Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-01-01
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
saTI7RDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 90.
n1scRAcEFuL DODGE.

or IN h orLed sins of omission and commission IN the
Ms.,ue nrepared and concoced by the Regency 10 DC
soued BIZ Zachary Washington its course IN regard 10 s
vital question which threatens to sever 'ne ohon ~
ess the most strongly to be repoba'eo Durihs Tue '''
DENTAL canvas when charged by inc oouthern p
Gratis that from General Taylos ayowed opinions on Inc 'e
power and his virtual endorsement OF the Tree sois Oh tue
Signal Letter 1.-THE English language co"a DC mace 10 mean
nobiny else he would prove faithess to the Constitution
and TO the South his Flmocnc champions hppan'y po
ed TO his ownership of hundred negroes and his resi-
dance in louisiana as the srest pledge of his soundness
In rofsnu to ayow his opinions this delicate question:
he was as having assumed hgh national ground
-aho Oh perfectly plain that he was supported al e
South as utterly opposed the Wimo froViso ana at "
be North his election was with equal zeal commended by
Corwn nd Ewing TO the Ohio aboonss as the only sure
means Of practically carrying out their iacous schemes
General TAYLOR elected By this doubledeang trcK-and
Ewing and Colamer rewarded with posts OF nigh pow
er and influence their active services with the
Wings. i.
The Inaugural afforded fair opportunity to General Tay
or 10 take the side the Constitution denounce tho FAC
tous agitation of the fanatics and 10 rally the good men
and patriots of the country the compromises oil Inc Con
stituon But he could pursue 30 manly and honorable
course without cheating or the other OF the divisions
OF the Wing party who had been humbugged into his sup
port The golden opportunity was thrown away ana Inc
language the Inaugural was Of Dephc and studiouss
ambipuous character to give hopes both his soil
supporters North and his Southern friends TO make
confusion still conounded and furnish new aimen to
rho flame of contention between the sections OF the
Union For having thus gnoby shrunk from assuming a
position General Taylor denounced BY the Democratic
press-bu the Southern Wings still raised their cuckoo song
of "high national ground"
The country continued ybrae under the thoes OF the
slavery excitementand indications of dsunon manifested
themselves at North and the South. The Congress OF
the nation was about meet and this oy element Of slave
~ was certainly be thrown in their midst. Now surely
il was naturally supposed the second Washington would
throw himself the BREACH and stand for the constu-
lion against all odds The country led to expect some
thing more definite than tho twaddle about hgh national
rround"some recommendation in the of conpro-
mise on which all patriots and lovers Of the Union II was
formed might safely and firmly stand The Message was
read Congress- by lightning TO u portions OF the
country and universally published Did bear any healing
on It's WINGS in regard the slavery question: which, like
Aaons rod swallows up every thing else Let the candid
reader Judge for himself All that the Message contains in
connection with the vital question of slavery is found in the
following passages
California the people of that territory peed By the neces-
sites o their political condition. recently met in convention
for tie purpose Of forming constitution and State govern
men which, the latest adyces give me reason to suppose
has been accomplished and is believed they will shortly
N for the admission of California into the Union sove
reign State Should such DO the and should their con-
stituon be conformabe the acquisitions of the Constu
ton of the United States recommend their application 10
the favorable consideration of Congress.
