Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-04
RICHMOND, VA.
THE GREAT QUESTION OF THE DAY.
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.
Tuesday Morning, February 4,

IHt, GSO lolN VT LIZ -
To THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.
We wish you thoroughly to understand the
scenes that are passing under our eyes. You
should know the precise points that are al IS
sue between the Democrats and the Wings oil Inc
Legislature We wish you TO see the danger 10
which you are exposed, that you may apply lhe
only remedy in your power You are IN danger
Of being deserted BY the Senfne.s whom you
have sent up TO The Legislature, and on one OF Inc
most important questions winch mas e'e' oeeu'
pied their attention.
What is that question? Texas-and more than
Texas. Texas was once part OF your Union
Mr.. Tibbaus proves that position in his speech
He shows that Jefferson, Madison, Monroe ano
CLAY, and a hos, Of other statesmen, claimed Lott
isiana TO extend to Inc Rio del Norte.
In 1919, it was coded to Spain by the Florida
Treaty, and Mr. Clay then denied, that The Uni.
ted States had any authority 10 cede it away.
The people OF Texas themselves denied II, and
charged MS Justly with having violated the treaty
Of 1903, which pledged us TO admit herpeope 10 all
the rights and privileges Of the Union, instead OF
bartering her for Florida.
Texas, however, subsequently united with Mex
leo who had declared her own independence Of
Spain. Texas united with Mexico, as an indie.
pendent State as we'll as Mexico and formed
with her and others Federal Government,
Santa Anna, however subsequently establish
ed military despo,ism in Mexico, dissolved The
Federal system, and attempted 10 exercise des-
po;ic authority over Texas.
Texas resisted, as she had the right, and il was
her duty TO do. She resisted at the point OF The
bayonet, and, on the glorious field OF San Jacln!o
took Santa Anna prisoner, and consummated her
Independence, as The United States had done al
York Town On liberating their prisoner and
his troops, he agreed 10 recognize her lndepend-
ence but subsequently, violated his solemn en-
pagements, and threatened again TO subdue her by
The sword Eight years have passed away, but no
war has ever come. No hostile foot has ever re-
manned upon her territory, and, to all inients and
purposes, she is as independent as Mexico herseii,
or as we are. The greatest powers OF the world
have formally recognized her independence the
United States, Great Britain, France, &c. &c.
In this posture OF affairs, Texas wishes to
come back TO our arms. She offers the farest
terms. She desires 10 be re-admitted into orr
Union. Ought We, men Of Virginia, People OF
the United States TO hesitate one moment 2
While Great Britain, our greatest commercial and
manufacturing rival, isanxiouS and intriguing 10
obtain foothold in that country-to throw in her
manufactures free, and 10 receive the cotton oil
Texas in return TO the detriment OF our own pro-
duction-ready 10 obtain an nfluencein her coun-
ellis, if not TO acquire the country Tor herself, by
which she may operate upon our slaves, we ought
no, TO hesitate We ought not 10 refuse, because il
strengthens The military detences ofthe West-be-
cause TOO il opens great and free market for the
manufactures ofthc North and the Middle States
for the breadSlufs of the West-for the tobacco
and cattle OF Virgina-and also furnishes the
means Of carrying off 10 advantage large pro-
portion OF our slaves. We ought not to refuse
the proffered booD when every section OF the
Union has deep interest in the annexation and
we Of The South more than all the rest.
You, people OF Virginia, therefore, demand the
annexation in itself. You demand Texas. You
declared your wishes al the last election. You
require all your agents, both Federal and State,
10 do all nat is fair and honorable 10 secure this
great object. But there are other reasons, besides
The value of Texas herself, why we must no,
finch from our purpose-why we must persevere
in The most energetic efforis-and why we must
call every agent to account and TO fearful rcspon-
sibiliy who thwarS your wishes in the slightest
degree That measure indeed addresses itself TO
your highest interests in another respect. We ask
why we should not annex Texas ? and we are
met BY the objection, that il is slave question
and that therefore we must be defeated. The
aboiiionsls cry up that ii i slave question:
Daniel Webster and the Northern Wings oppose
il because il is a slave question. The Massa
agains, it, because they say it enlarges the sphere
OF slavery, and consults the interests OF The slave
holding South Some even G.. q. Adams and
his ciique) threaten dissolution, on these grounds
Among the other signs of the times, was The mix
ed meeting of the Wings and Abolitionists on
Thursday last in Fanueil Hall. Ii was called 10
arrest annexation-about $50 delegates present.
