Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-12-29
From the Washington Unioa Dc 24.l
THE MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN
MpA1QEpS or CnNERESS

W
Shortly after Inc passa-c Of the resolution ny
The House OF Representatives, without necessity
insructins the committee on The Territories 70
report 10 The House, with as Lutte delay as >rrac.
licabe, bill excluding slavery from New Alexi.
CO and California Without necessity, Tor iht
same commits, c had reported similar Dill al me
last session, in The absence Of instructions; ahd
the majority had thus shown an impateLce
TO manifest its hostility 10 The rights Of Inc SCUM
and The compromises Of The Constitution; and
when il was followed up by The motion TO lay on
the table The bill OF Mr.. Giddinss providing Tor
taking The sense moi only Of The free negroes but
OF The slaves also, upon the question whether
slavery should exist in the District Of columbia,
against which seventy-seven votes were given
The Southern Senators had meeting 10 consult
as 10 what Steps The rights Ut their constituents
required them to lake. Al that meeting com.
mitlee was appointed 10 consult with The mem-
bers Of the House upon The subject
Upon the passage oil the resolution, BY the
House of Representatives, oil Mr. Cot, by vote
oil SO TO IS, insraciing the committee Tor The Dis
trict OF Columbia 10 report bill, as soon as
practicable, prohibiting the buying or selling OF
slaves in this disIicI, the committee OF me Sc.
male saw ha The lime TO act had arrived 10
avert the mischief which was impending. Upon
lew hours notice they called a meeting Of The
sress without respect oil paIty
On the night before last the meeting was held
in The Senate Chamber. Considering The Short
ness If the notice, and The near approach Of the
| hoydays, when members were vending their
way home, the meeting was remarkably frii.-
We learn there were siXly-eighl Senators and
REPRESENTATIVES present. Fifteen who were 10 The
civ were absent from unavoidable circumstan-
ces. and were represented by friends in The meet
ing; and most Of the rest were absent from The
civ. Several members who had arranged 10
leave Washington for their homes, delayed their
departure 10 attend the meeting.
The details OF The proceedings Of the meeting
have not anspired; and We understand they
will not until they ale officially published. We
learn. however, that General Me!calie, Sena-
ror from Kentucky, was called 10 the Chair; Alr.
Venable OF North Carolina appointed Secretary;
Mr. A,chison of Missouri first Vice President;
and Governor Gayle OF Alabama second Vice
Auer The organization, Gen Bayly of Virgil
mia was called upon By Gen. Foole, one Of the Sc
naie commi,lce, to explain The oblccI OF The meet
ine and 10 present a series OF resolutions, as a
basis of its action, which, al The request oil mat
committee, he had prepared. Mr. Stephens oil
Georgia moved 10 relet Them TO select commit
Ice composed OF one member from each cl the
| SlaVenoIQlnS o1aesi "uieo o
ot the whole subject, and report 10 future meet
inc Amounted to be held The 18Th Of JANUARY
We regret we are unable TO procure copy Of
Gen. Bayly's resolutions. They will not be pub,
lished until the official proceedings are given TO
The world We learn they are OF firm and dc
c;ded bnl conciiaory character. They ask moth
inc Tor The South but thai its rights shall be res
pec,ed; but lhey express firm determination le
defend and protect these rights al all hazaIds, as
The only means of preserving the Union. strong
appreciation, as we are told, was e@Pfesseo u
them BY The meeting.
We also understand lhatlher was great har
mopy. A very Tree exchange OF opinion TOOK
place: but in The final resolution which was adop
led there was perieet unanin;'ty.
We repeat, as friend OF The Unlon,-as an
American-as friend OF political liberty through
ont the world we beg The mad fanatics wht
would, thus early in lis voyage, wreck Inc arr o