The people OF New Mexico will ALSO it is believed at
very distant period present themselves for admission into the
Union Preparatory to the admission OF California aud New
selves republican form of government "laying its founda
lions in such principles, and organizing its powers in such
orR TO them Shall seem most likely To effect their safety
and happiness"
Ry awaiting their action all of uneasness may be
avoided and confidence and kind feeling preserved With
view of maintaining the harmony and tranquility dear
ALL should abstain from the introduction Of those ex
citing topics of sectional character which have hitherto
produced painful apprehcnsons in the public mind; and
repeat the solemn warning OF the first and most liusrous
Of my predecessors against furnishing ANY ground for
characlerzng parties BY geographical Determinations
The check provided by the Constitution, in the clause
ferrng qualified Veto will be exercised by me,
cept in contemplated By The ahersof the Republic
view extreme measure to be resored to only IN en-
t.aordnav where become necessary 10 de-
and the Executive against the encroachmens of the 'gsa
tive power prevent hasy and nconsdcrate or uncon-
situ,ona legislation By cautiously combining this remedy
within the sphere prescribed it in the colemporaneous
position Of the trainers Of the Constitution the will o the
people egmatey expressed on all subjects Of legislation
through their constitutional organs the Senators and Repre-
sentatves of the United States, will have It's full elect
nut attachment tho Union Of tho Su,tco ohonh b" ha-
bualy os,ered III eTery American heart For more than
half century during which Kingdoms and empires haze
acn this Union has stood mistaken Tho patriots who form
I'd have long since descended 10 the grave yet still il
remains the prodiesi monument Of their memory and the
object Of affection admiration with every worthy In
bear the American In my Judgment its dissolution
would be the greatest OF caames and 10 aver that should
be the study Of every American Upon its preservation must
depend happiness and that Of countless generations
Whatever dangers may threaten H. shall stand
by and maintain II in s integrity TO the full extent of the
obligations imposed and the power conferred upon me by the
Constitution.
Now, ask any candid to point out in the above
any comfort those who desire the slavery question
adjusted grounds of fairness and justice udanguage
be moro general and unmeanngl Could more disgracein
terms be employed keep the North and he South in
doubt "a to the action Of lie Executive and continue the
poslue and doubledeaing cheat upon both sections OF
the Unop} Can the languagebe tortured into any thing
else than tina. the boosted Thunderer OF Buena Vista,
srnks from the responsibility ofmceng the qucsonand for
fear of offending one the other section ohs supporters and
producing Spontaneous combustion in his cabinet
tnues deudc zach section into happy belief that both
arc scduousy cared for and cherished by tho
Regency! The mighty conqucror of Santa Anna trcnsles
before the ghost Of the great ne party humbus and tears
bv single manly word break the deusion and to be
covered with disgrace and dsmay BY the other Of the
cheated sections his friends When first read the Mes
sage we amazed and Disguised at its non committa
ism-t proractod eor, deceive The country Our first
impressions are confirmed by tho revelations Of the Jour
nails which have spoken the subject The Norfolk
Argus Dcmocrac after stating that from the policy shad
owed forth in the address, doomed to have one OF the
central and exravagant administrations that has ever
cxisedadds, "on the absorbing and all exciting topic
of tho day which deeply interests the Sonh he
silent as The grcre."
The Norfolk Herald (Whg) accords with this view when
it says:
awe have heard objected the Message thai it gives
ntmation Of the Presidents riers in relation 10 the Wlmo
Proriso but would have been Objectionable il HI
had done II would have convicted him al Of taking
partisan ground question involving the integrity of the
Union, when his duty, under the sancty Of oath, 10
support tho Constitution We think tho opponents of the
ala he n
President Taylor when they refer the concluding
Of the Message
Now ask 'he opponents of the Wmot Proyiso TO turn
1.-THE concluding of the Message given above
and say they do therein find eey causo for alarm
the Of President Taylor Indeed, the Baltimore
correspondent of tho National In,elsencer referring this
> closing paragraph, CONSTITUTES ii we do, as follows:
"Tlc firm deep devotion the Union; the determination
10 stand by CIRCUMSTANCES, declared by
the Old Hero give assurance in conneSion with tho
Of tho sentiments by Mr. Clay and others of character
and influence that demagogues and aconiss will be cffoc
$ ualy put DOWN. contamination most deyouty 10 be
wished
Mr.. Clay, it is well known, has warmly commended thu
principle of the ordinance Of 1884, and Gen. Taylor follow
4,