In some respects il was failure; as The v1enl
Resolutions, declaring Annexation equivalent 10
Dissolution, were not adopted, but laid upon The
table. But there was a strange umbling and CO.
ai,ion between the Wings and Abolitionis,s.
Adams, son of the ES.President and Reid
Lieutenant Governor, were there; as well as
Garrison, Lovejoy, and Stanton. They adopt
oil an Address, which has not yet appeared
But the speeches of many Of their orators breath,
ed determined spirit against Texas-even &c
threats against the Union Itself Amongst the
rest OF the speakers, was Charles F. Adams, son
oil J. q. Adams, who went for one practical point
which had been wholly omitted He went FOL
IAN union OF all the opponents OF slavery, whose
dissensions had hitherto strengthened the slave
power. we should now direct our attention &c
uoerae upon the South by combined political p0ac
fr, exercised at the ballot-box." We, therefore
do not make the issue. 1t is forced upon Us
by the abolitionisls-and we stand only uron
sell. ief.nce, in resi>i1g an influence, 10 which,
If we should now submit, on such mea-
sure, we can perceive no stopping place. The
Wings in the Legislature OF New York are
pressing resolutions, requiring that Texas Should
never be admitted, unless slavery be for ever pro-
hibiled Some OF the doe-faced Democrats are
Joining them in the demand. Some, too, OF the
shvering Democrats are demanding that Browns
resolutions should be so modified, as expressly 10
divide her territory between the slave holding and
the free States-althoush according TO The Mis-
souri, Compromise, the 1861 deg. were fixed upon
rs line between The two sections although the
free States had already the best of the bargain
occupyino. as thew do, the wnole territory which
sweeps TO the Pacific, including Oregon Itself,
which was expressly stipulated by an amendment
10 the Oregon bill on Saturday last 10 l." sci apaIt
10 the free States-ahou2h, according To Million
Browns resolutions, the portion OF Texas winch
lies North OF 364 deg, Is positively 10 be erected
into free Stale or States-and although the Tex
as resolutions yield our peremptory claim TO the
South Of 1864 degrees by providing that the States
10 be established may come into the Union, with
or without slavery as their citizens may pre-
ter--and although some, who have been in
tavo: Of a new compromise 10 the South OF
The 36t deg, and who said il must be made, and
that the Senate mna amend the resolutions, now
admit that, "As for the five slave States in Tex
as we have no faith in the prophecy al all. AT
least half Of Texas is of character, in regard 10
soil and climate, on when slavery VIII never Fo-
UNFAIRLY settle ITSELF"
The very objection, however, which is made
against Browns resolutions, prevents our receding
from it, 1.-THE South yields now, she must be con-
sidered as yielding TO abolilionism. We cannot
further yield upon this slave question, liberal as
even Browns Resolutions are If we yield the
whole territory South Of 36s degrees, or unQuait-
eJly the halt Of it. it will be regarded as The triumph
Of the Abolitonsts over the South. From that
moment, what is 10 save us from further attempts
upon our peculiar institutions? We but invite
them 10 make additional demands, until they Ell
thcr drive US to the wall, or until fanaicsm pass
es 50 far beyond all the bounds of forbearance,
that we mus, resist al every hazard-and the
Union of these States be really threatened with
dissolution. We cannot lheetore, yield, with
on The most Imminent, danger. Concession will
only invite further attacks. We must, therefore,
take our stand here. We must now keepthc abo.
lifionsts nj bay: or who will answer for The con-