Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-07-20

construciionist, ant vet have wiiten that Letter
with perfect consistency, simply because all ii
does is 10 decline being present on that occasion
The letter 10 Mr. Nicholson examines and denies
lhe power OF Congress 10 Pass Inc Wilmnl Pro-
ysu. and endeavoIS 10 show Thai lhal measure
would be incxpcdient and unnecessary, even il j,
were constitutional. This is its exienl. There
is not 10 il, from beginning 10 end, orc wclL 60.
ing 10 show my opinion was hat slavery would
be established cic, or my wish that il should b..
esta blished there. All This will surprise many
good men who yet retain The impressions lhey re-
cevei during period oil excitement, and which
they gained from The press, too ol;en pursuing is
object without regard 10 the highest cuasI!cra-
tions OF Justice. Lei him who duabs what say
on The subject Of these lellcrs, turG 10 Them aud
read lor himself 10 The law and 10 The leslimo.
ny
will now ask Mr.. Greclcy-ior respeci his
candor- what has my elter u a gentleman who
invited me 10 attend The Chicago Convention, TO
do with my oriLicns upon the SIT i.cl ni inter.
nal improvements | was asked 10 attend Iha,
convention; and that was all was asked. an
swefed Thai should rot attend; and hat was
all answered And yet his answer. as Fave
stated was circulated from ore end Ct The Uai2n
10 Ire other during The lalc presidential cohfs as
conclusive evidence CT my hostility 10 any i'm
provemenl by thr general governor NJ, be tic
character Of The object what i might. had sup
posed the device had serve! i, purpose. an was
among The things ,ha! have bcen. LitIle dill |
anticipate that = man c! NJ. Greeley's iaelli-
gence and reputation Tor integrity would revive
This exploded charge, and would refer 10
that elier as furnishing any index 10 my
sediments on this satjcci, or any ground 10 COD.
v!ct me OF inconsistency 10 my acts or opinions
did not 90 10 the Chicago Convention, because
did not think any god would result itcm lis
laboIs. ! did mol believe, nor 60 now believe,
that such bo1ieF, in periods of political excitement
perhaps, indeed, ct any peliod-ei her bv The
concentration Of public opinion or By The d Il ison
oil information, Can lead 10 any useful p!aE u ac-
lion. Invited as the members ct TIA, coETenlica
we're, ttcm every portion o! The Union, the sphere
of opera i'm was tar TOO extensive t5r wise ami
cautious deiibera;ion and decision. ThcTc were
loo many in ercs.s involved. If general pFrrcsi.
tons OILY are 10 be laid down in such coEve.,-
lion. the object is DO! worth the tfor, for in he
divided state Of The public mind upon he quct-
lion, whatever platform might b. sdoplcc, he
opinion of parties, and Centrally OF Individuals.
would remain The same.
ia general plan OF operations is to be prnro,ei
anc pressed ufon Congress, The cblec iobs arc
paIpa5Ie and grave. The members are under
-
country will have us own objects 10 attain, these
must be attained b. concessions 10 the ubjects oil
others and The result will iurnsh evidence OF
mutual Spiri, OF accommodation, rather than
cautious regard Tor the general interest. Such an
assemblase is a very different lhins fIoi0 the al.
tempt 10 concentrate option and action IL !aVcr
Of any improvement affecting particular ror.
ton OF the Tn on whe.c there is comG.uniiy
Of Information and interest, aud where here IS no
we.h hing OF one project against another, nor any
sacrifices 70 insure The desired result.
And an fuIly confirmed in ny previous an
licipalioEs concerning The Chicago Convention.
ina 9 ine the frs: man is yet 10 &c found who
viii venture 10 say that any advantage has rc.ul-
ted from lis labnrs.
Bul had ytlanother reason for declining 10
attend thai convention. did rot like lis origin
The earliest notice oi il which saw was con.
nected with The names OF some wel!-known
wings, prominent politicians OF the city OF New
Yolk; and believed, and have yet no reason
10 doubt That one great ohject was 10 injure the
democratic party by taxing Advantage oil the ex-
cnenent which pfevaii,i IN certain portions Of
tic Unity in Consequence Ct the failure Of Two
successive Internal improvement bills. An !
have since understood, though cannot vcuch iof
tac fac, that such vas The ac.ual intention, aud
that the proceedings OF The convention would
have assumed party character, and been di &C.
lei 10 this object, hal no! lie design bsen ifus-
Iraed by the i.mness Of the democratic mem
bcrs.
