Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-05-30

10 lime by The administration oil pubic AFFAIRS,
would be 10 our eternal loss, make US unworthy
of The gratitude oil The nation, and sam the iiles
ACQUIRED in 1921 The Constitutional Govern
ment which is about 10 be established, and Inc
dniss of which will be discharged py cillzen
distinguished for his virtues and beloved oy DIS
compairioIs, will second our Efforts, ana al inc
same lone give character 10 Inc ha'ion. 10 ~.
suggest such measures as in his opinion shouu y.
adopted to inspire general confluence, whuou'
which there can exist neither union nor true II
bery.
So far as concerns myself, have but li!lle 10
say, because The policy OF the Government, IN the
circumstances which il had been obliged 10 en-
counter, is known 10 all. | have respected inc
institutions of the republic, and sustained Them
against the revolutionary spirit by which 'hey
have more than once been threatened. nave
prosecuted no one and nothing mas oeeh idl'Hel
fIuul the course Of my administrator thah '"e
adoption OF measures against political opihioh.-
have initiated and concluded peace anu 'he
Republic, which, upon the occupation of inc ca
pi,al, seemed destined TO a complete dissolution
and 10 prolonged war, has neither lost us UNITY
nor The hope OF a lasting and durable reorsanIza-
lion.
II, Notwithstanding my ardent wishes and anI-
iev il has been impossible 10 AVOID the evils con-
seQuent upon the invasion, the misery and wretch
edness which The invaded Safes have suffered, II
is moi The fault of the existing Government, but
results from circumstances and from Inc nature
of The war itself But with or without this ann
have accomplished the Plan which proposed
to follow on assuming The reigns OIL government
10 save the nationality oil The country, ana ~
preserve, faithfully and scrupulously the nation
al institutions which invested me win inc power
hold. consider myself fortunate lhat 10 lne
4.
10 summon you oge;ner and quietly 10 commit 10
your keeping The trust confded TO me. II the &C.
yernment has not been rue-i the present cIsis
demands any other resolution Than II has indica-
ted, the fate OF the Republic is in your hands and
il belongs to you 10 save il. The pressing
importance OF the business which you nave AS
sembIed TO consider should address i;sell 10 you.
The freedom OF your deliberations will be
respected and sustained TO the last extreme, and
the Governor will consider every one as 'ral-
tor to the nation who, in any manner, or oy
whatever means, shall endeayor TO excite spirit
of dissolution, or attack the freedom OF the le.
gisa!iye body. The words, war and peace, will
be listened TO BY the Observation-Disclosures Its
opinion-with all that respect TO which the
worthy representatives of the Republic are ent'.
tied. The Government considers the treaty OF
Guadalupe as a subject Of general and trans
cendent Importance. The quallHcallohs winch
may be made in it, will be the result OF that 81
versity Of opinions into which the citizens OF
every free State are divided. The Government
in adopting il and transmitting it to the Cham
bers, has looked upon it as measure t'ul,
honorable for the country, after all her IN sior-
tunes, but that judgment is submitted by the
constitution TO the tribunal of the peoples re-
| representatives.
| Gentlemen: You are chosen and assembled
under circumstances in which public opinion
cannot be misled. There is no chance for de
ception among the people, when they labor with
the noblest impulses and desires, to solve The
great question Of their own salvation. II in or
binary cases Congress is the legal and most re-
spectacle organ Of the nation, it more than ever
this day realizes the appropriateness OF the title,
in consequence Of the condition TO which things
have arrived, and also the unfettered freedom
which has prevailed in the elections. The CON
fdence with which you have been honored by
your compatriols, deserves unmerited recon
pence-hat of saving The Republic. And, gen
tlemen, you will save it, because, being citizens
of honor and integrity, your labors viii be bless
cd by Providence. 1 hare spoken.