Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-04-08

| ,yas made tor them and for us ana LOT Pos'eiiy
And are we now here 10 carp ana 10 eaVl d y. l,o
visions1 was made 10 embrace Inc coh'"e'' "na
are we 10 defeat the noble design Vi ~ l.'ul -
Is it their example we ioiioW ~ atI.an;nn f,el
bresL;ng nm al lis compromises awakening leei-
mos calcnated 10 esranse and divide u, mo
;mag;n,rv adverse interests? What real Interests
are Ihere sir Of The South opposed TO the NORM,
mr. Of The North opposed 10 The South worthy 10
cyclic iealousies and array US IN hostii'y d,ioh3
omrsslyasq Sir 10 all This debate have heard
! hr, ono In the midst of The lamentable eHoiis
here calculated 10 arouse and exaspera.e sect'on-
al preiudiccs. against when Inc d'hei VI ,'l'
Country warned us 50 ardenliy IN ms Pditi''s ~.
! ned;c,;9n M Ground OF adversely oil interest mas
i,een ra,,nd sycent the imputed hostility oil The
South N The protection Of domestic manufactures
! IL M, ,bs = ouestion on which opinion differs at
,ba Nor,h and the South, The East and The IVES,
and On which political parties over Inc %hoie
cnnr,r,. move or less divide? Bul, lei me ask, III
wb., State has the cause Of protection been more
nn;f,rml, sustained than in louisiana Texas
i Nor na;yhbor identical in interest and IN pro-
dncls But The security OF proteclon, ds iar ds ~
| depends upon The character oil larih OF 'he dc
ton ofConsress, is found in The wants OF your go
vcrnmen,. The public expenditures, no" snnu-
III. "n.,ogno twenty millions of dollars, and con-
stan,Iy anomen,ing with the expansion oil our Ter
ri,orv and the increase OF population, must al
wavs reoI;re The imposition ofduties 10 an extent
I adeor.,e IN give ample encouragement 10 al lhe
| industrial Interests o! the country, even WIFI
those Jn,;es = re imposed entirely with reference 10
rho c,nac,y Of the articles 10 produce revenue OF
in o,har words. where The duties are conilncu
strictly within The range OF The revenue limit
Sucb we're The opinions expressed al me ias' 50
Sion OF Congress andl before my constituents
They are NY opinions now SIR, thefe Is no uan-
1 he. rTOectiDn
when duties are laid on principles OF equality =
! Away then with the suggestions OF alienation.
! 'rhov are treason 10 ourselves and 10 poslerity
We are an association of kindred people, dlvitieu
only in families separated into neIshporhou's,
bu, united in heart, and in interest," and in govern
ment.
4 Bul what is this pre,encc, that ,hc ditlusion.ot
slavery gives the representation i'nm Inc SoH'h
= preponGcrance The reflection q an instant
shows the error OF The assertion. The diffusion OF
slavery does not increase the number OF slaves,
and cannot. therefore, The representation based
/ upon them Remove them from Virginia 10
/ Texas YOU diminish their number in Ne one
Mace. as you increase il in The other, and 50 q re.
| rresen,a,cn In the enumeration OF that claNA O.
persons to ascertain he basis OF representation,
what is gained in Texas is lost in Virginia. u
can add no, one therefore, to The number ollePfc.
sentaliyes in this House. II can nel!hcr increase
nor diminish the Senatorial representation ior
ia each State that is equal in number, without re-
gard 10 the character Of The population II IS a
false assumption, therefore that the diffusion oil
slavery does itself affect in any way the question
of political power in The Congress OF The Union.
