Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-07-24
sssTSE RICHMOND ENQUIRER

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nutes as lie dividing line between ,ne mes, srA b..
holding and non slaveholding STATES, uia~n ~
tween lhe Western boundary Of Inc 2'ast ;s =
Missouri aLd The Western boundary Oh LUZ -
ana. These resolutions he says ne ooeysu
letter and spirit, when, in fac', ne nhs Ter.
violated them by his vote icI Inc orssou
ri!oral bill, p. ohibiling slavery in INA, ,e. ,oo
without any compromise annexed; anu 'nn., IF
10 assert The principle 81 nnlin'iieo PoUel
Cor sress over The territories, and 10 open aeh.
sncs If all compromise. lie calls thai bill hs
proyiso; and we'll he may, 10! be Pas.ed l. "n.n
was N his power 10 defeat il. very lew
remarks will suffice 10 show that nave 1"' ~
pressed myself stronger than uu ~aIlams'
The first resolution assef:s, "thal t,ie pee
harmony and welfare OF our National ohiou ue
pend upon strict adherence 10 me 'e 80 a.,
shirt OF The Missouri compromise, auu 'le iAss
ins,ructs their senators and Representative ~
vote in accordance with its provisions auu sp..m
ON all questions which may cope w IT,
them in relation 10 The organization VI wv
riories or States, cut Of territories now pe.ons 10
10 the United States, or which neieaNei H ,,n ~
ACQUIRED" No instruction coul1 DC more 'a" ~
explicit, or assign stronger motives loi ooey,ns
hem especially 10 one protesting SO great &C.
vo,ion 10 The Union. There IS no m''a n ,.. ~
meaning. He is instructed u vote ios aiI ol'Is ~
reference &c The territories which may eoh.o.' ~ -
The l.ler and spirit OF the Missouri coMpIoia'sII
and against al that do not; that IS, 10 Vo'e ~. an
ina, extend The line westward from us ,c'Hin.'
on Inc western boundary OF Texas, Tor tha' Is us
e,,rr: aud 10 secure 10 The South mat portion OF
Inc territory living on The southern sue Oh 'ie
linz as efTecualiy as that compromise uiu III
fact all the territory which lay on inc sou'helh
side and TO vote against all bills mat o'a no', ~
nd
that is meant by lis spirit. There was goon iea-
son 10 pal in esprit" Tor u was unoels'ouu 'nsn
,hst The doctrine began TO be ofoacheu 'nal Tue
,aws nj Mexico abolishiEg slavery would con-
,,nns in force. unless they were repeated, il not
n,srenlet ty sumo effeciuaI guard. No addI-
,f;,ral remarks can make his disobedience more
o,sar. and he now stands condemned Tor dis.
oheyine The instructions OF his legislature, which
no himself praises, and which he DOES not even
nrelcnd 10 charge with dsunion.
| notice, in the progress oil this commnnlca-
linn that COL Benton evinced unusual stlIcIlude
IA coricund The Missouri compromise, and all
| o.h.r compromises of the kidd, With The Wllmol
nfoyso. | attribute il, 10 part, TO a desire 10
.c,een himself from The odium Of having voted
tor the Wilmot proviso by contonnding II with
4 other measures that were lar less offensive; bul
| | said that there was another more powerful
reason, which would Be explained IN The sequel.
Ths, reason was 10 shelter himself, II possible,
| AGAINST The charge oil violating instructions, which
he acknowledged 10 be above exception. II nc
rouli posslbly establish that The Missouri CON-
nromi.e and the Wilmot prorso were identical
| &c he would have his constituents believe, TO obey
Inc one would be 10 obey the Other. But have
shown that was impossible, and thus ne IS lei
wilhou, The possibility Of escaping The charge O
disubeying Them.
With lew additional remarks | shall close
this lcag Communication.
Colonel Benon assigns devotion 10 Tho Uninr
as his II olive for taking the course he has; and
nv implication, charges yours as being The sidt
OF disunon, and his and The aboliionis.s that 0
nm on. 10 this he buI follows The example 0
all who have betrayed you, or intend 10 betfal
You. Il Is SO common hat il has become notoIl
Gus that strong profession OF attachment to IN!
Union. ard condemnation Of what is called lh'
violence and ultraism OF The South, accompanied
by a volley oil abuse OF me, aud the absence OF al
censure or condemnation Of your assaans, arr
certain signs that he who ullers them is ready L
seize The first opportunity 10 desert your cause.
70 these designs may be added abolher-ar
appeal 10 ha. portion Of The Farewell AtdIes:
of The Father Of his Country, quoed BY Col
BENTON. under circumstances which make its ap
pIjcalion apply 10 YOU and moi 10 those who as
sail YOU. | respond 10 every word il contain:
with a hearty amen. Il is indeed deeply TO be
depored that parties should ue designated BY ee
ooraphical position aud regard whatever party
or individual may have caused Il as deserving
OF public reprobaion. But 10 AVOID eeosraphi
cal designation Of parties. il is indispensable
,hat each section OF the Union should respec
Ina rights Of The others, and carefully abstain
from violating them. Unless that is done, il vii
he impossible to avoid il; aggression will an6
ought TO lead 10 resistance on The part oil thost
, whose rights are lrampled upon aud safely en-
danpered Sectional assault on one sidc anc
sectional resistance on the other cannot fail tt
, lead 10 sectional designation ct parties. The
blame and responsibility righifny falls on Iht
, eov,on Thai as.ais, and not ihat which lcpels as
sauls When thai is in the present case ad
mis- of no dcabt. Thc Sou'h has been on The
. defensive Throughout, and borne ind'gni-
ties and eLcroachmens en- lis rights anc
safely with Q patience unexamplcd, and ye
+ sh. is basely charged with disunion, and The
North laudrd as lis advocate. We must learn &c
disregard such unfoundsd and unjust charges, anc
| maniully do cur duly, 10 save bo.h the Union
| and ourselves, il il can oe cone consistently with
our equally and our safety and il MOI, 10 SAVE
ourselves at all events In doing so we should
bu, follow The example Of our Washington in The
great Struggle which severed the union bstScer
The colonies AMI The mo'her country. He was ar
decily attached 70 lnat Il'oh, Shrugged "a'n :.
preserve il by resisting The Entertainments Of Par
iiamen: 10 The old and established rights and PiiVi
l.ees OF The colonies but The folly AMI infaiuaioI
| Of Parliament, and the vile Vaccinations o. TO
ries among ourselves, rendered all his efforts anc
.hcse OF the patriots OF his day unavailing. TR'
world In VS. The consequence. My sincere pray
er is that these who are encroachng on ou
rishls-rlehls essential 10 our safety, and moIt
soemDly guaranteed than those OF the colonies
NAV. as we'll for their sake as ours, profit ~ tht
example. JOHN Y. CALHOUN.
FoRr HILL, JCLY S, l649.