Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-16

and assertions 10 be doubted, it was then time to
carry with him The weapons OF evidence 10 fight
a foe who would lake the advantage of an IN
suspectng connection MIR. Leake commenced
in low lone of voice. gradually elevains il, car
ryng with him The force oil expression, evidence
incon,roverlible, aud reasoning loo potent 10 be
assailed By his opponent. MIR. Leake said, lie
presented himself beiure The people oil this Con-
grc.sional District not 10 be looked upon AS let
ting his passions, from party prejudice, so over
rule his better judgment as 10 defeat or attempt 10
deieai, a measure that would act benehcially
upon The country, let il originate from any party
whatever He appeared before The people OF
this District, he trusted. as patriot and Ameri-
can citizen, who wen, for his country and his
country's rights, and who vas willing 10 devole
himself 10 The maintenance of that which he
conscienciously believed would operate 10 The in
leresi Of the country which was calculated 10
elevate the American people, so that The stars
and stripes should be respected wherever Ihsy
were found lriumphan,y waving. In reference
10 the great questions which we now nave under
our consideration, and which, as Mr.. Bots al.
firms, have swallowed up all others, If they are
of such vital importance 10 The country. he was
willing TO share The dangers and encounter their
responsibilities; and il he failed 10 sustain him
sell or those with whom he stood identified, he
was willing 10 iall, proud Of being borne out b.
a good and clear conscience in the discharge OF
his duty in representative capacity The
war his honorable competitor seemed 10 harp
upon, as unjust. iniqutous and outrageous, and
AS such he condemns il. Mr.. Leake, upon the
other hand, believed that the var is jusfia-
BILE, inasmuch rs our flag has been insultsd,
our Minister treated with co?templ; and, above
all, The blood oil American citizens has been shed
Mr. I 10
was ample justification with him for The war
These reasons, in his humble judgment, were en-
tirey sufficient 10 condemn any one who would
go for Withdrawing our hoops from Mexico nn-
ill The difficulty was amicably adjusted. lie was
not one OF those who believe you can settle di!-
6culiY with an individual or individuals by let
ting him get up alter you knock him down.
He was very small man. il was true; yet il he
should be so unfortunate as 10 measure strength
with an individual, il he coul.i succeed in knock
ing him down: his plan would lie TO repeat the
blow while he had him in his power, until
his antagonist should cry out Tor "ouarier,
and make rclribuiion for The injustice he had
done him. Such is the plan he shond re.
commend TO be carried Out in his Mexican
war, whe her this county has been involved
in war by "Jim Polk" 'john Calhoun" or
Milton Brown. He (iir. L. went for q speedy
and honorable adjustment Of difficulties, by re-
peating he blow until Mexican pride snail BE-
BUNDLED and made IL know that our rights sha u
be respected SO long as The heats OF Ainerlcan
citizens burn with patriotism and true humanity.
Mr.. Leake took very comprehensive view ol
the war. lis origin, progress &C, and said ne was
no, surprised 10 find men against the war; be-
cause there were some against our revolutionary
struggle, and also against the war OF 1872; and
some OF that same SET were found against The war
OF l847. Daniel Webster refused 10 rejoice over
The riumphs Of our arms in the las, wal; and there
are men who are to be found that will refuse 10
rejoice al the glorious victories which oar brave
soldiers have won a, Palo Alto, Monterey and
Buena Vista. MIR. Leake asked The people OF lie
district if they were prepared 10 send repiesen-
laiive 10 Congress from The Metropolitan District
10 take decided ground against vigorous pro
secution OF The war, upon lhs speedy settlement,
Of which SO much depend he prosperity Of our
country and the happiness of the American peo-
pie.
Mr.. Leake proved, from Mr.. Bolts letier 70
MIR. Hacketl Of Louisa, before Mr.. Polk was
elected President, that The annexation OF Texas
was Inc remote cause of war, and from Mr. I'll,
'na, The Western boYu,air - - 81. S'rai',"
was The boundary Of Texas proper. This, hc
said, ough, 10 be considered as good evidence !or
Wings, q! least, aud as annexation was The re-
v
hoods 10 The Rio Glandc was The immediate
cause, according To Mr.. BIS own showing, he could
only make Mr.. Polk responsible Tor Fastening
an even, which he (Mr b. declared, previous y
MIR. Folks coming into power, would eventually
and Inevitably lake place.
