Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-13


about them have also something 10 say. Th
names of public men have been brought here. /,
facilitate or defeat the adoption OF these PROPOSE
lions. very much regret This. We boast to b,
a party devoted 10 principle irrespective Of men
and YET we exhibit here tonight The sad spec
tacle OF distracted and divided Convention, no
upon any vital and important question Of public
policy, but as 10 The means by which The chance:
of success or different aspraois Tor the Presiden
cy may be advanced or injured. lrenounce aU,
and lorerer, any par, 10 any such course Of &c
ton. have come hiiher 10 aid, il can, in Civ
ing power, consistency and unanimiiy 10 my par
". Not for mere party purposes at all not a
all-but for nobler, a better end-io The end That
BY The triumph cl this parry, and through IN,
fundamentally of its agents selected 10 carry Gu
is principles, The prosperity and happiness OF mi
country ard the duration OF lis Tree institution!
NAV be secured. As 10 who these asfnis shall
be, have as decided preferences rs any man II
this hall. But would sacrifice lhem all for lht
greater and more valuable end OF insuring sue
tines OF the Democratic party. From the course
OF The debate aud the conduct OF some o
nv political friends here, | must say wore
as 10 one distinguished statesman whose
name has been mentioned. Few men think
more highly OF Mr.. Calhoun than do hi:
pure and elevated private character, his devo
led patriotism, and his conduct as statesman
most OF us think above praise. He is look
ed on as the right arm oil the South, on some vita
and interesting questions. He is yet, | trust e
do good service Tor US ALL such as we and our chill
dre1 shall thank him for. But cannot say in
lie language OF my friend (Mr CAsKiE) that Mr.
Calhoun always follows the night and avoids the
proag. That is more than could with cando!
say / have ever thought Of any public man.
Elsewhere il is said The King can do no wrong
but with us we hold The leader OF great party
let his wisdom be ever so great his purity ever sc
unoueslioned, often, yes, most often does err and dc
wrong. am here as one OF the people, and a N
called on 10 give expression 10 my opinions, tar
" and truly, uninfuenced by any one. will be
led from this duty and its fearless performance BY
no considerations neither the smiles Dor he
trowns OF any man, public or private, shall make
me faller in lis performance Nor is this The iss
occasion, on which have net such necessity
in The same temper and spritin which lnow pro
pose 10 meet The present emergency. In my ear
ly lie, was painfully constrained TO say tina
Mr. Madison had in my humble judgment, (hum
bic certainly when compared with his wisdom
and prudence surrendered 100 much in agreeing
10 sign The charter Of the Bank Of The Uni'eC
States At later period, and in 1914, when
the rejection, by Tie Senate, Of the treaty made
by Mr.. Tyler, Tor The annexation OF Texas
astounded and reused the people OF Ibis
country, and reused their indignant denuncia
ton, we had no ialtering, no hesitation them
In a primary meeting of The Democrats oil this
city, resolution was proposed and unanimously
adopted declaring that deed Of The Senate 10 have
been al war with the best Interests OF The country
and in violation OF The commands OF patriotism
A more drecl and stringent censufe rs lar as ha
resolution could make il so, could not have beer
pronourced; and IN il there was 70 party ex ep
lion. Mr.. Benton and Mr. Wright, belonging tt
the Democratic party, shared The same common
condemnation with their Wing associates, Mr.
Berrien and others, who, by their united votes
made up The ma jority, which, rejected The treaty
Upon The wisdom OF that treaty and the grea
question of annexation we battled in Virginia.
