Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-01-16
kIC il MOND, VA.
Monday Morning, January Is, Is4o.
THE SLAVERY RESOLUTIONS.

TIE oLhfERf RESOLUTIONS.
On Saturday MIR. Conway made strong and
conclusive argument OF more than two hours,
in defence of the resolutions of the Joint com
mitlee and in reply 10 Mr. Scott. Portions of
Mr. C.'s speech were marked by genuine elo-
qlence-all Of it was able and convincing. But,
above all, We admired the fine temper and true
Virginia spirit which he exhibited-they were
in marked contrast with those OF his predecessor
in the debate.
| When Mr.. Conway concluded, Mr. Pitts of
Wheeling got the floor-but the hour being late,
the House adjourned until this morning, when
MIR. Pitts will continue the debate. We had
hoped that the vote would have been taken last
week, SO as to give moral force 10 the action
of the Southern members at Washington who
are officially summoned 10 meet to-night. Though
these resolutions have not yet passed, and though
the debate may now continue some days, we
feel fully justified by what we see and hear, in
assuring our friends in Washington that, with
few exceptions the resolutions of the Joint
committee will be adopted by The whole
General Assembly of Virginia. We rejoice
in the belief that, in spite of the despe.
rate efforts OF MIR. Scott 10 give a part,
turn 10 the subject, in spite Of his cunning
and jesuis,ry, he will not succeed in inducing
freemen, acting under high responsibilities AMI
obligations, 10 recede from the elevated and com
mandins position they have assumed. Were W.
influenced by party considerations, we wouIl
wish for nothing more, than that the Wings n
the Legislature should follow the lead II
Mr.. Scott. But higher motives have govern,d
us-we have treated and shall continue o
treat this question as infinitely above party
we have regarded the mass OF the Whig.
as equally jealous as the Democrats iu savin.
Virginia from dishonor and degradation by
disgraceiul retreat, and al The same time securing
the continuance OF The Union Such has beer
our sole objec-and We lake pride in The opinion
that party spirit will be buried; thai, with very
few exceptions, The General Assembly of Vir-
gnia will stand upon The common ground OF ius
lice 10 The South and 10 line Consliiu,ion-and ,ha,
the ffmness and unanmily OF Virginia will
achieve much in uniting the whole Suu.h and
thereby commanding The respcc. and considcra.
ton OF the Northern majority.
THE PRESIDENTS VINDICATIoN.
We do mol know whether any thing more is
necessary 10 place President Polk right before
the world, on The subject OF the duties levied in
the ports of The Mexican Republic, Tor The sun |
port Of our army. But as The Wing press keeps |
up its fire on the President, il is proper that we
should repel The assault by "a little more grape"
and that, Too, from Wing battery The New
York Commercial Advertiser, Wing organ Of
high character and influence, puts forth The FOL-
lowing sensible and conclusive views Mr.. Bous'
resolution having called Tor The "aulhorvy' by
,u,S: ~
awe nto ;,-i.--u = .uIoi mat all Tue
,eedtul Hanlhority" wa. given 70 the President
Nv Congress itself, in The declaration OF war
against Mc1icu-lhe President being the consli-
uiona agent for carrying lha! declaration into
effect. The prosecution Of war is the highest and
most solemn exercise OF national sovereignty. and
carries with il the right 10 employ every means
by The law Of nations for During The
enemy and strengthening the agencies by which
war is carried on. 1t includes The right TO levy
contributions in every shape-whether by duties
on imnorls carried into the enemy territory, d.
rect taxes on the enemy's people, capture OF
ships and towns, or any other conceivable form
Of injury or appropriation. And oil course, the
Executive being charged with the duty OF prose-
cutting the war, upon him devolve both The right
and the duty OF employing all the means inciden!
&c The condition OF belligerency. II Congress
does not like 10 see the Executive employing those
means exercising that right and fulfilling that |
must not declare war; that is all |
aThe action of the President in this matter Is
called usurpation-and perhaps il was so. But
then il was usurpation for limited time and
temporary purpose, made necessary by Inc cir-
cumstances OF The case; and to certain extent
justified by the very neglect OF Congress 10 legis
late uyon the suhieci. ln war there can be no
waiting for specific legislation; things which may
be necessary or expedient must be done al once
The time in which they can be useful may pass
by and be lost forever, il legislation is 10 be IN
voked al every STEP Congress ought 10 have fore.
seen thai military contributions would probably
become advisable in the progress OF The war, and
that dulles on imports into the enemy's territory
might be an effective means OF levying such con-
uibu,ions; with its declaration oil war, therefore,
Congress should have legisa'ed on This SUBJECT
either TO sanction or prohibit the levy and The du-
ties. Not having done So it fell within The duty Of
the President to stake the responsibility" II he
did wrong, the duty oil Congress now is TO pro-
vide agains, any future repetition OF such wrong
doing, not 10 censure The President for acting IN
a case Tor which Congress had not provided"