But, says Mr.. Leakc, we are III war. Lit ~
70 for our country right IL wrong lei US be as
one man, and show our enemies, a, home and
abroad, an undivided 'front.' and le, the world see
that our country is FIST and ourselves last. Such
a feeling as this, says MIR. Leake, @cu!i le!!il,
cur enen les. They would al once see The
folly of lIifiDg with The rights oi people who
ACT alone from patriotism, ard who ale al
WAYS ready to spill their blood in defending thai
which they conceive 10 be right. Unfortunately,
our Wing friends seem to differ with US upon
this war question:; YET there are some noble spirits
amongst them who Rave shared The hardships
and perls Of war, while many Of their leaders
who ought 10 teach different example, are found
irving 10 cripple the energy OF our Government
by attempting 10 heap odium upon The admins
tralion and TO impede the progress OF our military
operations By endeavoring 10 hold up 10 ridlcule
men in power, while engaged In bringing exist
ing difficulties 10 just, fair and honorable ter
mination. Already have the Mexican papers
quoted Mr.. Websler-oEe Of The most pron neni
Wings in The United Stales-as against The war,
and as one whose feelings and sympaIhies are
enlisted III behalf of The Mexican government
With such facts, we leave i, 10 The American
people 10 decide, said Mr.. l., who has lie great
est aim for their support, he Wings or he
Democrats. My time is rapidly passing and
must hasten. My honorable competitor seems
not only perfectly blinded from party prejndics
on this war question: put on lie lariri also For
The sake OF defeating the measure OF Mr.. Tyler,
he voted against The Tariff Of 10, which Mr..
Bots was in favor of and which he said womb
acl beneficially upon The country. appeal 70 he
the people q, the metropolitan District 10 Know
il they are willing 10 send such man as their
representative 10 Congress. In reference 10 The
passports Of Santa Anna my competitor tells you.
fellow citizens, that the only man that could nne
The Mexican forces and furnish support iuf
their troops was Santa Anna, wham Mr.. Polk
allowed 10 return TO his native land. We ad-
mil such was the fact, and for thai reason
alone he was suffered 10 return unmolesled.-
Had our government prohibited the return Of
Santa Anna, il would al once have Told them III
language 100 plain 10 b. misunderstood, that
our government dreaded him above all other
men. This would have greatly increased The
desire 10 hayeihim in Mexico il possible, and any
attempt 10 prevent his return would have been
absurd. We wished 10 show 10 The government
OF Mexico, that we did noi dread her Leeions,
headed By such man as Santa Anna;-we
were willing To encounter Them with their srea.
test general 10 lead them on, and satisfy them
that We feared not numbers or leaders. in The
prosecution OF our rights. To conclude, in M
humble opinion, The defeat Of Santa Anna 81 the
head of lis Legions upon the plains OF Bu'na
Vista, was not more comneie taan "as the &C.
fea, OF Mr.. Bots, last Fri'ay evening.
Mr.. Leake sur passed himself uTon The coca
sion: his powerful elolrence, his able reasen,
ing and indisputable facts. won Ter himself aud
the Democratic parry, noble triumph. | have
only 10 say 10 our friends throughout this Dis
trict that The confidence they have fercsed in Mir.
Lcakc is safe, and they may feel proud 10 own
him as their represen!ive in Congress, believing
as | do he will keep the Flag OF Democracy
trnmpbau,ly waving, and will guard sonh-
ern interests as efficiently as any that could ea Sc
lecled. LEoNiDAs'
To the Editors of he Enquirer:
PArslcK COUNTY, Va, April 9Th, ls47.
As YOU seldom hear from this part OF Jour po-
lilical VINEYARD, have concluded to give you
an account Of our prospect hoping that if may
be of iuteres, 10 some OF your readers.