Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-16
For The Fhg, Enquirer, Republican, and cOmpit.r a,s ;.
others vh9m il may concern.
" MR. Bolts ON THE WILaIOT PRovIsO -Iu
PORTANT DEVELOPMENTS IN

po'~h Dy ldSl evenings NOrtneTn Nailn-,
starlle and as,ound the good people OF this Ds
trlct and It's vicinity C"like fIe-bel at mi.
night") from their fancied security, 10 sense :.
The profound danger with which lhey were ,hre.,
ened. And what is The imporlan; deyelope ms =
Why, that did no, commit myself uncordj'ta,
ally 10 vote against any candidate for the Pr
dency who was in favor OF the principles IL Il.
Wimol Pfoviso-or, in other worGs, ,ha, wo ,"s
not make hnn,dng Of myself, TO get rid ola brr
bug. started for effect, aid bottled up Tor The :.
casion.
was charged by the Enquirer OF las, Mo,d..
morning, with having 'shiEked The question" in i,
discussion The Friday night before, when he nv \,
lion was put by Mr.. Leake, although il -.
known that was allowed only 30 minute. -
arransemenD 10 answer Two hours speech III
that, in The midst Of the discussion Of aroTe.
subject, was abruptly stopped, and told Ina, ~
time had expired, and that lons before j,
reached The "Wilmol proviso" in is resuls, q,
der. Now, think it is clear, that sys,ensi.
if not concerted effort is 10 be made. and has b.
made, by lhe opposite party, 10 creaie dissatisi.
lion and dis.rust on this subject-and Tor this =.
son, and because il is not mi habit 80 sk.,
any question, that choose 10 speak for mys.
and 10 afford the democracy o, this ts,,.
through the columns OF the Enquirer, III Il =
publish them,J an opportunity oi judging 1: nj,
soundness upon this question, BY stating tisIi,r.
ly what are my views relative 10 that much me.
understood question. Ii popular error ers. NJ.
on any question upon which may he calei !,
acl, instead OF encouraging and WELDING 10 !
choose rather, as far as can, 10 correc. i,--ar.
SO shall do in reference 10 This question.
First, then, lei us See what is the chafac,., b.
The WilInot proyiso. Here il is:
provided, That a. an express and fundamental IA,
d!tlon 10 The acquisition of any Territory from he q
public Of Mexico BY tile United States, by cf n;
Treaty which may be negotiated between them AM I
the use by The Executive OF The moneys herein aDs,,
prlaicd neither slavery nor involuntary ser!iute N,
ever exist In any part OF said Territory, eserp n cfr
whereof the party shall be first duly convicted"
And This pioviso, which tells us no more Ia,
every inlelligen, man knew before, 10 wi. .;.
the people OF The free States, 6! all political ran.
from the hishestt 10 The most humble, are oppose.
the extension of SLAVERY, is now, fer political irr,
attempted 10 be connected with The Gtoiitun fss,e
~ Where does This pFoyiso propose 10 atol.
slavery2 In Mexico7 Why, j, don't exiSlh.
and therefore cannot be abolished. The ruth
that this pTovso, although OF Democratic o.ss
was adapted BY the Wing parry OF The Nora, Z,
The purpose OF furnishing a motive AMI ar 4.
lee, 10 The South 10 put ar end 10 his unbr II.
lust for acquisition, which, il mol arrested. ms
put an end 10 our institutions. sooner or iaier-
Substantially they have said this ave ta;
aided you in annexing Texas 10 your Sou,tr
border, as slave Stale; we want no more Ter.
tory, and advise you not 10 take any part 9i Msi.
leo; but il you will persist in carrying or Id,
war, We caution you not 10 lock 10 Us ioran III:
il the farther extension Of lape,y. |. you take
al all, Won must take il rs Tree territory"
Now say, my answer 10 all this is, ard b
answer OF The entire South should be, vecf.
want any more territory, and We WON'T hsHr
part of Mexico, and il is not for The purfcN /.
dismembering Mexico that we carry on this ".
But Notwithstanding the Wilmot proviso t;.
passed the House OF Representatives. and vcu.
have passed the Senate, but TO! the aTprehersi
that il would have defeated the s3,0o0,00O y
and Notwithstanding its PRINCIPLES have tea
adopted by almost unanimous votes By The Legs
Iatnres Of New York, Pennsylvania, Massaets
sets Ohio. and several other Of The smaller .,e
Slales,-aye, not withslanding IT Is MADE MA,l,n.
