Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-10-24

doubles, the true state Of the case
So much for Mr. Clay's explanation of The
FIRST .most unwaTanted" misrepresentation!
We next come To the other expression contain
ed IN his second Alabama letter, upon which
Also Mr.. Clay says his meaning has been
most unwarranlaIly" misrcpresenlcd. That
expression is Ike following Il have, however
no Hesitation in saying, that far from having
any personal objection 10 the annexation Of
Texas, should be glad 10 see it, without dis
honor without war, with the common consent Of
the country, and upon Just and fair terms !" and
he also adds, that slavery ought not To affect the
question one way or the Other" and that il would
be unwise 10 refuse permanent acquisition,
which will exist as long as the slobe remains, on
account OF temporary institution" Now it is
not believed that, in ordinary eases there would
be any doubt on the mind OF one man in five hun
dred, who might read the above sentences as 10
the idea which was intended 10 be conveyed hy
them. All would unqueslionably say, that Mr.
Clay meant 10 be understood, that he positively
desired 10 see Texas anneXed-yes that his de-
sire was very strong one 10 see il annexed, hut
that unfortunately, some Obstacles existed 10 its
immediate annexation. as that il might. under
existing treaties with Mexico, be dishonorabe,
and might lead 10 war, and that the common CON
sent Of the country ought 10 I've obtained to Ii, but
that he, (Mr. Clay,) strongly desired TO ace these
Union. Such | apprehend is The fair and "a
tional Interpretation 10 be put upon such language,
and such was, in point of fact, the meaning
which il conveyed, and it was then no doubt
intended 10 convey to the gentleman 10 whom it
was written. Such we see was the impression
il conveyed to the North Alabamian. in which il
was published, and 10 all MIR CLAWS Texas
t'ricnds-at least 50 they then declared; and such
we have seen was the idea taken w from ii by
the considerable and respectable gentlemen who
comp, scd The Utica Convention. But Mr.. Clay
now declare, that any such idea was an "unvar-
ranted" Misrepresentation and gross pcrversion"
OF his meaning for he declares that when he said
he should be glad 10 see il (Tcyas) annexed, he
imagined that every body would understand him
as intending that whatever might be his parlicu-
lar views and opinions, he should be happy 10
see what the whole nation might concur in deSir-
ing under the conditions staten or, in the Ian
guage OF his Portage epislle, No. V, "if the u.
States, by common consent desired annexation
and il could be effected without national dishonor
without war, and upon Just terms he should lie
glad 10 see the U S. gratikcd" What conclGsion
athu he said, he should be glad to see it, lie did not
mean that he would be glad Jccaasc he did SIC
a, but he would he glad, because crcrV iOGy SLSc
would he pleased and sraied. and ihat too,
mark it! whatever might lie his particular
views" In other words, when he said, &c would
be glad 10 see il, he meant, lot that ne wo"'1 he
claA IL Sc a. but that he was determined 10 be
glad 10 see il, provided every body else was glad,
even, although he might himsU, pe1soa0a1, nc rcfg
Sorrr! II is said Aiessrs. Editors that JOY is con-
tagious, and never was there exhibited better
illustration Of the truth of the adage. No douhl
there is another event which Mr.. Clay would liz
glad to see By the common consent of The COM
NY" about the iih OF next month; aye, or even "a
nl 10 IrS nj n n
BILE and respectable portion of The Conedcracy
and we should, no doubt, believe that ne would he
glad TO see that event too, simply because his
friends would all he glad, even although he him.
self might be (as 10 doubt. he would be.) exceed
ingly sorryi
In making this most hcppv explanation. You
will perceive too, that Mr. Clay has utterly for
gotten all that he said IN the preceding para
graph, about his writing the first Alabama letter,
10 correct the representation that he was person.
ally uniriendly 10 annexation, for he how rather
more than intnaes, that "his particular views
and opinions" upon the annexation Of Texas, are
50 adverse 10 il, that he might have 10 sacrifice
them, in order 10 enable linn ITO be glad in the
general ubilalion which is 10 take place when
that event occurs.
