Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-18
POLITICAL.
LETTER OF wILLoUGHBY NEWTON,

Or VIRGINIA,
Addressed TO has Constituents, chiefly ~ efpfana,
hon and defence If Tie .oint Resolutions Passea
bv The House of Representatives, or ne aamist0a
Of Tsras into the Union
TO my CONSTITUENTS.
The period OF my service in the House OF Re-
representatives., to which was elected ny your
.;ndness. is drawing to its close; and in compi-
once with time-honored usage in our State, IT
becomes me TO give some account OF my steward
shin. In performing this duty, shall address you
with candor and freedom. You will all admit,
that the station now occupy was attained oy no
unworthy arts; and would scorn 10 hold il al The
sacrifice Of that manly independence OF thought
which should ever distinguish the representative
OF a free people. :,
The duty of addressing ycd at this time IS rem
dered the more imperative, IN consequence VI my
active participation in, by far, the most imPor-
,anl measure ofthe present Congress. You have
seen, by the newspapers, that Joint Resolutions
"a COPY of which ! append 10 This address, ad-
mic;ss Texas as Stale into the Union, have
recently passed the House Of Representatives,
and that l. in company with the gallant wing
members from Tennessee, Georgia, and Ala
bama, voted for them. may remark further, thai
they not only commanded our votes, but had o, our
earnest and cordial support. knew inc peculiar
delicacy of my own position, ana ieit Tue iui'
rate. on so important measure, from irienas lot
whose character and talents entertain The hisn-
est respect and with whom | generally act with
Measure. was TO me source Of no little PAIN
But 7 could moi hesitate. To vote against the re
solutions would have been 10 violate, what nave
every reason 10 believe, the will oil large mao
rity of nv constituents; 10 renounce my 0icle-
peated and we'll considered opinions, ana 70 aeaea'
q measure in my view, indispensable 10 Inc Sc
" nromotiye of the prosperity Of the nation.
These opinions are moi of recent origin. When
the question first assumed practical form, It ar
rested my attention, and enlisted my sympathies
7 could not shut my eyes 10 its importance, nor,
as Southern man and STAKEHOLDER, be insensi-
bic 10 the effect it must eventually produce on Inc
minds and feelings of the people of Virginia. In
the late Presidential canvass treated i as ma
,ional rather than party question; ana IN many
of nv public addresses urged The election OF MT.
CLAY, because, from his enlarged PATRIOTISM, ms
commanding influence with his own parry, ms
long experience in public affairs, ana ms extra
ordinary talent for Cancellation and compromise,
he of all men, was the best calculated 70 seltie II
peacefully. ,,, "a
In letter 10 highly esteemed personal ana
nolitical friend. in reply 10 an invitation 70 ad-
dress meeting in the county OF Essex, mus
expressed myself: 1--WE cannot surrender our
cherished principles, connected with the perma-
men, administration OF the Government Tor
mere temporary question, however important,
and which ought never 10 have been dragged INTO
the poli,ical arena. The Wings OF Virginia,
whilst they will be true 10 the great principles OF
their party and carry them out triumphantiy IN
The next election, will, | have no doubt, with
very lew exceptions, when the proper time ar
riyes. be equally true to the interests and instito-
lions of the South. | know that | differ IN Cpl
MON with some of my friends; but cannot but
regard the annexation of Texas as question Of
vial importance to Virginia; and, in due time,
lhink we shall nearly all look upon 1t in that
LIGHT The surest means OF attaining ii is, in my
opinion 10 elect Mr. Clay; SO that our zeal in his
cause need not be abated by our advocacy OF the
annexation of Texas Let our friends be pru-
dent and discreet-give in to no ultraisms ana,
INV word for H. the Texas question will enure 10
the bene6f of the Wings" These were my OPT
Mons at time when policy might have dictated
silence.
Some of my frieuds have in'imaled doubt OF
he propriety of separating from majority OF
INV party in the House, and have supposed II was
my duty 10 follow wherever they might ibink pro-
ner 10 lead. Whilst acknowledge The iull force
ofpary obligations on all proper occasions, can
moi recognize the right oil a mere sectional mao
rity to prescribe party questions for me, anu 10 re-
fee of INV own opinions, and the best interests OF
INV constituents. The practical tendency OF such
doctrine would be 10 degrade your representa-
tive into mere automaton, TO be moved by north
ern leaders and BY deprivnS your peculiar inle-
rests of all support in Congress- 10 render Them
IN EASY sacrifice 10 the narrow views OF 1anata-
cism.
An attentive observer, who has mingled freely
among the members of the House during The DIS
cussion of the subject, could not tai TO perceive
the motive that animates large majority OF those
opposed TO the admission OF Iexas. WIN mos
OF them. anli-Texas and anti-slayery are synoni-
mons. aGive me, (said Mr.. Adams in The de-
bate1 a territory free Of slavery, and will go
with Won 10 The I.io d.l Norte tomorrow"
wonld by no means maintain that Southern men
should invoke the aid Of the General Govern
ment merely for The purpose of strengthening the
institution OF slavery. But when grea! acquisl-
tion of general interest, which under every admit
nis,ration, from that OF Mr.. Monroe, including
our best and wiseSt statesmen, without reference
10 party or geographical position, has been sought
as a national object, is suddenly abandoned ana de,
nounced. merely because its incidental elect will
Inc 10 extend slavery, il is time, think, for The
peope OF the South 10 combine for their own pro
ection.
Whatever NAV be the motive assigned Tor this
sudden change Of policy, in regard 10 the acQui.
sition of Texas, the fact cannot be cenled; and
the true cause may readily be gathered from The
history of the times The pestilent sect OF aboll-
,ionisis is of recent origin and ii is only OF late
that its influence has been felt in the politics OF
the country. In the recent election il has de
monstra.ca is power and shown that 1t holds
the balance between the great political PARTIES
Hence party leaders on both Sides who TOO Ire
quently use great questions as a gamesler nSes
ol.a are 1iSOOSPU
surrender this important measure TO propiiiate
these fanatics
The anti-slaroy feeling Of the North, which
extends much beyond the faction known as politi-
cal czboi,ti0nisls, must also be consulted. The
abolitionists would destroy the guarantees CT The
Constitution; and abolish slavery by law. So
mad, impracticable and destructive scheme
can ofcourse find no countenance, except among
those who are phrensied by fanatcism. But
opposition to slavery in that quarter IS general
and deep rooted; and many, among The wisesl
and best of the public men OF the non-slavchold-
ing States, deem it a duty Of philanthropy and
patriotism to exert all possible moral influences
for its suppression, andto exercise 10 lis full ex-
tent their political power to prevent lis extension.
1t is natural, perhaps that they shond entertain
these views; and their motives being pure, We
have no right 10 condemn them. But they can
not possibly appreciate our condition; and we
mus, therefore be excused if, instead Of uniting
with them in crusade of benevolence, we lake
a practical view of orr own Interests and en-
deavor to provide for our own safety.
A work Of great popularity with Northern poll
licians, entitled "The Progress of the United
States mas recently been published by Professor
George Tucker Of the University OF Virginia.
In this the author undertakes 10 demonstrate, by
s,alistcsdrawn from the census OF the Union, that
at the present rate Of increase Of the slave popu
lation of the Southern States, slavery viii, in the
course of eighty years, be extinguished; that uu
less our slave territory is extended, the labor of
slaves will nG' Indemnity ssm hs! @ for ss
coming nepatire quantity in the market emanc-
patton win be brought about by natural ard I'M
comfortable causes. l may remark, in passing,
that in this, as in other ingenious sspecal1tions