Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-09-03

Lld W z Gal asbS
take the position which Mr.. Buchanan has'aKen
on the subjcc, OF slavery. Blu, it must be pecu'
liarly gratifying 10 every Southern Democrat 10
see. from such a distinguished source, eVidence
,ha, our friends a, The North do not mean 10 De
serl US al this crisis:
THE WlLMOT PROVlSO:
OF all the letters which have been oaileu io,'n
by recent events, (says the unlon,l We f,gaiu'ue
allowing production of Mr.. Buchanan's pen as
The most important. Ii is written with the dislin-
euished authors usual clearness and force, and II
is marked by that high moral courage which inc
occasion demands. MIR. Buchanan has mol ne
STATED to step boldly into the field at once, 10 oe-
clare his sentiments freely on the exciting topic
of the day, and 10 discharge a great duty al a
critical period of public affairs. Never were
more proper words uttered al a more proper
lime He comes forward in The spirit OF union,
in the shirt of Cancellation, in The spirit oil com.
promise. 10 pour oil upon the troubled waves.
a nd wha, patriot will not thank him for The ef-
fort he has made, the courage he has exhibited,
The advice which he gives TO his countrymenf
He is opposed 10 the Wilmo, Proviso-and he is
right. He goes for The Missouri compromise 10
settle the agiiating queslion-and ne is rIsht.
He throws himself into the oreach-anu IL
is impossible that his country can hear his
warning voice, without respect and without Inc
s~incerest gratitude. Ii is a source OF great sa-
tisfaction TO US, that we agree in opinion win a
politician so distinguished, and whose OPINION Is
30 much entitled 10 the respect OF his country
men. But he stands upon the firm foundation OF
Truth; and let the storms rage ashley may upon
lha, house, j, will stand, for il is built upon a
rock. But these storms canno, long endure
MANY nj those of our political Ss.,A--- - ~
The "sober second thought" revise their Judgment,
and rcveise lncIr opinion. Mr.. Buchanan speaks
in The true spirit. He speaks in The spirit OF the
compromise which formed and adopted this Con-
s,ilution-lhis compact between The slaveholding
and non-slaveholdins States. He speaks in that
spirit of compromise which prevailed over the
deslinies of Missouri and of Texas. He speaks
in that spirit which will bind together this holy
Union, 10 which every American is devoted b.
the strongest ties Of feeling as well as OF interest.
L, required some powerful voice to arouse The
people; and we are happy 10 hear that voice
speak, and in The tone oil cancellation and Of wis
don. We recommend its sugs ,stion 10 the al
tention OF all our readers.
LETTER FROM HON. JAS. BUCHANAN.
We are indebted TO a friend for a copy Of the
following letter, (says the Pennsylvania sent
by the Hon. James Buchanan, in reply 10
an invitation on the part of the Democratic ciii-
zens of Berks county, TO The Harvest Home,
which took place near Reading on Saturday last.
1t is a production that speaks for itself. Written
on a most interesting subject, il will command al
tenlion by the clearness and power with which
that subjec, is discussed-a subject, lei US add,
which has assumed a most serious, if mol mo-
mentous, aspect:
WASHINGTON, 25lh August, 1847.
Gentlemen: | have been honored by the re-
ceipt of your kind invitation TO unite with the
Democracy ofOld Berks in their Harvest Home
celebration, 10 be held a, Reading on Saturday,
the 28,h instant. | should esteem i, both a plea.
sure and a privilege TO be present on that interest.
ing occasion; il is, therefore, with regret | have
10 inform you that my public duties during the
presen, week will render this impossible.
| rejoice to observe that the glorious Democra.
cy OF "Old Berks" are buckling on their armor,
and preparing for the approaching contest. Iii
long since any Stale election has involved such
important consequences for the Democracy OF
The Union as The approaching election for Cover.
