The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-08-08
From the Richmond Republican.


CANDID DEMOCRATIC CONFESSION.
Hon. A. Fl. Chappsll. late Representative
in Congress from Georgia, had addressed .
long and able letter to a number Of leading
Democrats in Macon, 10 reply to eommu'
uica,ion from them, asking his opinions upon
the absorbing question Of slavery. Mr.. ChsP-
nell, in a very candid and manly manner, re.
minds hi. democratic friends Of their inslru
mentality in bringing about the present dit.
fcul,ies of The country, and their obligations
TO remove them. lie says, and says truly; /
"The annexation Of Texas led to the Next.
ca, war, the Mexican war resulted in the
ACQUISITION Of New Mexico and California,
and this acquisition gave rise 10 the great
territorial quarrel which now agi'a,es and
threatens the Union. The annexation Of
Texas, the war with Mexico, and the acqui.
s,,,on of New Mexico and California, were
all emphatically Democratic measures.-
They we're, moreover. peculiarly and emf.
oeuty, measures of the Southern section Of
the De mocratic party. l,can never be for.
gotten how 10th our Northsra Democratic
brethren were 10 launch the country on the
stormy and uncertain ocean OF The hrst Of
that series Of measures; nor how stoully the
whole body of Northern Wings fought against
i, from first TO last. The Northern Demo.
cracy, however, yielded to the urgency OF
their Southern political allies, and conquer
ing their strong reluctance, embarked FULLY
with US in support Of the great opening mea.
sure, the entering wedge Of the series, the
r ra u
undoubtedly, the potent, productive cause
the prolific paren, Of oil that followed. They
stood by US throughout, and BY their aid we
triumphnntly consummaled the whole OF that
s,upenduous series Of measures, constituting
mass of achievements which raised the
character of our country prodigiously, both
a, home aud abroad, and justly filled the
Democratic party. and especially the South
ern portion Of it, With bouudl'ss pride and
exutaliun.
Thi. is a true history, and Mr.. ChapPell
justly continues
Being thus The originators ard authors
of these measures, a heavy moral and Poii't'
cal responsibility rests on The Democratic
party, and especially on Southern Democrats
in relation TO their consequences. II these
measures, or their consequences. shall ter.
inmate in the Acknowledgement and overthrow
Of our great Republican Confederacy, deeF
shame and accountability ioi the result mus!
under any circumstances lie at the door
Of the Democratic party. But the case vii
he rendered gill worsc If that party, aue
especially the Southern branch OF II, shall
fail 10 exert itself with the utmost sincerity
and intenseness Of patriotism to prevent
these, their measures, from winding up II
the dire catastrophe Of Dlsunlon.
These facts and views. gentlemen, do
in my opinion, powerfully concur with the
general obligations OF patriotism, IN summon
ing Sou herD Democrats, in a mos, stringent
and special manner, to the rescue Of lheiI
country from the dangers Of the present cti
4 sis. Ii is a cfisi. mainly Of their o~u cIca
), tion-of their osu bringing about"
Mr.. Chappel' proceeds to state that j, wa
he Southern Democrats who forced the an
!. nexaiion Of Texas as Q leading party meas
ure on the unwilling Democracy Of tn
North that il was they Who presented tn
: name Of Mr.. Polk to The rather reluctant &C
cep,ance of their Northern poliiicsl brethren
that il was for the sake aud under The irflu
ence Of the Southern Democracy. that thei
Northern brethren generously accepted bot
the measure and the man and that II wa
:. such an administration which introduced III
70 Mexican war with all its glories aud TesPor
}. siblities.
, {" Among these resp nsibiiiies," continue
Mr.. ChappcIl, " II Was clearly seen and al
e knowledged beforehand, that the besvcs
&c most difficult, and fearful would be the Sc
lliug of Tho strong sectional conflict beiwee
The North and South which II was we
known would spring up out Of the question
allowing or disaowng slavery in the teri
Il tory that might be acquired from Mexico, b
'. mean. Of The war. With this conflict in iu
and certain prospect before its eyes, and vii
Ill The weighty responsibility OF settling i,
iull view, the Southern Democratic part
persevered, in advocating and supporting III
war ard measures, and ia insisting on a larg
cession OF territory from Mexico, as the Ger
dIton on which peace should be made. Tn
result was made 10 coincide with their do
-ires. We became, by means Of the treat
that closed the war, masters Of New Mexc
NJ and California"
x Mr.. Chappel then declares that a solcm
question seems about 10 be addressed 10 eve
u ry Southern Democrat.
p, alt is this: Is 1t consistent with homo
,. with justice and patriotism, for Souiher
Democrats now to take Oh extreme stant
l. AMI to say that this dangerous conflict who
"a they have been thus largely instrumental
!. bringing about shall never be settled exec
-, on terms of their own dicialion Is il COT
sIstent With honor, with justice, with patfio
Ism, for them to take stand against all Con