Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-07-10

speech arc all made win MT. Calhoun. His
denunciations nre ali for him. He ridicules him
he maligns him-~lihont stint or remorse =
He mentions no other signer OF the Southern
Address by rame at all. He glances, TO be sure
fullvely, and almost as il by pure sccident, once
or twice, al those who united with the draughts.
man Of the address, ia the acl OF subscribing il
but affects TO recognize every mothers son oil them
mere followers Of sort OF iGOliZed political
leader. His reason for adopting this particular
course is obvious enough he imagined that there
yet lurked in lhespublic mind remnant oil that
once prevalent prejudice against Mr.. Calhoun
as The e1poundcr Of notification; and supposed
that II he could manage 10 connect our move
ment la3 winter with the noted measures oil
state resistance adopted by South Carolina a
few years since, his triumph in the contest which
he has sought would be quite an easy one Be-
sides, b. bad but little right 10 expect that Mr..
Calhoun would come into the arena at ell with
such an antagonist as himself as he is well
known very seldom indeed TO notice any thing
which chances TO fell from Mr.. Benton in the
ienaie, and 10 cherish for him only a scntimen;
of unreasonable contempt BY cautiously avoid
/ lug any special allus;on 10 other signers Of the
address, he expected 10 be able TO assail them
thus indirectly, without atfordng them preleXt
for retalang lis hostility 1 regret 10 feel
compelled 10 disappoint this anticipation OF i'm,
purity Representing, a, ! have the honor in
part 10 do, a valiant, a patriotic and Union
loving constituency constituency who, upon
all questions which involve the honor Of The M.
ton or their own domestic security, arc united
to a man-a constituency firm, discreet, enlight-
enei who
.'--------Thelr Quite, know,
But know their rights, and, knowing dare maintain,
Prevent The long aimed blow,
Aud crush The iyrant when they rend the chain"
Achns by he authority al such a constituency,
in 4 high place, dare not prove recreant before
their enemies, or patiently permit my standing
aGl good latin rs lrus;ed tuncionary 10 be cali.
ed in question iy any lrfa;ed and presumpIuDns
tcmagueue that has ever yet cursed The republic
win his presence
respect Mr. Calhoun very highly, and believe
that lev better, pufer, ..nd more patriotic men
have ever lived On earth; but whilst ! am not
ashamed 10 acknowledge my high reverence for
his mind and character am nc, afraid Of being
regarded by any man who knows NE as his obse-
quious follower A lew days will determine,
whether he who has been set forth as our leader
may not, IN spite IL his known aversion 10 con-
t;oveIsial slre, aud The feeble Stale Ul his physi
cal health, prompted ty lh- peculiar penis OF The
hour deep II. swelling sense II long accnmulal-
IN. wrongs and this lasl wanda ic outrage upon his
feelings AMI character, snatch The sword ol ven
eeancr from the scahbard where il leposes, ard
WELD il with oianps strength Tor The destruction
81 such monsters rs have seldom appeared in lie
world since The old days o! Mythical rcnovn,
I'erruplt Acieronta HsrGuisus labo,;
until he shall consider his assailants worthy o'
death al his own hands il would iil-become one
wholly uncommlssioned loT he purpose 70 PIE
~, = | hal no
myself 10 points which Involve alike The honor
ui al! who subscribe the SOulhtIn Address. what
are Inc cilcum stances connected with The origin 81
ms nuch-censured document They are easily
5 ! ed and easily compfeheLied. Lei il De- borne III
M I'd, ina, when The meeting or convention Of The
Southern members OF Congress was he'll! IN The Ca
puol last winter variou, asgressions OF most Sc
IUu> character had from time 10 time been cum
mllrd upon he peculiar institutions OF The south;
raphic ,.:llnealion Of which will be found IN tne
address itseii These agg fesSIpns must have been
most serious and alarming. a. all will adciil ha !
lhe Culiases peIpe,raieS hin lev years past
nave teen srusser and more vi'al than any here
luiyre complained Of and since u! Is facr, also,
that so eaiIy a The year 1880, MI. Benton hin'
SET who nov has the etfrontcTy 10 declare. in ms
Jefferson Cry speech, that ne has seen 10 dan
ger - me slave properly Of any STATE in THIS
uuon from the action OF Congre.s !" then, nine
teen years ago, ia his speech on Foues resou.
