Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-06-08
HON. RICHARD kIDDER MEaDE.

joice that the good sense 81 the people Of Preston
has casligated lis analcsm.]
For the Enquirer.
HON. RICHARD klDDER MEADE.
Messrs. Editors: After our Mrcklenburs April
Court looked into your valuable paper, mail
alter mail, with The expectation 81 seeing some
notice Ut The admirable speech delivered on that
occasion by The faithful and able representative
OF this district; but looked in vain. An analysis
OF it, am sure, would not only have interested
you, but The Democratic party throughout the
Stale, ard, might add The entire South, And
the more regret that true account Of il was not
furnished you for publication by some one OF Inc
highly intelligent Democrats who heard il, and
from whom II received the highest encomiums,
as il has been much misunderstood by some,
and (no doubt Internationally much mlsfepre-
seniedb} others | did mol hear the whole speech
myself There was a criminal tlia going on III
our Court House on thai day, and supposins tna'
MIR. Meade would not speak until Cour adjourn
ed, was engaged in listening 10 The evidence on
The rial, until he had perhaps gotten through halt
OF his speech; but heard enough 10 satisfy me
that 1t was noble intellectual effort, and con-
talned sentiments and opinions which should
meet with warm response in The breast ofevery
true SouIh.rner. II was, think, BY no means
worthy OF The censure which has been cast upon
II. Some have asserted that he spoke warmly in
favor OF a dissolution d the Union, and con-
tended that the Southern States occupied towards
the Northern, al this time, precisely The same pc
silion which The colonies occupied towards Great
ofllaln aiIeI her most odious acts OF aggression
and oppression against them. But my recoec-
lion OF this part OF his speech is entirely differ
ent. he said that no man could be more de.
nod hp ITpio thon no
one more sensible of The iueslimable blessings il
had, Tor SO many years, conferred upon US; and
whilst The Constitution. which contained de-
claratlon Of The principles upon which it was
formed should be held inyiolae by The North;
whilst we were permitted 10 enjoy The equal
rights which that sacred instrument was intended
10 secure 10 US, no one would be more ready 10
lay down his life 10 secure l. than he would
But should lie North be carreC, 50 far astray by
Inc love oil power as palpably and hagrantly 10
violate The great compact OF union between us,
refuse TO fulfil the condition on which alone we
agreed TO enter into the Conledcracy, and avail
ing herself Of her numerical superiority, be so far
forgeiul OF her pghed faith and The erernal
principle oil JUSTICE as 10 attempt 10 rob Us OF our
equality as States, and adop, course OF measures
towards US, which, if moi resisted, "aI every ha-
zald and 10 the last extremity" oud doom US
grading than that OF our former colonies 10 Great
Britain; then, and in that event. he, and he
trusted, every Soulherner, would be ready 10 ex-
claim, that The Union which We had al. loved So
much, which had been cemenltd, as il were, by
the blood OF our orefalherS, ami which we fundj
anticipated would be hailed with the same fond
devotion by our children and our childIen'S
children Ter yfafs ana Tor ages 10 come, had IN
decd, ny the power ii circumstances over which
we had no control aud lof which W. were 10 no
way responsible, been converted INTO curse a
yoke too calling and heavy for ireemen 10 en-
durc-anj tha, We would be driven by the great
law o. seli-preservaton Ia dissolve our present
political connection with The Nor,h-eslabish a
| great Southern confederacy, and form such rela-
| lions with foreign nations as would enable Us 10
protect and defend our rights against all who
might assail them. do not pretend 10 give his
words-l wish TO heaven could, COR they were
| deep-loned and imprisoned burning and elo.
quent, aud sounded in my ears like the clarion
notes OF chieilain summuning 10 arms, a; a
Time OF great public danger, The good men and
true" who will not wait 10 defend their rights
until they can frs, oulnumher their adycrsaries
| AND who despse even death itself when lite can
! only be preserved BY disgraccul submission
| 10 wrong and oppression do not, say, pretend
10 give the words Of the Hon. r. K. Meade On
that occasion, but do mean 10 say hat The
| above was the substance D; what he said on that
particular branch OF The subjecf, and that he "
/ tered NO sentiment in regard 10 il which ought
| not 10 meet with warm, cordial and hearty
response from every man who has a true South.
ern hearl beating in his bosom.
The Wings OF this county are entirely sound
| upon this vital question. They have, il is true,
| the most mistaken confidence III the President ot
| their choice, believing that Gen. Taylor will
| cnnsGll his own rue glory and The intercs. Il
| every portion Of our country, by exeIting his
whole influence 70 bring abou! J COMPROMISE
and lar s. t!eneni al The next session OF Con.
gTtss 81 this difficulty between The !wo great sec.
lions Il oar Union, in watch they lilE he will
succec!-and thus cause the glad titinsS ot ever
lasting reconciliation ani brotherhood 10 b.
spread throughout every portion .; our wide cx-
tended land. Ana Sc believing, they may not BE-
as much in favor Of discussion on This subjec
as we. But il in these fond hopes they should
be disappointed, and should Gen. Taylor not
veto any bill. passed by the Northern majority
in Congress for the abolition OF slavery in The
District OF Columbia, and the perpetual e1clu.
sion OF the Southern Shareholders from our newly
acquired territorial possessions, then, Messrs
Editors, am persuaded YOU will hear no more
al divisions among us and our Wing friends IN
the good old county Of Mecklenburg. And
should we be driven 10 eSremities, hen will be
heard on the part Of our citizens generally
Wings and Democrats, The fierce and decrmined
cry
"Come the strife, the bier,