Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-15
RICH MOND, VA
saturday Morning, February 10.
To he FriendsofMe Cause-at Washington.

the friends Of tina, great cause then, let an num-
bic follower be permitted 10 address few words
10 the proudes, champions OF our public councils
The times demand the truth. We must have
frank dealing with each other. The pressure OF
the case will dispense with all useless apologies
or circumloculion We stand before hseountry
10 discharge our dnty-and we call uRon The
members of Congress 10 do theirs. II we fail
there we know where 10 go. We shall appeal 10
the people, and our resource will be free Press
| that has never betrayed them, and which, when
ii speaks calmly and respectfully, is never heard
in vain.
We are in the midst Of The ,hrocs OF a great crisis.
| Scarcely two weeks remain Of The session OF Con-
gress. Within that time, Texas mus, be admit
I led or again rejected The last letter from The
Hermitage which has been published, says en-
! phatcally, thai:
al have Just received from Maj Donelson,
/ leller dated at Washington, in Texas, from which
| | would infer. that if Congress expect 10 annex
/ Texas 10 The U. States, they must ACT speedily or
| it will I've beyond our grasp.
al hazard nothing in saying, that iflhe present
Congress do not act promptly upon This subject,
The next will not have the power. The consent OF
Texas cannot then be obtained. Great Britain
will have laid the lions paw upon her, and bound
| her by treaty"
/ Lei This accepted time, then, pass away and
the throes of the crisis will nct pass with it, No.
They are only destined 10 increase, 10 extend TO
larger surface Of mind, and with greater intensity
OF action We wan! 10 arrest the coming storm,
10 save The South from greater excitement. The
4 Union from danger, and 10 save Texas 10 The
4 Union. The "grcat men at Washington as
some may call them. but as they can only prove
themselves by The high power which they may
possess 10 save the country, and BY The noble in
| legrity which directs that intellectual power TO
its legitimate purposes-hese great men-these
members Of Congress, whose duty and whose
pride il should he to serve as The servants OF free
neople, have but twelve working days from Mon
day next, 10 work out these important results
/ Will they devote those fleeing, but precious
days, 10 debating, 10 talking, 10 trying 10 shine as
great debaters, 10 weave long yarns of learned
\ Reports or qubbling arguments 10 dirty in
lrgues, and 10 narrow, selfish, contemplate pas
sions-oR, 10 SAVE THE COUNTRY. Lei them
take their choice They cannot do both. They
must leave their Halls in the character of dema-
sosues and inrigucrs and tactious panizans-or,
the bcnetactors Of their country. We speak plain
", for We mean TO be understood, nom-and,
what is more, HEREAFTER. We mean iearlcssly
10 throw The responsibility and odium upon those
who deserve il-or, 10 award the honor 10 such
noble spirits, as Justly earn il. We have no soft
sauder-no voluptuous incense IL offer to mere
| men. We have more serious duty 10 perform
and tfat is, TO speak The uth aoir, darard Jus
ticc hereafter.
Is Texas 10 be admitted into This Union ornol?
The two Houses Of Congress, and especially The
Senate now hold this precious pearl in The palm
OF their hands! Will they sci il in The bosom OF
our Union--or like the base ]udean with mo-
liyes perhaps baser than their act throw The Jewel
away which is worth all their tribe TExAs OK
no TExas is now The Issue. The Senate have
Two propositions before them-Brown'> resolu.
lions and Benon's bill. We prefer the former
because il settles the great question at issue. II
brings Texas Immediately inlo the Union 1t
settles i, by preventing Missouri controversy,
aud all The fearful agitation which it will pro-
I duce. Ii drives aboliiionism out OF The temple
/ of Liberty itself II adopts the Missouri Com
promise line; and yet with such liberal modiii-
cations of ii, as can be hereafter easily applied
10 The territory South OF 36s degrees, and 10
the practical advantage OF our Northern brethren.
