter place IN
your paper Yours, &c.
My dear Sir IL hcve been much gratifed, during
my ys, 10 Virginia, e. The expressions Of sympathy
for Texas which daily hear from TIE lips Of men Of
all parties; and yet by The universal and eager
wish for our remuneration 10 the Union, in which all
seem TO Concur But am concerned to see that even
they who are most in earnest this matter, and who
would even peril The Union upon the question: for
the most pa:t rontent 10 express their sentiments in
pF'va.e Conversations Oar enemies understand these
things much st-r aHd whenever dozsn of them can
be collected ~ Tie same ueighbcrhood they get up n
meeting and memorial and echo 10 each other y
vo'ccs and, like bprAes grasshoppers. make The air
so "nng w.:h ihp- ripo,tuuae chirp, that they
to be the only inhabitants of the field Thus II was,
that they hasegsd end ogcrawed Congress and almost
extoried that iniqlous Bankrupt law which they
were quite ready 10 give up t he'd served
their tnrn. Such things only bad taste, bnt
contrary to the spirit Of the Constitution ; In. vhfn
one party resorts TO then, the o.tcr must III sei.-de
fence
Bui there is one mode Of acting on the public mind
aad pubic coahc'is, perfectly legitimate ana tccorous,
and WHICH has always prevailed III Virginia mean,
through argument, fXhoIta:ion and .Inonstrancc,
the newspapsrs. have read, with delight, lie pos-
cru! letters Of Randolph If Roanoke. But he dates
from Washington. Why are Eitginians silent Why
you sent;-you, who know so much of the his
pF.t a
views in gong there, and - clear unde rs,Gnt,ng o;
rghIs, and Of the rights oi the II. States ua-
der which GctsG,
You know, how mach more this bject vas attend
cd TO, how much better it UNDERSTOOD the West
Than IN Tie Atlantic States You re member that in
Missouri particularly, the Treaty of cession OF
the fundamentals nj the State and had n conspicuous
place IN The digest OF her laws. You remember how
studied and discussed reference 10 the cove
nlnted right Of Missouri 10 place in The Union. You
have mol forgotten, yon never can forget, how, when
tae news OF tie Treaty, fixing the Sabine I'd our
Western boundary reached st. Lous, The most lr,s!-
gent and besiriormed cf the place, met together
~ discuss It IN the little temporary Theatre Of that
place. Yon forget the convincing and over
whelmng argument. then offered By whom
shall hear no more, proving that Texas part Of
Louisiana, aud that the Federal Government had no
power 10 cede il away
Others know, as scli as you, that MIR. Clay ar
ter presented aud uiumphanly sustained the same
views. BIT others may not know That, 1t uEdsr
the convictions poduced by these unans~erabie argu
ncn:s that many men, whose affections bound them
adiss oluo,y 10 Ihc United States, removed 10 Texas.
y d ~ with pnIposc 10 renourcs allegiance our
native St&'cs- To p,.cc ourselves ~ alien, and il
NIGH, bp. hostile relation 10 cur brethren after the
flesh TO take on ourselves obligations which might
rake il duy 10 turn swords against the threats
OF those sho had hung with us n, the same breast !;
You knox tina; we did not We went With convic-
tinni If Te ht tn u and nj N I.p
tm- the rght would be asserted and put ourselves
in place ard condition Ia make good their claim In
way not anticipated BY Us, we have been establish
ed in complete power the subject We Of
Ter exercise that power in favor Of the u States.
We seek TO return 10 our father house, not like the
prodigal son. bot bringing with otfrring, which
should ensure welcome What do we ask, TO
b, admitted 10 any right which is not onr's aeady-
NJ We sull Gil zens of native States, hcinre
aud here s no tight, no fienchse privilege may
mol claim IL Offering that Ac;eG-- not we
We may .eiu:nbut We must leave behind u, our pro-
pef.y-the soil vet w'th our bloodtha fields reclaimed
by our lab r--al the ifui's, political aud pessonai Of
tl;s to Texas from the ruGeness Of nature
and 10 redeem her iiom tie power OF barbarian, and
qualify her TO be, and - make her bright star in
your bright Western constellation. Why DO you 10.
rensn,5er these things? Why do you net speak of
lhem'
Span has no claim TO Texas. The L s. Govern.
men had power To cede it, and Spain does not claim
H. Mexico has no TILE 10 iexaS She proclaimed her
eprndence, bu; Texas vas no part Of Mexico it
remained for Texas 10 do for herself hat Mexico had
done for herself 1t has been done. Texas declared
herself ndepe ndent; and lie United States acknow-
tdged her independence. THIS achnow edgment is
the nnlg bar that could be set up 10 the CLAIM Of the
United States, and tins, (as one OF yonf writers
Inns well ea'd) Is 1n' IN csloppal, which have
effect, unless plead it, which We do moi and will
not.
NV d-ar sir, appeal to you, in the name Of our
common origin and ancient friendship, 10 draw your
oen in our behalf. have but reminded you Of what
Won Know, and hope the "reminiscences awakened by It
NAV rouse you tn vindcate oar cause, and to place
ITS true lrct before The world The most remarkable and
nnns,rous phenomenon th:t the history Of nations pre-
sen,s-a people refusing 10 add 10 lis Commons an
empire inhabited only by hei. own sl!ow-cItizens-
bone Of their bone, ard flesh o! their flesh.