Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-11-23
Hon. THve. J.. CLisaM.S.
Rerly Of Mr.. Ciiugman IN Mr.. Foote.
cu.v w ,2yl

DEAR SIR ours VI The 10 instant ha'
boen received, in which yol ask mr. own views,
as well as my opinica as 10 what will ae The
course OF the South in either OF The coaiineeu>
cies referred to. Your position as a represen-
taiye ot one ci The States, and the GOES d.ra
tion due ycu personally, merit alike pIomlt
reply
Having on i9rmer occasions given my views
ia detail wi TeiefeGce 10 the whole subj c., il ls
not necessary ioT me Ia 10 3! t.s lime. pro-
cced therefore. 10 give yoa Simply lie general
results ot my Ith'ci:ons.
The Federal Government. because il is he
Government! oil tie United S!ctss, is he trustee
and agent Tor all The STATES and their ciiz-n>-
Every power, Their, tore, which !. can rishliully
exercise II must Of necessity exercise Tor The be
nefll Of III the parties 10 il. The territory OF The
United Safes being The common properly, the
Government is bound 10 administer il as far as
practicable Tor the orneti 81 all ire States Is
we'll as their citizens. A difference, however,
exists among lacm 10 relation To Inc Institute
OF slavery. Nnen Ire Constitution was tarmrd
twelve OF The thirteen Safes were sa yehu!ding.-
That instrument, though i; has clauses express
~ inserted Tor the protection OF the rights and
interests OF Shareholders, contains no provision
for The aboiii OF slavery any where. II The
Government, therefore, can properly exercise such
power in any instance, /, mast De because us
duties as general agent: ac.i3g 30 as 10 meet the
interest," an! views OF lis principals require IT, Bot
Is OF The 80 States of The Union still maintain
he institution OF slavery. l. is obvious there
tore, that The Government could not, consis!ent>
iy with lis powers as general agent, exclude
the shareholders As class fon all participation
ia The enjoyment OF III leffIery OF ihs United
States |: is, on the contrary, lnde! solemn OBJ
legations to respect lhe rights Of all. /. has al
her | urds nd
shown sense OF this obligation. When tie
much ,aked OF ordinance Gas adoped, by
which The ,erri,y north OF Tie Chio River was
made free, all that potion OF country SCUM oil
the river 10 the Gulf OF Me1ro was left 10 be
occupied by Shareholders. When slavery was
abolished in lie northern pan OF the Louisiana
territory, The southern portion, regarded as The
most suitable for Shareholders, was lett 10 be so
occupied. On The annexation OF Texas, when
provision against slavery on The north oi 50
deg. 80 min. was Incorporated. much the larger
and o,ore valuable portion was left sill 10: The
use u siavehoiters.
Bul il is nov proposed 10 adopt Tie policy ci
excluding savrholiers as such, from all the ter,
rit0rv oil the Unud Siaes. This would be- an
en,ire revolution in TIC action Of The Govern ent
"a revolution which could not occur without a
o,al violation o. the spirit AID essence OF The
| constitution. Since those cit'z-ns who do not
| own slaves are permitted 20 occupy every part
| OF the territory OF The Union, il has been
| doubted by many whether he Government
can rish,luily exclude Shareholders iom any
| portion OF The common property. Bat, even II
there should be a power 10 divide The public ter
rory for convenience between The Two classes,
il is PERFECTLY dear that there can he no right 10
er.lud, one class entirely. have heretofore sa
/ tina, should reeald such an exclusion as bel ng
as sr,a, uiolafior i the constitution az The COP
eminent eouh possibly commit. But even il this
action should be viewed simply as an enormous
abuse OF power, il wou'd b. not inc less once
t;onable. The Government hss unlimited power
in relation TO The establishment oil post oince'
throughout the Union. II, however, II were u
uih raw all the post Offices iron the s'aVeno'e
in- S,aes on ,be ground mat he cHizehs u ''os
STATES we're nc; worthy oil he c,ah'snahee dnI
aid # the Government, VIC shou'd have As muc
rsason IN o mna,n at such action as II II III
ynlytd a CLEAR iaiiac'i1n oi itt c!Irf oi 'he CO."
slilu:ion.
In word. nth, G0veinmen, should ADOPT III
,ol;cy al excluding saysholtefs, as such, nov
all the territory ii lie United States, u wou'1
substance and effect ccdie to be tae OousIHms'
of,,e Uail,d Suites Waile The form oil The col
s,i,uion might remain the same, lis charac'e
woui be cssen.iaiy changed.
O,oht The Southern States 10 acGuiesce III u
o,sal organic change in our political systems
oush, they 10 rcraain n MIXERS OF an assee'aI,
which had, in u.les disregard oil pam cons',.'
,;onal guarar,ie>, degraded them from their p'
! :. .' len Of euualnyl As history furnishes no 7
e coid Of any peop.e who have p.o,ps'ed a. u;
,hsv had ,ol!e,le.i their seii.respscl, By suom
lins 10 b. dssrsdci to sIa'e of polHl'si sass
Iaae. / hold i, 10 be III: dry q the sou.ne
). Srales 10 resist his change. Thai resistance,
be effscual, should be commensurate WIN ,
violence OF The attack. This tney owe 10
!, cause of constitutional liberty. 10 lus'ice' anu
l. their own homer
With reference 10 The abolition ot slavery
!. The District OF Columbia, will simply say ID