But nothing was further from his purpose
than to intimate any change Of opinion so long Is
any considerable and respectable potion of Tie
Conle3eracy should con;i;.uc 10 stand ont in OPP
position To the annexation Of Texas" or a vcri-
". these considerable and respectable gentlemen
Of the third patty must DC hard 10 please, and
obduraic must he their heats, if they are not
melted by pledges and concessions like these
Only stand oul'' against annexation, We oonsiGc-
rabe and RESPECTABLE men, and Henry Clay is
pledged against ii, and you can say. with Mr..
Webster and CassuS. I'VE take him al his word,
and he do.c not forfeit that word"
Bat why does Mr. Clay again use The expires
SIGN considerable and respectable portion OF the
Ccnleteracy;' an expression which he says was
most unwarran,ab!y" m;sieprcsented in his Ra-
leigh letter, and 10 explain which he wrote his
first Alabama epistle! Why not have sub>tu-
ted lor it the phrase considerable ard respectable
pofun OF the States of the ConicGeracy" il indeed
snc! WAS hi, Ineaninv and thas save himself
from the danger Of further ''unwarranied' hi>re-
prescnaion?-and particularly VIXEN we remem-
her that he has no more declarations ior the pub
lie eye Docs Mr. Clay iacan TO rcpndiatc The
construction he gave il III lis Alabama Letter, as
he has already rcpuiiaicd other expressions con-
tanned in that cl,cr?---Or does he Intentionally
again make use OF doubtful phrase 10 conceal
| that which il would pot Re safe openly 10 avow
But in truth we fud upon an examination oil
! Manifesto No VI, that lie has abandoned the
| hitherto cherished phrase considerable and re-
| sreciablc portion of the c0Giederacv,' and We
| find him now assuring those, fer whose eve This
letter was no doubt particularly written, that ii
all not be necessary FOR Them ID secure he dc
ci;ed orposilion" of even 4 considerable and re-
spectacle portion of the conicderacy. in oldcr 10
| prcyeni the probability OF lie annexation Of Tex
as OH no! they need mol put themselves To any
such trouble-ior hc assures them nov, that he
shall bc opposed 10 il, at all times and under all
circumstances, unless there was degree OF con-
1 Il, nttf
| Union. amounting 10 or approyimating towards
unaninii'u." II this No. VI Of the grca, Whie
| Doctor is not strong enough for even the most nj
/ ira opponent Of annexation, then indeed must he
be hard TO satisfy
And TO all this doubling, and farming, and
quibbling, has the bold Henry Clay rcsolied, for
Tie purpose CT concia,ins Tie support OF The
most ahominahlc set of fanatics that has proba
bly, ever cursed any country. Indeed. Mcssrs
Editors. the contemplation is Il painful one, even
10 a political opponent How intensely hnmilia
ting must be 10 his true friends! And this is The
man, people nf Virginia, and OF The South, wbc
is commended 10 your support as The iinper>ona
ton of all ,ha, is noble and chivalrouS private
and public life If, indeed, he could ever have
| laid Just claim 10 such attributes, how utterly has
he lost them all in his mad thirst for power and
10 what complexion has lie come al last Tc
suppose for one moment that the South will give
him her confidence who has Thus iratIicked and
traded away her interests fer the support OF heI
dcadlies foes, is 10 dis,rust her intelligence, and
question her patriotism. She cannot, she ought
I not and she will Eot do ii. A VIlGlNlAN.
Norl 7Njs,-Thc Richmond Wing and Inc
! National Inlclligerccr are still mum about The
! black Free Trade bread" Is moi this an admis-
sion, that the Wing humhug Committee Al
| Washington have really set in motion, this mi.
sernble, ridiculous trick 10 deceive the people?
To the Editors Of The Enquirer.
I.YxcuBucO Oct Is 1911.