Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-09-08
To tic Editors of The Enquirer.
OnINGc I,nnArY AUGUST o.

j
pie on the subject OF Whigeery. His friends were
vailed on 10 effect division OF lime in order 10
afford the Democrats an opportunity of replying;
but the only satisfaction that could be obtained
was that 'he would give US ill The 7h Of No
vember TO reply" adding that "when he once eol
J under weigh, II was difficult 10 say when he
\ would conclude" He spoke about TWO hours,
complained much OF Folks administration, es-
pecially in regard 10 the Mexican war, his levy
ing contributions on the enemy, &C., and, after
roundly denouncing him as "monocral," took
the ground that as Cass approved of all these OBJ
noIious measures, he was equally unworthy OF
our support for the Presidency. He then gave US
the history OF his own political course, alluded 10
his former high position in the Republican party,
and the encouragement he had received TO hope
that he might one day occupy the Presidential
Chair-beleved that he would be preferred syen
now to Van Buren-lhat he had voted for Van,
but discovered TWO months after his Inauguration
that he could not be trusted, and therefore called
on the people no1o 10 heed his warning voice
against Cass. He said nothing of Gen. Butler.
suppose he does not kno1O him, as the gentleman
seems TO possess The happy facility OF forgetting
under peculiar circumstances. When he con.
cluded, loud and general call was made for Bar.
bour, James Barbour Of Culpeper, a promising
young lawyer who attends our bar,l Barbour"
barbour" was the shout throughout the numer.
Gus assemblage. He responded promptly TO the
call 10 speech OF Two hours length. As he pro-
| gressed the uneasircss OF Mr.. Rives and his
friends became more and more apparent, until
such was the effect OF The many hard and we'll
directed blows dealt BY the youthful orator that
THE little e1punger," II am sorry 10 designate
him thus especially as il is said that he now
desires TO expunge he crpunge) actually request
ed what he and his friends had just refused-time
10 replyi repeated again and again that "he did
not know The young man" and demanded, as an
acI OF courtesy, 10 be allowed 10 respond. There
was lime when Mr.. Riyes enqured "who is
James K. Polk7" after serving with him many
years in Congress. But The people knew him,
and responded by elecing him President OF the
United Sates-and The pscple know young Bar.
bour, and il is probable now that Mr.. Rives will
not soon forget him, unless he should hereafter be-
come candidate Tor The Presidency-n which
event ne may possibly share The fate of Mr..
Polk, so far as Mr.. RI me mory is concerned.-
The request was, however, referred 10 The people,
who decided against Mr.. R-some referring,
''take until The 7ih OF November 10 reply" He
look his seat, but finally after much apparent
uneasiness and dissatisfaction, held sort OF ca
hinet council with bis friends, and, when young
Barbour concluded, did not reply
But, what astonished us most in Mr. Rives's
speech, was his bold attempt To eulosize even
Fillmore-a name 80 odious TO all parties in Vir.
ginia, that no Wing orator in this district, so far
as am informed, has been willing 10 risk his po-
pularEy so much as 10 obtrude it. unes, pro-
voked 10 do so. "Oh no, we never mention him."
is the policy Of the whole party, and Mr. Rives
has The high honor Tor deep nfamy) OF being the
first TO polule our ears with his praise. And
what has brought Mr. r. 10 such a taskl Has
he, in common with the whole Wing party de-
serted all its cherished prnciples7 II is remark
able, that, in the whole course VI his speech Of /
two hours length, not The slightest allusion was
made 10 bank, protective tariff, distribution in.
terna Improvements, or bankrupt law. Does he |
consider slavery 'moral, social and political |
evil, OF such magnitude as 10 Justify his support
ing for The second Office in the gift of the nation
arank AbolitionisI- his descending from bis
high position as Virginia gentleman. TO sort
and con,ort with such men as Slade, Giddings, |
Salstonstall, and the Infamous Corwn! No one |
who will take the trouble to examine his votes |
on the subject, as recorded in the journals of
Congress, can doubt for q moment that Fillmore |
is an Aboliionst of the most dangerous stamp,
as was most abundanlly proved by Mr.. Barbour.
