Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-18
COMMUNICATIONS.
For Gle Enquirer.
AN EpIsTLE FROM RANDOLPH OF ROANOKE.
TO THE DEMOCRACY OF THE NORTH.
WASHINGTON CRY, Feb. II, 1915.

Texas TO the u States has prouuceu anu il PIouu
cling much excitement in all parts OF the coun
1rv If this excitement were confined TO al
examination into the merits Of this importan
Observation-Disclosures the good it promises agains
m. evils apprehended-far from proving mische
yous, it would enure most auspiciously tothe pub
lie har mony and the common good. But painful
realities before us and around us, and in our yer,
midst a, the Capitol, admonish US, that 1t seek
other empoyments and vaster scope. Besides
and apart from the ranking animosies which
some Of our tellow-citizens, in one section OF TIT
country. have kindlcd up and innamed agains
those in another-we cannot fail to see, and mus
most reluctantly own, that differences are foment
ing in our own Democratic ranks porenlous 0
evil-aud menacing even schism and rupture
That the great body Of the Democratic party
North and South, is sound 10 the core, and cher
ish the allotments and own the dominion OF thos'
strong ties, which have ever bound il in union ant
ensured its triumphs-,here are all assurances
Tha, by far the larger number Of those who have
recently sounded the alarum OF revolt, and stuns
TO torture their unotfending brethren, by their me
naces and assaults--have for want OF RICH
knowledge, been led astray by The craft Of those
cherishing counter-interestS, and will return {
the true fold in contrilon and peace, when truth
shows all-canDot admit OF doubt. The time
has come, then, when the truth must be made
known, and this schism be arrested, and these d.
visions healed, and all sections realize as afore.
time the presence and the influences OF union and
peace. Cheered on, then, by these suspicious ex'
pectatiops and with confiding reliance upon
your good dispositions, would hold counsel with
Won, on behalf of your Southern brethren, whose
Sentiments know, and whose feelings share
upon the great question OF the day-IAe annerd-
ton of Tcras Do not mistake, however, either
our position or our purposes. We have an abb
ding trust in YOUR kind sentiments towards u.s. but
we make no appeals TO them-none whatever
We seek no sacrifices we ask no CONCESSIONS
None are needed, nor claimed, nor desired. We
ask but eur share Of the common dues with which
you are debi,ed and credited. in all accounts,
with all the world-the dues of JUSTICE What
less can brethren ask of brelhren-lhan 10 BE Just
TO rs? And being asked, what less can brethren
grant 10 brethren, than this? This We do ask
for this is OURS But this is ALL-for we ask no
more.
We pass BY, as questions too slightly dividing
us 10 need a comment, all matters touching the
expedency or power or mode OF annexation.
Neither shall we set forth the advantages il
promises to you or to us. We are sufhciently
agreed about them. The ballot-boxes which
,SId Won our sentiments, have told us yours
We have concluded thai you desire annexation as
much as we do-that il will benefit you as much,
ar more than il will benefit us-that you think so,
and we are sure of it. Had it depended on
the votes of the Democracy alone, there would
not have been a State in the Union which
would NOT have declared for immediate annex
alton. Hence we leave all such topics behind
us, and will apply ourselves to The only real
difficulty that stands in our way, which is under
stood 10 be this:
OUGHT THE ANTIsLAvERY LINE ESTABLISH
ED BY THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE TO
STAND.