lions, ageued, with every appearance 81 dslbei a.
lion that the passage o! a genera emancipation
laW by Congress was not only "by no means I'M
prohaple," but ION The contrary absolutely cer-
tain in The event OF ne success 81 certain mca-
.ures hen on foot" When We held our meeting
in The Sena,e Chamber, a resolution had been in
iroduced into me House Of Representatives, Ihe
uhlecl OF which was 10 repeal all acts or parts ol
acls which recognize the existence OF slavery. OF
which antnoriz. the Selling Or disposins OF slaves
IL he District OF Columbia; and almost enough
yoles had been cast in support oil this resolution
10 carry il lriumphanliy through.
At This period, also, resolution had passed
lie House, by vote of l07 10 81 instruc;ing The
Committee on Territories forthwith 10 repor'
bills providing tor the exclusion u slavery rom
California and New Mexico. This had been
followed up by bill pr3yi!ing Tor The akng Of
The votes vi The inhabitants OF The District o. Co
umbia, inclusive uf slaves and Tree negroes, up
on Tic question whether slavery shoull not bc
abolished therein. A resolution had passed the
House, By a vote OF 90 10 50, directing the Con-
m,;;ee for The Disrict oi Columbia 10 rcpcrt u
bill a, soon rs practicable, p!ohibiting The SLAVE
ra,le in said Dlsiricl. Upon MI these several
questions much exciting debate had occuHcd,
and The language OF reproach and menac" ha'
been freely and hercrly employed by cerlaiG
abaiIiion members. Various new recruits, also,
hal in the progress Of these lransaction> te:n
seen 10 take their stand anil ihe ranks y on
enemies Mr. Benton affecls IL think Thai there
was nothing in the least degree alarming N lhi>
slale OF thing; though, repeat, he had expressed
ri, Tears OF the passag. ii general e;nancipa
| sion Law by Congress Is early a 1881; yea
| raj asserted mat The passage OF such 4
] Jaw was absolutely certain IN The event 81
lxlt .
The meeting lid not agree with Mr. Benton. We
saw DANCES in The musl appalling form, aban
| rs AMI arouai u, aud ,na, tnsrc vas ansolnc
necessity for looking al Gree to our o.n saie''
! ana that al our constituents. We believed hr
| Union itself 10 be in imminent peril ana We -
solved - do all in oar power 10 preserve y io"i
| destruction. The meeting which mas oceh ~
/ much denounced was accordingly cohVoheu. ~
! secrecy whatever was observed or en]oineu: on
| ne coniray, lhc utmost publicity was souSh' 10
| be given 70 ihe whole afdif.
MIR. Benton asserts in his Jefferson CITY speech,
| that our meeting was gotten up by Calhoun.
| slate Lient more giounjless Could mol nave oeeh
| hazardcri. 81 lar as know or believe, Mr. Gal
| houp had no parlicipancy whatever in getting NJ
ms particular meeting; nor do | believe that he
knew il vas 10 be assembled until most OF those
| whose presence was desired had been already
summoned. gave an account ol this meeting
as 10 lis origin and objects, Inc 23l day oil Re
bruarg last, which no one undertook al The 'iInt
! 10 call in question, and which do MOI believe
| that even the re ioubIable Senator from Missouri
] will ever be rash enough 10 deny in my hearing
In reply to Mr.. Dayton OF New Jersey, who hat
! evidently received some Misrepresentation II
| regard 10 lis character, thus did express my
/ self:
.Mr. President, the honorable Senator IRON
New Jersey permitted several illusions to DROP
from his lips which have induced me TO suppose
that he designed to reflect somewhat upon the
proceedings OF body which lately assembled u
this CITY, called the Southern Convention. NOW
Mr.. President, though can declare, without al
fectation, that / regard myself as among tht
hulnblest of those who participated 10 the De
lberaions of that august assembly; yet, as ha'
a very particular connection with II, and nave
been made, from accidental circumstances, more
the subject of coarse denunciatIon and runan'!
ridicuIe than any other member of it, beg leave
10 ayow mi whole responsibility in his affair
4 n