Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-09-25

authority in emergency, which il may De tyranny
10 uprool. Compounded prejudice standing upon
its compromise, is powerful lawgiYer. we
are required TO excuse what may not be JUS NC
The Missouri compromise was accepted ny ne
country near thirty wears ago. Il was thing
done, and carrying within il The great difficulty
Of undoing it, Mr.. Polk followed il. ! am ad-
dressing myself 10 Virginia artIerc'; many Ui
you, the descendants OF those who were ac.o's
and witnesses Of the asiations Of this question,
when i. was first thrown like irebrana into The
temple Of our Union.
The Legislature OF this Communicable al
ways the fierce and firm defender Of he rishls
OF The States, put forth lis power OF resistance. IL
Denounced the authority OF Congress 10 enlarge
its power, by compact with the territories. II
colemnly denied all power in the federal a-'9e!n-
menl 10 touch me question Of slavery any where.
II denied all other power over The territories but
that which The constitution, IN terms bestowed
on ito make all mead vi rules AMI regula>
lions TO dispose OF lis proprietary interest in
Ih.m:" that these needtul regulations or laws,
must bear a relation TO this end, That was "di-
ret, immediate, and dpPfoprtats:' that us
power, 10 this extent, was valid, because 4! was
grated, and that no other power could te va la
bacause ~ ether was granted.
II reiterated the substance Of IN, message 81
nal improvement, in March 1917. Tha,he con~
situion OF the United States had provide, With
in ITSELF The means and process Tor enla ains lis
powers, and that no compact either win Sac
or Territory, could by force OF !nat compac;, m
part a power 10 Congress which was not eA-
pressed in The charter ITSELF ana that 10 establish
any sucn doctrine, was d.sec!ali6n Il ina. M
srumcn which would arm The government
with gigantic race Of Innovations, III der whose
fearful weigh; the Union mus b. crashed, or s
liberties become a victim and a sacrifice. One
OF brr CITIZENS, admired ior his talents and
loved Tor his virtues, whose wisdom We always
ma; ked bv characteristic firmness and ioEb"ai-
aaCe, was The au nor oi tn, r:ot' 81. Chapman
Johuson then her Senator, AM always her lion
ore! sialesman, lent 10 that duty his abi!il! aid
weigh. II wen ior.h a the celebrate sense
o, This ancient ca, Gonweaih. Tie prize ot
lie Sat. WAS atoas d 10 Ehferzy III hat effar 10
di.manile tie sovereignty ol the States Con-
gees i'sclt vas neither uDiimi.ed, nor e repre-
sentative oi al unimiieu sovereignty. l. WAS
Tie qualified agent 10 The extent OF it, delegated
share 10 a government Of defined and limited
powers.
The first proposition to settle this reatenng
contest came from tho North. A member from
New York, WHO had hastily returned TO bis seal,
after leave Of absence for the session, moved
the restriction. As soon as he returned. the
venerable and ,agacious Macon Of North Caro-.
lima. remarked, in prophetic truth, that he had
returned for mischief. A prophecy too quickly
realized. Another member from New York,
(thc late John W. Taylor,) followed the re;tric
ton four days after il was offered, with the pro.
position for tho compromise ultimately adopted
Ambition felt its power and was reckless Of the
result The danger that gathered over the
Union, prevailed over The opinions Of men wise
to their duty, and who had shown their fidelity
TO their country, in the senate and in the 6cd.-
Among the most anxious OF these was Presi-
dent Monroe. The Legislative caucus in yir-
ginia that usually nominated Electors for Pre-
sdenl and Vice President, assembled in The "a
pitol Al this moment, rumor reached The
metropolis, that Mr. Monroe favored tina; COM
pro uiSe-that caucus Immediately deferred lis
aclion-dislrust was IN the wing-enquiry and
Genunciation followed, and for full week tie
caucus adjourned, that ii might deliberate On its
duties 10 this new contingency. Tina! Missouri
compromise was ultimately adopted; positive
RI ssiance 10 il was withdrawn in Virginia, and
the passions of the State were traEqulliZcd by
the conviction that the question was al rest for
ever IL was compromise 10 derogation oil the
Notwithstanding 10 Virginia, in lis offence
10 her dignity and her pride. A spirit of con
cord prevailed over her discomfort, and the lies
Of faith consecraled The act. An eminent cGi
zen Of The commonwealth, (Mr Loigh,) VIXEN
speaking The sovereign voice Of Virginia in The
Senate Of The United States, on kindred lles.
ton, took sensible and approved distinction,
between doing and MdoiEg IL was ihirg
done and not To be unione. Occasion, may hap.
pen where the object is as large as the principle
at least wise men aud vrtuous men have
thought so.