AND CLEAR, that this is The sentiment ol a ,t:.
majority OF the people and OF the States, vet Il:
Richmond Enquirer and its followers lara "
Leake also) insist upon taking this Mexican n
no olher,) as an indemnify Tor the war, III
now. | ask. which is the best friend 10 the Sc1
and Southern Institutions? What WILL pet:
myself to, is this | WILL VOTE Fer No MAS .,
PRESIDENT OR VICE PRESIDENT WHO Is justly,
ABLE TO THE SUSPICION EvENoF A DISPOSITION T0N
TERrEaE WITH THE INSTITUTION ~ sLA;.El ~ ~
MANNER WHATEVER, AS IT EXITS USDEa TT
CONSTITUTION. That am OPP, ssD TO TIE PEN
clpLE or THE WILMoT PaovIso, is certainly Iu.
But why2 Not because | think We hage 4,
right 10 ask The North 10 aid Us in lie exierss,
OF slavery-bui because DENY TarlR RIGHT
lend any such aid. Ii acknowledge hei. n.
10 aid IN ITS EXTENSION b. Legislation, cauGQ
leny their right 10 cuRTAIL 1T by legislation. !.
DENY THEIR RIGHT TO LEGlsLATE Ar ALL Upon IN.
SUBJECT. My opinion has always been hat
Ter The territory las been admitted n a SisY :
Is FOR THE STATE ~rTuoRITEs ALONE To Dr.s
MINE WHETHER SLAVERY Shall Exisr On Sol-
and as Virginia has an undoubled iieh to ,s .
LisH SLAVERY within her limits, So has Ohio N.
same power 10 ADMIT IT within hers wihouct
sullaion with, or the consent OF, The auihon.ir
OF the United States, or any fine dsparrmfns
The General Government.
lexpccs 10 voIe Tor the candidate OF tie VII.
party, agains, any and all the candidate Il "a
Locoioco parry, and will give no pledge that $
deprive me OF this privilege Suppose John !
Clayton, for example, who Cikc al! other Nor 4
eTn men) is opposed equally TO INTERFERING
WITH As TO GIVING AID TO THE EXTENSION " 81.
VERY, should b. the candidate OF the Wig par.
and Mr.. Jimmy Polk the candidate Of The chf.
parly-does The Enquirer expect me to rIet.
myself TO vote Tor Mr.. Polkl Ii is ceuang !.
very modest requesr; bur would see them d !
A braham's bosom first.
But suppose Mr.. Buchanan, MIR. Wlisti, N
Van Buren, or Governor Cass, all oil whom Z,
know 10 be in favor OF the Wilmol proviso 81
dare not say they are opposed 10 il, should be II
regular nominee Of the Democratic Naioti
Convention, and General Taylor or Mr. ca
should be our candidate THE ESarisr
PLEDGE ITSELF TO SUSTAIN THE WHO ca.Dlp.
AGAINST THE CANDIDATE or IT'S own fAEFT
When they make This pledge, il viii te nc
enough for them 10 ask me 10 make pledges
But agan-li this is so important. c,ve.
mem" and question Of such tfanscencen. "A
poilance, will The Enquirer tell Us why i chUca 4
and e1ulled SO extravaganily last FAN arte ~.
ToS OF MR. WiLMoT HIMSELF, The DemoGs
author OF this very proviso1 Again--i il :
taches so much importance 10 the pledge, lien
another gentleman 10 whom be might -, a
gentle hint-providci his po.ilica n ations 40 \
admit Of such familiarity IL mean HE EiiC
the Union. He has been calechiztd prelgc .O.'
on This subcct by the Charleston MeIcury-s..
yet &c refuses 10 give The pledge!
The Mercury, in speaking OF the Wilma \
viso, says; "The citizens oi Charleston, 10 rus.
s" lie meeting, approved and endorsed these rs
3" lulions"- the resolutions Of The Virginia !!
sslaiure denouncing the Wilmol progiso,) u.
J" Mr. Calhoun gave them his hearty corcuutrt|
lin The remarks made by him upon that Cccsssf
+" For doing this" Che Mercury conlinues,l "A
" Charleston meeting aud Mr. Calhoun RE
!" nonneed By HE Union, as urging movera
Z" tending directly to unite the whole Norh u
g sectional rally against The South upon qnt
:" ton Of Slavery The course OF The Unios
" continues demonstrates iha, the mcie inn;
" of party, irrespective OF priraple, was his q
:" tive Of action"
The Mercury, il seems, has been Jogging y
old gentleman on this subjec! teiore, Dvi has :
yet obtained an answer. II says: We wiIr'I
repeat these questions" before propoundet; "Dccl
"he concur with The Virginia Resolutions
" he support any candidate for The Pftstcfi
" who is in favor Of The Wilmoi proviso? TIL
" South, aye, and the North, have 4 right 10 kr'
" the opinions of the Editor upon the sublccia a.
" he party, Of which he processes 10 be the oa'.
" have right 10 demand an explicit avosal II
on question OF such vital interest" Now
the Editors of The Enquirer lnrn their arlenior
the Union, The official organ, and obtain iis TisF
unon The npexiian ihot havo baar "a 4ior.