we would have our brethren of the North to
CONSIDER That if the proofs We shall adduce
shall establish before all right judgment that the
line referred 10, al the time il was agreed upon,
conferred upon the North all It asked for, and
more than it was entitled to, all justice demands
that it should no, be altered TO the prejudice Of
Southern interests now. We know there are GOOD
and true men among you, (aee0mpl,shcd EditoTs
among ticm) who think that justice prescribes
that the acquired territory should be meted ON in
an exact territorial equality between the North
and the South This is all plausible, but its no
Thing more The past teens with chronicles to
enlightcn US upon this subject, and il is our duty
10 consult them, note their bearings and abide
their teachings There is scarce mail from the
North which does nc. bring US some melancholy
proofs of how many of the circumstances attend
Ing The progress Of The Missouri COMPROMISE,
have been forgotten BY the generation which now
has charge OF the nations destinics. In all gra-
c;ous seeming, oblvon's sombre pail must have
stretched lis etfacing influences far over the land
Thai lies between the Pc:oriac and the Arostook,
before brethren, Who in 1920, appropriated 10
themselves the lions share OF our pariiuoned ter
ritory could have reconciled it 10 themselves TO
5jr;de with the South nor the diridsd spoils which
cupidity itself refused 10 wrest from her then =
The South itself is much TO blame tor this; Tor
as soon as the terms of annexation were mooed IN
The public councils, Southerners on the floor OF
Congress and elsewhere srapped with such an
eaeerness upon the line OF the Missouri COM
PROMISE, that those of you least conversant with
The past were led 10 suppose that this was some
prsci9as Joon a sort OF sectional monopofn which
The South laid claim 10, and thus suggested the
idea that sore NEW COMPROMISE was called tor, TO
partition with Just equality the Texan territory.
All. S;rs this is sad and mischevous mistake,
The Missouri COMPROMISE, far from having
claims 10 The South's blessings, came upon her
from lis date with all the blight and scath of
Noahs curse and there stands she now, the vic
Tim OF lis influences, checked in her growth bare
in her impoyerishments, bereaved Of her palrimo-
mics. and shorn of her power! Yea, indeed, tia,
hlasiip. measure smote upon the universal South
ern heart as a most affecting and irre,rierab's
calamity. and a deep and enduring sense Of its
Aaerant wrong and garing injustice, long surviv-
ed The times that chronicled al. with which his
tory would charge itself of their vain sriviEss
and Waterloo disasters When we shall have
laid before you the facts upon which you Will
pronounce judgment, we greatly overrate your
sense of Justice, if you shall not own that the
North owes the South endless dues OF ad-
mira,ion and praise, for the lofty patriotism,
the love Of Union, ard the love of peace
she displayed, for her submission under ex-
actions and wrongs infinitely more grievous and
irreparablc, than any which causes old MasSachu-
sets TO put forth her surly and rebellious warn
inss now. The Missouri COMPROMISE! Why,
its very name mslcads. II never was Comp,o-
u.iss at al Il was but the concessions OF the
weak-to the terms Of the strong. Compromise!
what constitute them and what are their functions?
Why, they adjust differences by The force OF the
mutual concessions, rendered and accepted by tae
parties concerned The mutHalHu OF the con-
cessions, in universal accepation, is of the very
essence Of a COMPROMISE. Where then was he
n,utaal,tv which signalized this famous Missouri
ARRANGEMENT! We will see.
NO MUTUAIIrY OF CONCESSIONS IN THE
MISSOURI COMPROMISE.
CONSIDER That The territory acquired by Inc
Louisiana Treaty, resulted from the appropria-
lions Of funds from a common Treasury, to
which the North and the South alike contributed
Now betorc the Missouri arrangement, the citi-
zsns alike from the North and the South, could
migrate 10. and remain in, any portion OF that
territory whether thatpropery consisted IN slaves
or any Thing else After that a, arrangement North
ern citizens could still take all Acir property, and
settle upon any portion Of that territory, while
Southern citizens were forbidden TO take their
slaves into all such portions OF it, as lay North OF
,hirty-six degrees and thirty minutes OF North
latitude, and continue them there, except under
penalties of their confscation and forfeiture,
though it was manifest, that their mgralisns
thithes, would not make slave more, nor these
restraints slave less in the unicn than before.
Rut where was the muiualttv in this ? The ar
1angement left the rights and privileges Of the
Northern citizens, in the whole territory, Just
where they were before, but abridged those Of The
Southern citizens, by depriving them Of the right
Of migration with their slaves, to fully tour fins
Of that territory. How, then, was that ecm-
p,oa,;e Those, indeed, who recognise The SUI
premacy and absolutism of despo';c powef'
migh deem it such. to leave ons;tfM oil the ter