have compared Mr. s statement, read 10 US
10 day, taken with his own hand from The Jour.
nails Of Congress, with the proceedings of the
House of Representatives, as reported in Niles
Register, volume So. pages 25l, 252, 253, 254
and 255, and find they correspond; and they show
that on the Atherton Resolutions Fillmore, 10
every instance, with single exception, voted
with the Aboitionists. In the first place, he
voted in minority of &c to 1873 against sus-
pending the rules to allow the introduction Of
the resolution, in company with Adams, Corwin,
Giddings, Saltonstall and Slade
I'd. On putting the main question he voted
nay, in company with the same Individuals
[ The first resolution which he voted TOR afhrns
the doctrine OF his Gayle leterl
Sd. The second resolution reads thus ere
solved, That the petitions for the abolition Of
slavery in the District of Columbia and the
Territories Of the United States, ald against the
are part Of the plan of operations set loot TO
affect the institution Of slavery in the several
States, and thus indirectly to destroy that insti
luton within their limits" Fillmore voted
against this resolution in minority Of 81 TO
1874, along with Adams, Corwin, Gddings, Sal
Ionstall and Slade.
4th. The third resolution is as follows: "Re.
solved, That Congress has no right to do that
which it cannot do directly; and that
The agitation OF the subject OF slavery in the
District OF Columbia, or the Territories, as
means, and with view of disturbing or over
throwing that institution in the several States is
against the true spirit and meaning of the Con-
'titutioD, an infringement of the rights of the {
States affected, and breach ofthe public faith {
IN which they entered into the Confederacy."- I
Mr. Bond asked for division, so as to take the \
'ote first that portion of the resolution in the
ollowing words: "Resolved, That Congress has c
10 right to do that indirectly, which il cannot a
10 dIrectly;' and Fillmore voted nay in mi. !
lority of 80 against ITO, in company again with
lis steadfast friends and associates, Adams, Gid.
ng,, Slade. &c. Thus affirming the infamous !
octrine, that Congress has the right to do that
Indirectly, which it cannot do directly. J.
5th. The vote was then taken on the remainder OF =
ne third resolution, and Fillmore is again found ),
q the negative, in minority OF 80 against I64,
ill voting with Adams. Giddings and Slade.- :
'hus affirming shat The agitation OF the sub
'c of slavery in the District OF Columbia, or The
,rrories, as means. and with view OF dis.
irbing or overthrowing that institution in the ).
eral States is not against the true spiri! and \
leanng OF the constitution, or an infringement y
the rights of the States affected, or breach
public faith, on which they entered into the :.
,niederacy." $
9th. The 4lh resolution reads thus Resolved, y
That the constitution rests on The troad principle ,,
equality among the members of the coniede- -
ICY, and that Congress in The exercise OF its &C '
nowledged powers, has no right TO dscriminae !,
,tween the institutions OF one portion OF The ~
Iaes and another, with the view of aboishing :; =
e one and promoting The o,her." This resolution ~
as also divided, and the vote taken on The first :.
anch 10 the following words: Resolved, \,
hat the consultation rests on the broad y
nciple of equality among the member, of this r
and here Tor the first time Fill =, ~
ore paris with his old associates, and votes aye. W
Ut on The second branch OF The resolution 10 the rs
flowing words-"And that Congress, in the ex ~ ~
else OF iIs acknowledged powers, has no right :"
discriminate between The institutions Of one \,
rlion OF The States and another, with view OF -
polishing the one and promoting The oher"-he y
again true TO hi, instincts, and votes against it,
ih his old associates, Adams, Giddnss, Salon q
III nnd Glade in a minority of DC TO lSs ,hae irI
Frming The proposition "that Congress, in The ar
ercise of its acknowledged powers, has the right RI