Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-22

ierNS imports an acknowledgment OF OaT Tlohk 10 H.
This province, moreover, The Floridas, and pos-
sibly Cuba will join US on the acknowledgment
Of their independence-a measure to which their
new government will probably accede vountari-
ly. But why should be saying all this 10 YOU
OF whose mind. all the circumstances of this al.
fair have had possession for years? | shall be
happy TO see you here; and, were 10 live 10 see
You here finally, it would be day Of Jubilee: but
our days are all numbered, and mine are moi
many. God bless you and preserve YOU. muedo,
amos. tribunals JEFFERSON.
"Ihe President Of the United Slatesn
"WAsnINGToN, NAV 1920.
"Dear Sir: have received your Letter OF The
l1th containing very interesting view of the
late treaty with Spain, and of The proceedings re-
speeding il here. IL the occurrence involved in
il nothing more than question between The Uni
ted States and Spain, or between them and the
colonies, should entirely concur in your view OF
the subject; am satisfied, that we might regulate
it, in every circumstance, as We thought iusl, and
without war; that we might take Florida as an
indemnity, and Texas for some ,rine as an eau-
valent. Spain must soon be expelled from this
continent; and with any new Government that
may be formed in Mexico, it wond be easy 10
arrange the bountar, in the wilderness, so as 10
include as much Territory on our side as we nigh,
desire No European. power could prevent this.
If SO disposed But the difficulty does not pro-
coed from these sources. 1t is altogether internal
and OF the most distressing nature and danger
Gus tendency. You were appised by me, on your
return from Europe, OF the true character of the
negotiation, which took place in 1856 with the
Minister OF Spain, for shutting up The mouth OF
the Mississippi, knowledge OF which might
have been derived in part from the secret journal
OF Congress, which then came into your hands.
That was not question with Spain in reality.
but one among ourselves, in which her prelen-
sions were brought forward in aid OF the policy
OF the party at The head of that project 1t was
an effort 10 give such shape to our Union as
would secure the dominion over il 10 its Eastern
section. Il was expected that ACKNOWLEDGMENT by
The Allegheny mountains would follow The ex
cusion OF The river il il was not desired, though
the latter was then, and still is, my opinion The
Union then consisted Of eight navigating and
commercial States, with five productive, holding
slaves; and had The river been shut up, and dis
memberment cnsued, The division would ALWAYS
have been The same
"At that time, Boston ruled the four New En-
gland States; and popular orator in Faneuil
Hallruled Boston. Jay object was TO make New
York New England State, which he avowed
On his return from Europe, 10 the dissatisfaction
OF many in that Stale, whose preludices had been
excited in The revolutionary war BY the contest
between New York and those States respecting
interfering grants in Vermont. Ii was forescen
by those persons that ifthe Mississippi should be
opened, and new States be established on lis
waters, the population would be drawn thi,her.
The number OF productive States be proportiona-
bly, increased, and their hope OF dominion on that
contracted sectional scale be destroyed 1t was 10
prevent this that that project was formed. Hap
PLY II failed; and since then our career, in
an opposite direction, has been rapid and won
deru
"The river has been opened, and all the terrific
~ dependent on it acquired; eight States have
already been admitted into The Union in that
quarter; ninth is on The point of entering, and 4
tenth provided for, exclusive OF Florida This
march 10 greatness has been seen with profound
regret by those in the policy suggested but it has
been impelled by causes over which they have
had no control. Several attempts have been made
10 impede it; among which, The Hartford Con-
vention in the late war, and the proposition for
restricting Missouri, are the most distinguished.
The latter measure contemplated an arrange
ment, on the distinction solely between slave
holding and nonslaveholding States, presuming
that, on that basis only such division might be
founded as would destroy, By perpetual excite
ment, the usual effects proceeding from differ
u,
suits and circumstances of the people, and mar
shall the Siales, differing in that circumstance in
unceasing opposition and hostility 10 each other.
To what account this project, had il succeeded 10
the exten, contemplated, might have been turned
cannot say. Certain, however, il is, that since
1856, have not seen SO violent and persevering
struggle, and, on the pant OF some Of The
leaders in the project, for purpose SO IN
masked and dangerous They did not hest
tate 10 avow that il was contest for pow
er only, disclaiming the prelext OF liberty,
humanity, &c. II was also manifest, that
they were willing 10 risk The Union on the
measure-if, indeed, as in that relating 10 the
Mississippi, ACKNOWLEDGMENT was not the princi-
pal object. You know how The affair terminated
-as | presume you likewise do, that complete
success was prevented by the patriotic devotion OF
several members in the non-slavehodng States,
who preferred the sacrifice oflhemselves at home
to violation OF the obvious principles Of the Con-
slilution, and the risk OF the Union. am salts
fed that the arrangement made was most ausp-
cious Tor the Union; since, had The conflict been
pursued, there is reason TO believe that The worst
consequences would have followed. The excite
ment would have been kept up, during which il
seemed probable that the slaveholding States
would have lost ground daily BY putting stop
10 the proceeding, time has been given for the
passions 10 subside, and ior calm discussion anu
reflection, which have never failed TO produce
their proper effect in our country. Such, loo,
was The nature Of the controversy, that it seemed
TO be hazardous for either party to gain COM
pete triumph. never doubled The right Of Con-
gress TO make such regulation in territories,
though did not expect that il would e:ef nave
been exercised.
"From this view, it is evident, that The further
acquisition of territory to the West and South, in
wolves difficulties of an internal nature, which
menace the Union itself. We ought, therefore, TO
be cautious in making the attempt Having Sc
cured the Mississippi and all its waters, with a
slight exception only, and erected States there,
ought we NOT to be satisfied, 50 far at least as TO
take no step in that direction which is not appro-
we'd by all The members, or al least majority OF
those who accomplished our revolution? could
60 into further details, had lime. have thought
that these might afford you some satisfaction
When We meet in Albcmarle, we will communi-
Gale further on the subject.
"Wilh great respect and sincere regard, yours,
JAMES MONROE"
Highly Important from Enrope-Pos'fion 81