Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-07-21
RICHMOND, VA.
Saturday Morning, July 2lst 1S49
Mr.. CALHOUN.

In accordance with our intention, minated yes
erday we commence in this days paper, the publ
cation of Mr.. Calhoun's reply to Col. Benton's
speech at Jefferson City. We need not say that its
interest and ability will amply repay perusal by
every reader who is not Indifferent to the course OF
public affairs in republic.
We have already expressed the opinion that Mr.
Calhoun does not make out his case with regard to
the opinion he is charged with having given, as
member of Mr.. Monroe's cabinet, that Congress
has the right to prohibit slavery in territories But
we repeat that we consider it unmportant to the
Southern cause whether he gave that opinion or
not.
As to the rest of Mr.. Calhoun's address, we must
observe that in our opinion, the reader will find the
part personal to himself and Col. Benton, a most
triumphant reply. 1t written with much less re-
serve than most of Mr.. Calhoun's public essays,
and whal appears to have mbibed from the style OF
his adversary not an inconsiderabe share Of that
egottspl for which the latter is eminenty remarkable
With regard the Florida treaty, the Texas treaty
and resolutions, the Indian negotiations and the
Ashburton treaty. Mr.. Cahoun's defence is as
against Col Benton, overwhelming convicting him
consistency and recklessness.
As we remarked Yesterday, the conclusion OF the
address is devoted to the constitutional question in
volved in the Wilmot Proviso and is, in our view,
unanswerabe The reader will not fail to note the
heavy charge, which Mr., Calhoun brings both in the
beginning and close of his paper, against the late adj
minstration and the Democratic party OF the South
which sustained it, when he accuses Col. Benton OF
passing through Congress, when he voted Tor the
Oregon bill the first act IN aohich "the North con-
tended for The absolute right to exclude slavery from
all The territories" All other bills containing the Or
dinance Of 1887, he says, were passed as compro-
misses IN which the South l0atDed the question OF
power; but the Oregon bill, to which President
Polk gave his solemn sanction, was The first 6i1that
euer passed soJey to assert The absolute right Of Con-
gross 10 do as II p1eases When we recolect that
Mr. Calhoun, in order to conciliate Southern sup
porters of Mr. Polk consented to strike from his &C.
LIBERATED Southern Address an assertion similar to
this. concerning the Oregon BILL we confess that we
have little patience with his preensions to being the
GREAT leader and counsel ofthe South. How it was
POSSIBLE for any statesman, with true Southern 10y
alty in his heart, to withdraw such an accusation af-
Ter once putting it upon paper with that solemn con-
vction of its truth which his present defence dis
covers, it is difficult to conceive. We thank Mr..
Calhoun for the service he has rendered cause,
by demonstrating the Illegally and injustice OF the
Wimot Proviso, but we protest against acknowledge
ING him as our most trusted champion.
We regret that we have not room this morning tor
comparison between the elevated ground upon which Gen
Cas stands and the platform on which the Wing party at
1he North have placed Observation-Disclosures OF yeSter-
day.
In the mean time, we can help our neighbour to
some understanding of the platform on which the
Democratic party at the North have placed them
selves by commencing to its attention the following
resolution, adopted by the Democratic Legislature of
New Eampshire-"g glorious New Hampshire" as
she is often called in Democratic papers:
Resoleed That, in opinion, Congress has the con
etutiona power abolish slavery and the slave trade IN
the District OF Columbia and that our Senators be instruct
ed and our Representatives requested to take ~ consltu-
hona measures to accomplish that object
But what is far worse, the Democratic Legisla-
lure of Michigan, which elected Gen. Cass to the
Senate has twice instructed him to vote for the Will
mot Proyiso Which, may we ask, is the better evil
dence of partys creed, the opinion ola member OF
the Senate, or that of the Legislature which elects
him?
Senator Chase of Ohio, whom the Democrats
elected over Thoms Ewing, writes thus in recent
letter:
All the onlens seem suspicious to our dhe Free Soll
cause In some of the free States the entire body Of the old
Docracu adoyts our PLATFORM and rallies aoath us I'M
der the common standard Of the Democratic talth unsut
he'd tg compromise loh oppression In Others numerous
individuals and sections favor our views and are prepared
Tor unon while portions OF the party prompted by various
considerations, still hold back
If perchance the Enqulrer's homiy on platforms
should have been delayed another day, we conJure
TO include in its tender consideration that great
mass of the Northern Democracy which has gone
over bag and baggage, to the Free Sellers, leaving
Gen Cass standing almost solitary and alone on
that unfortunate plank which the Enquirer still faint
" halls in the triple character of "a glorious plat
torn, beacon light and bow Of promise"
Death OF Rev. VIM, A. RoY-We learn, on
The authority of private letter, that Rev WIN. A.
Roy. recently pastor of the Baptist Church in Char
ottesville, died during the latter part Of the past
week. At the residence of Mr. Addison Maupin, in
said town. The disease which terminated the
earthly career of this Christian gentleman was pull
monary consumption, complaint which bad atfict-
ed him Tor some months past
orr BAyx.-The Branch OF the Exchange Bank Of Vir-
ga recently authorized TO be established IN this place,
Of which Dr. ID Trigg was elected President and Mr. X
Preston asher will understand, go into operation
about the 25th inst. Al meeting Of the Directory on
Tuesday last Mr. Jas. K, Gibson was elected Clerk
Al Vrg.