II destroys the apple of diScord at once-holh on
| the slave question: and the constitutional queS-
ton; for, Texas is admitted as a STATE into the
Union, and all that will be necessary then 10 edonc
is to frame her Constitution, and present il for
! acceptance To the next session Of our Congress.
No dispute can arise about slavery, because this
| Compact, carving with il the solemn pledges Of
| the national faith, permits her 10 come in with
without slavery, as she pleascs 10 adopt. This
! done, she comes in as one OF the States as one OF
| the sovereign parties 10 our high and more clo-
rious compact of the Federal Government-Shc
elects her Legisators-they appoint her Sena-
| tors-and under an act Of Congress 10 be passed
now or al the commencement of the next session.
she elects her epresentatives-and the "Lone
Star" is transferred 10 all the rights and privile
ges OF the American Constellation II the COM
| pact thus made with her, and The Constitution
which she frames for herself be insufficient 10
cover every relation which may be supposed 10
| exist between her and the United States, the re-
mcdy is easily supplied. Say that she wants 10
make cession of her public lands, with some
reservation for her own benefit on condition that
". shall pay her public Gebt-Say, that both of
US are willing 10 lay off her superiluous terrific
ry into new Slaies-Say, that she is willing
10 transfer 10 The United States and her
agents The management of the Indians, who
roam within her own borders. What lhen2-
Where is the dlicullyl Browns resolutions
may not cover every conceivable case-nor
could Mr. Benon's bill, and Mr.. Folks COM
pacts cover every case, which may be con-
| ceived Butlhe resource is open TO us-lhe same
resource which has been employed over and over
again. in questions growing up between the
States and The General Government Commits
Sioners may then, be appointed TO make addition
| al arrangements, and further compacts-to settle
all lllB CASTS VI puDC ICN VI
/ Tribes. We, really, can see no difficulty, il any
should occur, which may not be adjusted between
the Union and the Slates-bewecn Texas who
will come back 10 us with The happiesl feelings,
| and people, whose Chief Magistrate has been
elected as the friend of Texas.
| We should not then hesitate TO go for Browns
resolutions AS at present, we decidedly prefer
them Can they be carried Though best in
our judgment, vet, il they are net available, we
mus, yield TO the majority. But another snsges-
lion: Suppose they cannot prevailin their present
form, may they not take Browns as far as they
can be accepted or the best part Of their pro.
visions, and take the best part of Bcnion's =
Suppose, for instance, though we scarcely
appTehend such result that all The terms Of
the resolutions may be unacceptable 10 Tex
as, why not 10 meet that contingency adopt
a proviso like Colonel Bcnlon's bill, and
authorize commissioners 10 lie appointed, and
compact 10 be formed !? What at last can pre-
vent some system being adopted which may Sc
cuic Texas nor, and save he, from the inlIigues
! of England, and save as from the gathering storm
| of agitation in our own fair lands
Gentlemen who have made this new move
upon the political chess board, have no doubt
looked we'll TO the responsibility which they have
incurred They should bring 10 this subject a
mind tree from all passion from all narrow pride,
from all jealous and selfish feelings, IRON all unho
II aspirations. Those who Join in the work OF
annexation, be they the friends Of Brownsor Ben
TONS schemes, or Of combined system Of both,
should do we'll 10 bring 10 the task clear heads
and calm minds, conciatory temper, and a
soul glowing with public spirit, which is equal
10 any known in Roman or Grecian story; or,
what is greater STILL in our own glorious annals.
They must meet like brethren-oompare noles-
weigh probabililies-take the hest plan which
| they can obtain II the measure fails now the
greatest and most fearful responsibility must rest
! upon the heads of those who defeat il.
If every measure fails; if the present Con-
gress should break up in confusion and discon-
ie, the heavics, responsibility will fall upon the
opponents OF annexation. As for US We repeat,
we shall attempt 10 do our duy-!o save Texas
/ and 10 save the Union This has become a slave