Our public speakers, cur newspaper essayis's
our resolutions, addresses, 4 nd Conventions uni
ted in holding il mp, as The great question whlcf
separated US IRON The Wings. True, many oil US
had to meet The ingenious and powerful argu
mens Of some of our own political friends IN Inc
Senate, and none gave Us more trouble than host
OF Mir Benton His speech was printed, anc
thousands distributed through the State. II wa:
The lex, book ot the Wing orators in The canvass
Il crossed Ms every where ard sc Lad 10 a.swe
nm, more than the Wings, Did we hesitate It
condemn this distinguished Senator because II
acted and stood with the Democratic parry, uror
all The other great questions, upon which the I'm.
was drawn separating the ,wo parties NO
sir-no. Even here, within this hall, in Demo
cratic Convention, constituted as Ibis is, assembled
in Is45, for the same ects and purposes as this
Convention has been called accomplish, The same
spirit impelled US. remember freshly iha, in
,eres,in2 scene. The Democratic party had elect
ell Mr.. Polk, by an overwhelming majority. Ht
was 10 be inaugurated on The succeeding 4Ih o
March The Texas question was yet undecid
ed. l! had succeeded in The House OF Represen
taives by a small majority. It's fate in hi
Senate, was deemed very doubtful. Mr. Benton
MIR. Baeby, aud probably some other Democrat
ic Senators. were creating difficulties which placed
the measure in great reril. Every one looked
with intense anxiety TO Washington. Our stat,
Convention ri l645 came together uncer these
circumstances II came together mainly 10 or
ganize the party Tor The approaching Spring cleo
lions. But it passed not unnotlced Inc aellallns
and absorbing question CT annexation. Srons
resolutions were introduced on The subject.
did no, think them strong enough. II The gen
tleman from Washington Colonel GooDscN
be now present, he will remember what Ihen oc
Cured, because of The effort he made TO softer
IU,dH
any one look al ,hose resolutions, ana espe
cially thar III regard 10 The annexation oil Texas
and il viii be ound according 10 my reco!iec
ton, lha, the resolution which now propose as
substitute lar The fourth resolution, reported b,
the committee, is not stronger in its terms than TN
resolution adopted 10 1915. | speak now iron
recollection; reference 10 The record Will correc
any error into which | may have !a!len Ant
now, shall we hesitate 10 speak OF Inc votes ant
acts OF Mr.. Calhoun, as we have spoken Q! IN;
votes and acls ol other Scnaorsl Let US not Of
too sensitive in regard 10 him. Use no harst
epilhet-no unbecoming languase-no pro.cTip
tive Genuncaion-let US say, we regret and dis
approve. Let US say. when Senators do no
come up 10 their duy, that they do not. differ
ent course is 10 make Us, in my judgment, 'n'
ahiec, slaves and worshippers OF men. II VII
be 10 make the Democratic parry DO what II ha
in all lime past been ready 10 do-temperaleil
and firmly 10 disapprove The conduct OF ever
their own selected and favcr:le agents, wnet'
thar conduct deserves condemnation. coneu
in The main 10 The spirit Of The resolutions.
disapprove utterly and entirely The vote in tn
Senate, expellng the Editors from The floor OF lha
body, as measure unjust in lis character ant
dangerous in its consequences. more than dis
approve The course OF some OF The Senators u
rega I'd 10 The prosecution Of he war with Mex
Goa course, The e6eet OF which is, 10 weaker
our own cause and paralyzc The efforts of In
Goyelnmen and 10 give new lie vigor and &C
,ivily 10 The public enemy. Entertaining Ihes
opinions, formed with The best lights before me,
know mol why should be required mol 10 declar
Them. II 10 tell Mr.. Calhoun The ruth, is 10 in
lure him, lei it be SO. But this cannot, will no
believe, and am yet TO learn lha: ne believes II
appeal most anxioasiy 10 The warm, zealou
and noble friends OF This gentleman, here an
elsewhere, no, to be TOO sensitive. Wore mis-
chief to him and them will flow from this
Than The adoption OF any resolution here
To another portion Of my friends here mus
say, be mol loo rash-rememberr your high re T,
sponsibii,y. Ultraism may. and probably will
shake down the pillars Of our great par
ly-and then, who that loves his country will nc
mourn over The ruins7 Who that deserves IN
name OF Democrat will not feel, in future Time
his cheek flushed with shame, when he shall re
member that he was one of the deslructives b
whose hands this unholy work was accomplish
ed2 And where, pray. you, shall we ind IN
skilul architect, who shall bring together tn
fragments and rebuild The temple : In our da
he will not live. feel sensibly my position here
To none but myself is i, matter OF any impool
lance. and hut little to me. lcannot agree wit