But then The objection is made 10 the fact that HE
slaves are enumerated al all in estimating The
number of the population 10 be entitled 10 re-
preventative THAT is blair a, the Constitution
itgjf, AMI TO lis original construction. Sir, that
question was discussed and decided by our fathers
Ii cannot be opened But look al the principle
on which The objection is founded. II The slaves
r,re emancipa,ed, the objection would cease
Yet if such were the case, II wonld actually m
crease The representative power oil the South IN
This Hall. and could moi lessen the Senatorial =
Yes Sir, if slavery were abolished in the South,
,ha, portion OF the Uncn wonld havc;cn more Re
prcsenta,ivee here. Thrce-Gilhs only OF The Slaves
are embraced in lhe enumeration. Tree, the whole
would be embraced Strange fancy and lallacy,
indeed. that the abolition OF slavery would ciml-
nish The political power OF The South. IL must
increase il in the ratio Of two-hiths oil that whole
population. II is true the increase OF States IN
the South increases lis political power IN the BE-
nate, as does the increase OF States IN other sec
tions Of Union theirs in the Senate; but mel
Their slavery nor the negro race augments The ex-
tent Of that power So long, indeed, as slavery
exists in State the representation OF such Stale
would be so far protection against the abolition
OF slavery ifai,empted By Congress; hu This is an
objection which none but abotionists would
raise, or others who desire TO break up the Con
s,i,ulion and the Union, BY encroaching upon
the domestic rights guaranteed 10 the States
And what would the North gain by The change!
No,hins truly in political power Should we
then desire to prevent The abolition OF slavery
No, sir But we should leave the institution 10
those with whom il exists, and who alone are re-
| sponsihc for its continuance. If the Union is to
Ur vA,riitrh, let Tue compromises lu which il was
formed be maintained. Without them, all efforts
to preserve or enlarge il will be vain.
But, sir, lei gentlemen who manifest so much
apprehension in regard 10 the disturbance of i'm
aginary relations Of power, but look at The map,
and their fears will he dispeed. Sir, you can
not ouinumber the Northern States BY The Sonth-
ern, though you strike through and embrace all
the territory between Texas and The Pacific
The domain West OF The Mississippi with
Oregon, will form double the number Of
| States which can he created even with The
! CALIFORNIA; The swell OF population is North
ward and Westward. Climate, staples. enterprise,
] and the past history OF the numerical increase OF
| population, and the strides of advancement with
which il is now going forward, all demonstrate
that the representative power Of this House ever
must he as il is, with the States that are free
/ The relations Of power. indeed ! Why, Sir, this
| Constitution originated in concessions And one
/ Of these concessions was, that the little States
should stand upon an equality with The great
States in one branch OF the Governmental
| branch co-equa in legislation with the whole re-
preventative body-and in another department,
co-equal with the Executive-I mean the Senate.
Call you not this a compromise, which commits
the interests of New York, Pennsylvania, and
| Ohio, with all their commerce, population, and
wealth, to the decision Of The small communities
| Of Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Dclaware!-
Sir, il there is 10 be rehabilitation Of the COM
promises, the powerful territorial members OF
| The Union will have something 10 say about the
co.equality in power Of communities with limits
SO narrow that a citizen Of other States can
scarcely stretch himsc, in them without The dan
ger OF violation Of State rights Sir, all New
| England is less in territory Than Virginia, or
! Missouri; and a, no VERY distant period, per-
haps, may be in pcpul li,n. Yet, New England
has twelve votes in liz senate, while her equal
! in population ard l.rli!ory would have bu,
two. Sir the crcaking notes Of complaint come
with an i'll grace from there The best pTescr
walton Of the balance OF power will be found in
The cultivation of feelings such as belong to our
character, condition, origin and destiny; and
when we forget The obligations ard duties these
impose, our Constitution will exist only in the
memory of the past.
but, Sil, l'ic StDtlculG!l IoH VHhSl hduio 10
well as other opponents OF annexation, insist that
i, will involve US in a war When listened
10 his impressive description of lis horrors |
thought Of the observation Of young Democrat
Of Ohio, who sought at Wing assembly in The
late contest, 10 soolle an agitation oacasoncd by
eloquence similar 10 that of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, Mr. Corwin, the Wing orator
was dilaiins upon The hardships and suffering Of
war--yes sir, of this very anticipated war with
| Mexico He spoke TOO, Of the bones of our youth
bleaching upon the fields Of Texas and the de-
sers Of Mexico. Wing voters were sad-wo-
men were sobhing. "SIr," said The Democratic
woman 10 the speaker, pray suspend your dis
course, ill quiet the nerves Of his weeping
maiden" Madam" continued he, "dry YOUR
seaTs-derend upon il, il your lover be Wig,
he vii! never die in the defence of his coun;ry!t
Sir, suppose annexation lie war-what lhcn?--
|, has roi disturbed Texas in nine years; and, M
less Great Britain, with her aid, stimulates Mex-