nor OF Pennsylvania. On lis result may proba-
bly, depend the ascendancy OF The Democracy of
The Union for years TO come. Hence our Demo-
cratic brethren OF other States are Witnessing The
contest with intense anxiety. The field is a fair
me; our candidate well-,ried, able and honest;
and he has been regularly nominated BY the par
y. Should he be defeated, the attempt will be
vain 10 explain the decision Of the ballot. boxes.
in any other manner than by admitting that The
Wings have The majority. Our candidate for
Canal Commissions is, also, above all reproach,
both personally and politically, and is eminenlly
Tor the duties Of that important Office
under such circumstances, the Democratic
Keystone should give way, there is great danger
hat The arch may tumble into pieces. In this
contest, cmphatically, he that is not for us is
against US. DO not apprehend defeat, unless
our willy foe should first lull US into security by
no extraordinary public efforts; and then,
It The eleventh hour, quietly steal a march upon
rs, as they have done in some other States. Our
vigilance ought to be constantly on The alert, until
he moment OF victory.
The question oil slavery, in one Of its ancient
ispec.s has been recently revived, and threatens
o c~onvnlse The country. The Democratic party
If The Union ought to prepare themselves in time
or the approaching storm. Their best security
in the hour OF danger is 10 cling last TO their time
lonored principles. A sacred regard for The Fe-
icral Constitution, and Tor Inc reserved rights of
he States, is The immovable basis on which the
party can alone safely rest. This has saved us
rom The inroads of abolition. Northern Demo-
,rals are not expected TO approve slavery in The
pot put tAC1 WV ~ ~ III u . tlC
value The Union, and all the political blessings
bountifully 1ow from il, 10 abide by the
OF The Constitution, and leave the
question, where that instrument las lett il, 10 The
wherein slavery exists. Our fathers have
made this agreement with their brethren of The
and il is moi for The descendants of eli
party. in The present generation, 10 cancel
solemn compact. The abolilionisls, by their
efforts TO annul il, have arrested the natural pro-
gross of emancipation, and done great injury 10
10 The slaves themselves.
After Louisiana was acquired from France
by MIR. Jefferson, and when The Stale of Nilsson
ri, which constituted a part OF il, was about TO
be admitted into the Union, the Missouri ques.
lion arose, and in lis progress threatened The dis
OF the Union. This was settled by the
men Of the lasl generation, as other important
and dangerous questions have been settled, in a
spirit OF mutual concession. Under the Missou-
compromise, slavery was %"fnrever prohibited"
north Of the parallel OF &c deg. 30 min and south
this parallel The question was lett 10 be decided
The people. Congress, in the admission Of
Texas, following in The footsteps of their prcde-
cessors, adopted the same rule; and, in my opin-
ion. The harmony Of The States, and even The Sc
curly OF the Union ITSELF require that The line Of
The Missouri compromise should be extended 10
any new territory which we may acquire from
l should entertain The same opinion, even if ii
we're certain that This would become a serious
practical question; bu, that ii never can be thus
considered, must be evident 10 all who have al
tcntively examined The subject.
Mel her the soil, The climate, nor The produce
lions of lha, portion Of California south Of IS deg.
30 min., nor indeed of any portion Of il, North or
South, is ada pied to slave labor; and, besides,
eve y facility would be there afforded to The slave
10 escape from his master. Such properly would
be utterly insecure in any part of California
/, is morally impossible, therefore, that a major
iIy of the emigrants 10 that portion OF The terrific
ry south Of 36 deg. 80 min, which will be chiefly
composed Of our fellow ciliZ ms from the East.
Middle, aud Western States. will ever re-es-
lablish slavery within its limits. In regard to
New MEXICO, cas-, o: the Rio Grande, The ques-
ton has been already settled by The admission of
into The Union.
Should we acquire territory beyond the Rio
and cas-, OF the Rocky Mountains, it is
more improbable that a majority Of the pec-
plr Of that region would consent! 10 re.eslablish
They are, themselves, in a large pro.