When Mr. Polk placed his snaiure to the
Oregon bill with Inc offensive provision in il
The more offensive, because done in The wan,cn.
ness oil power-he yindicated his conscience by
p:oes;, which speaks lis own opinions. lie only
coniuI;aed 10 the Missouri COMPROMISE. is
ieyiae occasion for a Viru0us an ilrin, and jus.
mind 10 be summoned 10 tn. high dry o! setting
up lis cwn judgment I 5 the Standard ol infaIbIli.
~ especially on occasions which conyuisc eur
fedcral harmony. Thai duty shonit be done, IN
hs face ol all earthly difficulties, IS maxM con-
secrared by ali III. virtues. Blu, VIVA; euloey can
be higher, when lrGy bestowed on a patriot
statesman, than 10 say, that on he page OF his
fidelity TO The Constitution there is just one error
in lie OF public service. The Tear o; he re-
cordng angel would blot i, out, il josce did Lol
iod il as evidence OF the excellence that dislin-
suishea is subject. The lusirc I'll his lie is
marked with single SPOT hat is o! doubtful pro-
pIie!y! LIE; il stand as he Wines 81 his VIRUS.
Ii IS not alien 10 this topic 10 STATE thai, al The
moment in which Virginia submitted wi.hou,
open resistance 10 The Missouri Compromise, she
sent forth her opinions 10 The co.Stales ami that
she then advised, through The trusted sentinel thai
kept watch and wardef IN her tower, That she
would use all possible exeriions 10 reclaim 10 The
use Of The South the territory Of Texas. II had
just then passed into Spanish dominion by Tie
treaty of 1919; and this faithful Common wealth,
through lie columns OF The Richmond EIquifcr
and with the voice oi its editor proclaimed lis
purpose Of indemnify tor his restriction ty The
reclamation OF Texas--a reclamation laal was
accomplished, in The administration OF Mr. Polk,
alter ihc lapse ci quarter oi century.
Toe slavery ones ION brings To b. Southern
mind sDTins-iide OF emotions, Involving all that
is sacrec 10 home and 10 counirv. A dark aud
malisnsnt spirit has arisen wi;hin he Union 10
ovcrcaa, is sunshine Ii is checud b; nn prayer
from The good M / il is animaed by ~ bcs Inc
fem Heaven-h uphots lis own wicke!ncss in
,.efancc o. both Ii declares tina, il will not in
wade The rights OF properly IN The STATES, but VIII
overhrow Them every where Else. One Of the
golden ve.sss OF Pythaeoras teaches Us tina
power and necessity are never lar apar. Our
security is in the constitution OF the Union as
il uas madc-in the absolute dcuial OF all powe.
tor an places and uses, where none was ever
granted Ii his tail, We have redress near 10
Us. The inroads made already on our rights OF
properly, are too visible 10 escape detection and
Indignation. My right Of properly is a deeply
laid IN The affections oi my negro as in his ply
steal ability TO labor. Rob me oil that fidelity
which binds his affections 10 me, and The right OF
property is more Than hal desfoyed-ltc patri-
archal government that doyeiais The Interest oil
ooe passion with The interest oil an lter-'he EN-
derncss OF The mas.er with The fidelity Il he
slave. The poison is conveyed IN whisper; for
the poison 10 the heart passes in whispers. At
ected clemency aud commsscraon grow no
the worst OF crueilies. This malignant, spirit is
alike the ioc TO Heaven and 10 Earth. |! &C.
nounces The judgment OF the law OF God-,hat
law which was delivered when The fame Of he
| Deity sal upon the consecra!ed bush, and iu-
mined without consuming it-that law Of the
Deity, uttered on The lips o! his proEhH AID
| frum The Saviour Of mankind A spirit IS abroad