Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-01-02
Correspondence Of the Baltimore Sun.
W.smS6roN Der 81 lSlS


Mr.. Calhoun's Speech at the 11eeting Of South
e,n Members on the Slareiy Question.
In my letter OF yesterday alluded very briefly
10 the remarks OF Mr. Calhoun, ut the meeting
of southern members OF the Two Houses on Fri
day evening. To day am enabled 10 give you
more elaborate report, which may be relied up
substantially correct He said,
The resolutions OF the gentleman from ViTgi.
MIA (Mr. Bayly) are good, and considering the
length of time which he has hac 10 prepare them
do him great credit; but they ARE not pertecI.
They are defective in several parliculars-I am,
therefore, less unwilling 10 agree TO The mo ion Of
the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Stephens.) An
other consideration strongly impels 10 the same
course. am thoroughly impressed with the
necessity of harmonious and uailed action, both
on our part and on the part of The southern COM
munty.
am opposed, however, 10 loo great delay, and
consequently would prefer that the committee
should report 10 a meeting 10 be held on The 10th
instead Of the 18th Of January. The Legis!a.
lures Of several OF the Southern States are now
in session, and il would be well that our address
should reach them in time TO be acted on by them
before their adjournment.
consider he address indispensable. What
ever action is taken must proceed from The slave
holding States. II The Constitution be violated,
and their rights encroached upon il, il is for Them
10 determine the mode and measure OF redress.
We can only suggest and advise. We are on
the theatre Of aclion-lhe witnesses o! The alarm
ing encroachmenls which have been going on
upon the rights of the slaveholding part OF The
conlederacy-.we See them plainly, we feel them
deeply; .ihey are rapid and alarming; Tor who
believes that propositions which have, within
few days past, com manded The support OF ma
81 tba nj
even three years ago have been tolerated by any
respectable portion OF either House.
We are in The midst Of events scarcely Of less
import than those of our revolutionary era. The
question is, are we TO hold our position in this
conlederacy upon the ground OF equals, or are
we 10 content ourselves with The condition OF CO.
lonial dependence.
Sir. il will be worse than colonial dependence;
for VINO would not prefer 10 be taxed and 60
verned without pretence Of representation, than,
under the forms Of representation, 10 be grievous-
~ oppressed by measures over which we have no
control, and against which our remonstrances
are unavailing. II is undena BILE that The en-
croachments upon our rights have been rapid
and alarming. They mus! be met.
conceive that no Southern man can entertain,
for one moment, the idea OF tame submlssion.-
The action Of The South should be united, lem
perate, but decided-our positions must be taken
deliberately but held al every hazard. We wage
slilution and union and government oi our ia
theirs. We ask Of our Northern brethren to leave
US those rights and privileges which our fathers
held, and, without securing which for their chill
dren, all know they would not have entered into
this Union. These we must maintain.
II appears IL me proper that We, who are here
on the theatre OF action, should address our con-
stluents OF the slaveholding States briefly and
accurately portray the progress OF usurpation
and aggression, viyidly exhibit The dangers which
threaten, and leave il in their hands TO mark out
The proper line Of action. What that should be
il is needless here TO discuss. Whatever il is, it
should be temperate, mild and decided.
Having expressed these views, have to say
that make no objection to the motion OF the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Stephens) to refer
the whole mailer to a select committee, 10 con.
slider maturely and report 10 future meeting
but would rather prefer an earlier day for thai
meeting than the 18th January. am, above al
Tor union, harmony and decision on the part Of
the S nth.
Mr. Pendletons remarks (which were made
some time previously 10 Mr.. Calhounsl are also
understood to have been very sensible and effec-
tive He expressed his general acquiescence in
the resolutions OF his colleague Mr.. Bayly.l He
did not so we'll, however, like the expression il
them "measure OF redress" That seemed TO
contemplate that The South should wait until the
wrongs had been consummaled, and then under
take 10 redress them. lie preferred rather mea-
suIes OF "no!ice and pfecauiion." He was will
ing al once 10 lay down line, and lei their nor
thern brethren know that they must not transcend
il. He subsequently,, however, acquiesced in the
proposition OF Mr.. Stephens
The substance OF Mr.. Foote's remarks was !
am informed that he was ready Tor instantaue-
Gus action, and was willing al once 10 vote on
The resolutions submitted by Mr.. Bayly.
The only point OF difference between the mem
5ers in the discussion, was as 10 whether this
was proper Time for any action. Some held
that The sonlh should wait until the measures
lately threatened should become laws-that they
ought first 10 resort 10 all constitutional means
OF opposition to defeat those measures. II all
these should be unavailing, then the Time Tor Sc.
parale action on the part of The south would have
arisen.
Others held on the contrary, that action now,
in the form of notice and precauion, was advisa-
Bile. Ii would be well, they said, 10 lay down The
line beyond which they should conceive il wrong
t. submit. 10 the aggressions OF the majority, in
order thus 10 warn their northern brethren against
any aggression beyond that line. II afterward
they resolved 10 make that aggression - fespon-
sibity OF the consequences would L ,'heirs.-
The South, in hat case, would have Gone every
thing in their power 10 avert any serious discord.
All sides, however, held that when the proper
time should arrive, il il had not already arrived
the South should take firm and decided measures
10 maintain its constitutional rights.