Now, Mr. Greeley will understand why did
not attend this convention But cannot Under.
stand why he seeks my opinions On this question
in mi letter, which 10 wholly siien. on the sub
jec,, and nc! in ny speeches aud votes in the
Senate OF tie United States
Eminent Wig politicians whom could Damc,
but that il would he invdous 10 do so, were in
viicd 10 attend tho Chicago Convention, but
neither answered nor attended. thought il due
TO the gentleman who invited me 10 acknuw
ledge his attention, and did so. Aad this act OF
courtesy, which constitutes the only difference
between myself and others, has tc2a mado the
text book whence my opinions arc TO be detuced,
and by wh;2i 1.y Inconsistency Is TO DO proved.
en- The question of The power Of The United States
over tho subject Of internal improvements, my
sentiments are in accordance with those of the
great Democratic party, and are fully EXPRESSED
in the resolutions OF the Baltimore Convention.
In the words Of one C these resolutions, ] be-
licve "iaat The constitution does not confer on
the general government The power 10 commence
and carry on general system OF ialernal I'M
provcmcnt," aid no man living has the .l.;nl tn
gainsay this assertion Ra; 1t Inc same time |
have never :.:spLied the right oil Congress TO i'm
p,oge some OF the great hafbors and rivers and
lakes Of the Union, national il their ctaractCr,
and important TO The commerce, and some OF
them 10 The defence Of our country. While the
Democratic party deny the power to devise and
carry on vast system of operations whose &c.
cu1lary extent DO man can foresee, and what Is
sill worse, whose corrupling influence, as well
in The Legislature as out Of it, caano' DC viewed
bn, with the most seri,us apprehension the great
mai, rity Of that party, indeed nearly all Of it. IS
ad, coated particular appropriations justified W
the circumstances Of position and importance
Almo.; Of The same time that declared my I'D
hesion 10 The resolutions Of the Baltimore Con
venlion, voted with equal gcoi faith ior bills
in The Senate providing for The improvement o.
rivera, and haTboTs aGd iaScs, ana auVoca'ca
their passage Ia ny seat and this Is precisely
the reason why | accuse many oil The Whi, pa
1arsl and politicians Of disingenuousness, or
something worse, in asserting that my Chicago
latter, which contained rot word on Tho sub
jcc,, was proof of my hostility to all The action
Of Congress-, ID the very lace OF my ouic'ai
course and Of my publicly declared opinions :
And nv position was that OF most oil the Fromi-
nent men OF our party VINO, while they held 10
The doctrines Of, the resolutions, held ikeT ;se 10
the power of special legislation, aud Tosed Tor
the same bills. DO no, know, indeed, that
there is single Senator who denies u Congress;
ali power 10 lcsisla,e over this matter Ger
tainly MIR. Calhoun DOES not, who adopts The
wholesome doctrine Of strict construction,
am aware il is difficult 10 draw practical line
a, all time. between objects that ought and ihat
ought not 10 engage tie attention Of Congress;
and / think, therefore, loos:rs 10 the abu=o to
which Tho whole au6jec' is liable mat lho el
fo,! should tc 10 narrow, and 10. 10 enlarge
Tie circle Of power; add -ash Understood TO DO
The views of the Democratic party,
The o.her proof o. iasiaceIity' as have AREA
dy stated, il dawn from The TACT 'ha. in my esf
10 MIR. Nicholson took ground against ine W
moi Proviso, excluding siase'y d iw from Inc
territories and nO~ s:l;sa ha .I " Win Of
,tr,a And Inc wonder is gravel" expressed now
/ could wli,e that lsuet Az lao erer OF three
lines 10 The Chicago Correlation, ant ye' claim
HE character Ct an noGcsl man. Il is mach
nr,yar wonder 10 me- how intelligent edIo's oil