Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-10-10


gia and Maryland, is decidedly favorable to the
Democrats. and all who will take the trouble 10
investigate and judge for themselves, will find il
to be so.
To tie Editors ofide Enquirer:
When in the city Of Washington, few days
since, met with your paper OF the 25h uimo
| cona lining commentary upon an Addrt IS oil The
Central Commilee OF the Wing party, which
had just then appeared in The Times and Compi-
Ter, OF which your commentary gave me The hrst
notice.
In that commentary, my name is so used, as
10 make ii proper, as it seems 10 me, that
should offer short commentary upon he COM
men,ary, il you will allow me The necessary
space in your paper-as / am sure you will,
from your uniform kindness 10 me.
The objects OF your commentary seem 10 be,
first, TO remark upon my opinion about The war;
aud, secondly, TO show that Mr.. Caskie rendered
me The opening OF The discussion which took
place between him and myself al the African
Church, and declined it,
As TO my opinion OF The war, il is a matter OF
the smallest possible consequence as any mere
ly individual opinion OF mine is except SO far as
il may afford lille capital TO our opponents, be-
cause OF The non-accordance OF the Wings gere-
| rally in IL; and have abslained from obtrudns
that, CT any other opinion OF mine, upon The puo-
lie. have, therefore, made no attemp! TO de-
lend my opinion about the war, or any other
opinion which may entertain, in which my po'
litical associates do not concur, although can
no, shrink from or deny my opinions when they
are referred 10, as hold truth aud fairness TO b"
as necessary in the politician as in The private
man, 10 entle him 10 respect; and entertain no
| opinion which, upon proper occasions am not
ready 10 avow. / stated, therefore, when the
question was put to me by Mr. Caske, that did
not censure Mr.. Polk, as much as others, because
of the march 10 the Rio Gfande. My reasons Tor
the opinion, briefly, are, first, because The annex
alton Of Texas was no just cause OF war-se-
condly, because the Legislature Of Texas had
called upon The Government of The United States
TO protect her against the threatened invasion OF
| Mexico, and the Government was bousd 10 pro-
| lect her-th,rdly, Texas claimed the Rio Grande
| as her boundary. Al The worst, that claim was
doubtful, and preferred thai the Government
should, in doubtful case, 90 little TO lar IN
defence Of a Stale against foreign aggression,
than not go far enough. But beyond The no
Giande there was no doubt, and mere. ihirk,
The war should have stopped, unless Congress
chose 10 carry il farther.
If the war was an unconstitutional aggression
upon Mexico, from The beginning. do not SEE
how we could Claim, or receive, any thing lf"m
her, or hesitate 10 compensate her Tor The wrong
We have done her. But do see how Ihr most
enormous ills have grown and are gro S'rs, ont
vi the acquisition Of her rcrrpry, which would
gladly have any where else than in this UHion,
for believe it will lead TO lis deslroction; and
think see how that might have been avoided BY
more wise and prudent administrator. But
do not suppL.; General TAYLOR because The war
was right or Wrong-I support him because 81
that greatest OF all qualities in hIm-thai spot
! less purity and Lofty and unapP'oachablc in'es
rity, united with indcmi;ahle firmne>s, which
) The gallant and accomplished Gen Ptr>lior r.
Smith 80 beautifully describes in his letter; be-
cause OF the emnently wise and Republican
; views which he enleflains IL the relative rights
and duties Of Congress and The Executive; be-
cause he is a Southern man with Southern leel-
lngs, with heart large enough Tor all sec ions
and head equal 10 all emergencies because he
will come into The government, 10! to prescribe
gond nen-nGt TO reward friends or punish enc
mics, bu, To deal Justly with all whp are able,
faithful and pattio ic AMI as,, bit no. least, BE-
cause h. scorus TO be President OF patty merely,
when his oath Of Office binds him u his country.
! and relies upon The country and the Constitution
and not clique or jun,o lOr inspiration and au-
thoiIy. Is there any Inconsistency between my
opinion OF the war and support OF such man
Now, as 10 my declining the opening, which
Mr.. CaSkie, in conversation rather playfully,
courteousy rendered me, on the Cay OF the dis.
cusson; did decline, not because | would mol
\ IL
and the matter was under my control, but
because, as stated, an hour was mol sufficient
time for an opening uron all The topics 10 he dis
cussed, and because had no control over The
arrangement which had been made without
, any consultation with me by a committee. My
reply 10 Mr.. Caskie was therefore shaped neces-
sarily by his opening hence | did NOT discus
the Virginia Platform" except so far rs j, wa
involved in The discussion OF lha Nicholson letter
u 70 81. Ila
Caskie and should certainly moi decline an ir-
vitation ~ examine The "Virginia Platform" with
him, and although not skilliul architect by any
means, to take The responsibility OF "openlns'
with my crude notions OF is structure, and lis
adaptation To The uses OF Gen. Cass and his parry
Very respectfully, your friend,
JAMES LYONS.
The above letter, which we insert with plea.
sure, should have appeared some days since, but
) was delayed on account of the temporary ab
sence of the Senior Editor We insert it now
most cheerfully, though il must be acknow-
lodged that Mr.. L. travels out Of the record, TO
pay glowing tribute to General Taylor, MIR
Lyons no-party candidate, to whom we made no
reference in our commentary referred to by
Mr. Lyons. 1t is natural that Mr.. Lyons should
imagine his idol, General Taylor, TO be the
greatest and the best-but such general and
sweeping compliments cannot satisfy us, nor
will they satisfy the South, of the existence oil
that "indomitable frmncss" of this "Southern
man with Southern feelings who is so "frm, "
that he allows Corwin in Ohio, and Truman
Smith in Connecticut to show letter profess
sedly from himself, declaring him to be in favor
Of the Wilmot Proviso and yet writes lei.
ter, of totally different character: to DR. Pan
Mill Of Orange, to be used coyertly to secure
votes in the South. We say nothing here Of
the glazing inconsistencies and yaclations of
General Taylor, as developed in his multilarous
correspondence; his no party attitude at first,
and his subsequent and final surrender" TO the
Wings at their "nationa slaughter house in
Philadelphia; his declaration that he would not
be candidate in case Mr.. Clay should be no.
minated; his subsequent reply to the Repubi
cans Editors, that he would be candidate at
all events, whether Mr.. Clay or any one else
should be the nominee and his final abandon
ment Of this "immutable" position, by author
izing his friends at Philadelphia TO submit his
claims absolutely to the Wing Convention. II
all these rapid mutations indicate an "indomi-
table frmness" in General Taylor, we can only
say what the Barnburning Globe of New York
said of the effect of Fillmore's humbug Gayle
letter upon The Wings OF The South, that our
friend, Mr.. Lyons, is Every easily satisfied
Nor shall We here discuss the "eminently wise
and Republican views" Of General Taylor,
which amount 10 a virtual violation Of the Con-
stlulion, by emnscula,ing it of one of lis most
salutary principles, and thereby surrender,
boand hand and foot. 10 a factious and ruthless