Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-07-30
FIR lie Ea9ai,cr.
THE WILMOT PROYISO AND COLO
NET BENTON

Messrs Editors Your semi-weekly paper o.!
22d June contains long extracts from speech VI
Colonel Benton OF Missouri, recently delivered al
Jefferson city. The readers OF the Enquirer
will regret that The speech in full, with some
voucher Tor its authenticity, is not laid before
them. The topics touched upon. OF continental
American" Unconstitutional Benton being the
speakcr-will excite lively curiosity TO see every
thing he has said, particularly when il is ascer-
taned that, contrary 10 his wont, he is defining his
position On The chief questions Of the day, and
with regard 10 the most delicate and important Of
Them, taking stand in opposition 10 what was
supposed 10 he the undivided sentiment! OF the
South | allnde Of course, 10 the Wilmol Pro-
viso business, and have taken up The pen rather
with the hone Of drawing public attention 10 this
great sahjeot, than with any intention OF splinter
ing lance against The great hlissourian.
The Colonel says: "a new slavery question
has sprung IN; one which discardng the old
ground q! defence and compromise goes for pro-
pagandism in lis most unqualified form, and 10 The
most remote and Northern territories OF the Union
II is n test which our Northern friends all The
citizens Of The North who are willing 10 lei
things remain as they aIe-cannot stand. Those
citizens have done well; they have greatly quiet
ed and sotlened down The abolition agitation;
they have helped US Fus, indeed through The
pushed al them bv the Tyler cabinet in way,o
revolt them, pnrey and simply as a slavery e.
tension question: 10 give the Slave States mastery
over The Free ones; they have Just assisted in adj
hitting Florida into The Union, without srug-
Gle and without the agitation OF Missouri ques-
lion; and they are now assisting with men and
money 10 carry 10 successful conclusion the Mex
lean war, although tainted with questions rs re-
pusnanl 10 The feelings as they are unnecessary,
erauilous and premature"
Now, sirs, ii, as believe, you told Us truly
that MIR. Bots is unsafe on The Wilmot Proviso
what say you 10 Col. Bcnlon7 God only reads
the heart. and We cannot know what motive lie
sees loI this wiliul blindness 10, or peryerson Of
The truth. Is there in The resolutions offered by
MIR. Calhoun in the u. S. Senate, or in those
passed by the Legislature OF Virginia, or in Mr.
Seddons speech on this subject, one drop OF the
spirit of propagandism? On the contrary, were
not the circumstances (Which Mr. Benton wholly
msreprcsens) such as 10 show clearly that they
were designed solely 10 repel The propagandist, Hho
presented himself in The Ii. OF Representatives in
The form OF resolution, passed by our Northern
friends, (Mr Wilmol and Mr.. Winthrop, sup
pose declaring in effect that The citizens OF The
slave States are not entitled 10 equal rights with
those OF The free; and that in any territory there.
after acquired they should not enjoy such rights
Did not MIR. Seldom q use his name because il
comes first 10 mind) spring Indignantly TO his iecl
because he felt that blow had been aimed al
him. And YET, Col. Benton coolly tells the peo-
ple Of Missouri mat "our Northern friends" have
'.nrea,ly aueled and sofiened down The abolition
agitation" and that The warm anti-Wilmol men
are pIopagandists. Growing still more gross in
his misstatemcnts, he next tells his people that
the Tyler cabinet pushed annexation al these
Northern friends, purely as sectional question,
80 give the slave States mastery over the free
ones!s ChildIikc simplicity! The Tyler cab-
net asked the North TO furnish a STICK explain
ing that the use TO be made OF il was TO break The
said Norlh's head Not 4 line was ever penned
by that cabinet which did moi, whilst urging an
nexalion as essential 20 The South, demonstrate
its high importance 10 the North. All The South
ern press took that ground. Look 10 the files OF
the ENQUIRER and see with what vigor the mea
sure was sustained, as calculated still further 10
promote the manufactures and commerce which
have given 10 the North her power, and queenly
beauty clothed in purple and fine linen. So far
as the question assumed sectional cast we we're
forced into that position by The wicked schemes
and arguments of those who are now proclaimed
hy Col. Benton 10 be famously fine fellows; be-
cause they did not raise a Missouri question Oh
the admission of Florida, and because they have
not gotten up another Hartford Convention about
The Mexican war, notwithstanding their inability,
SO far, 10 secure more than their share ot "lhc
spoisi-all Of which they endeayored TO snatch
beforehand.
There are other opinions and views expressed
by The Colonel, besides lhnse thus briefly alluded
to, that are equally unin,cllisible, save on one
hypothesis-lhai he wishes sour friends" 10 re-
gard him as "Soulhern man with Northern feel
ings" EIe tells us, for instance, notwithsland-
ing much lalk about The impolicy OF introducing
parry organization, founded upon geographical
lines, that The presentation OF the next Presiden-
lial candidate oil The party does belong 10 par
ticuiar section.
LouIsA Both June, 1S47.
Officer Timherlake, of Fredericksburg, brought
10 Ibis city, yesterday in The cars, John William
son, The kdnapper whose arrest We mentioned in
our paper OF yesterday.
SINGING REBUKE.-A correspondent Of
the Sleubenville (Ohio) Union, writing from Bue-
ma Vista, holds the following language: