Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-06-04
49,. ~ he Eucujrlr.

1II,
oor n ibcnarlc; Joseph C. CabeIlo Nelson; ,1i nE
billiard II AMHERST. =
20 ~ f:oiors qr lie Enquirer. ,s.o
sirs You viii please announce IN your l'Pe. Una, ~, -
o,nn Barbour of Orange county, Va" VII represent M
Ii, ~ on the l2l u June next rs 80 d".i5 !'1
a, oblar the members OF Union Society 81 Hampton sd
~. :. ll,rc Yours most respectfully
nes wv JOHN B. SHEARER, ttommdtee n
THOMAS }. GARDEN, onion >otiety
From he Washington lnion.
THE ADJUSTMENT
BLESHEI, (Nrnina.l Nay - la3o
Nv DgAG SIR did not receive, until Yesterday your hna
letter and seize the first moment have had 10 reply 70 IT.
Ynu ask ms opinion upon the Srhcae II compromise no"
before the Senate and are pleased y attach I" y nn' more
importance than ii merits. readily Yield however, nndr
The circumstances your request, and hasten Ia .ve Won
very briefly and frankly, views upon The important ana
exciting subjects that cngrossins deeply the public
mind. ~
onos of the report Of the committee Of the SENATE do not
"a you NAV well imagine and shall therefore con
fine my self in what have say the bills which accom-
many the report upon which alone any legislative action
can be founded Reports Of this characr, like Preanbs to
bills and csou,ions never form the basis u legislation AMI
are therefore regarded imairal ana unnportant
Able and comprehensive as the report j. l. get fruitful oi
controversy and well calculated give rise 10 con!ctns
opinions ought not 10 b. permitted 10 influence Tie na
ecjsion Of the bills which accompany H. ~ The same c
must saw that think II matte. Tor serious regret That Tie
committee could not have agreed upon solemn and express
remuneration oiany right III the federal Ia casatc
States. exercise amy power under Tn constitution "f
the abolition o! slavery in the District Of Columbia dis
clamer fart 10 impose uon any hctr state coming t"fo ~
Ion any innr reS'ricion nat tmposd Hpon any = ne
0ripRa S.ai,s Such woul have had beneficial
effect ~ the present and would have carried with
orcat moral power Still | do not regard It's omission
forming an nsupcrahlc objection To The principles vi tie
comrnni-c embraced IN the bills reported by the comnit'e"
for the will state y understand the scleAr
Of compromise, il i pr,dcatcu upo: these bases:
l. The admission OF California into The lnion with hcg
present constitution and boundaries;
, The admission Of States. mo, exceeding fourJ
la b. formed Of Texas, according the compact enter
ed into between her and the United STATES
s. The establishment Of territorial governments or New
Mexico and Utah. without any restriction limitation
10 slavery
l. The settlement Of the boundaries between Texas and
New Mexico and providing equivalent in money there
for:
s. The enactment by Congress Of more effective laws -
secure South the speedy recovery Of fugitive slave
under the provisions Of the constitutions: aud
g. and lastly Passing law for the abolition ri slavery
IN District OF COLUMBIA but preventing !! from being
stare mart.
Now, thu justice and pFopricry n all governments OF
every important public ought 10 depend uron The
circumstances THAI accompany and induce H. The motives
that call for ADOPTION and the consequences II l. cacua
produce In apply ing these tests 10 the scheme Of Sci
Element proposed By the committee Of The Senate confess
my sell friendly 10 it, and soicous tor IL success Win
some notifications and amendments, Calculated IL carry
ont the frGc basis Of The compromise So nothing in II
which, ought Justify is rejection rs Congress u pco-
pie ana an tree sly. TINT !nh tie South might al
lord accept t. without di-1no The Surrender ii ans
which must t. dealt with practical question: involving
docs high and mpmenr"n~ consequences. IL rejection,
fear might lead TO results that good man could contcm-
plate without anguish and despair ani willing therefore,
L. make the experiment proposed by the compromise, and
results II is quito true that have never been
friendly 10 comoroaisr- of ang Kind upon constitutional
questions and especially those which have arisen within
between The national and STATE governments.
consequently opposed Ia The Missouri compromise III
been acquesced in by the people, but avoid the evils and
dangers which threatened the peace and security OF The
Union and yet how much greater the dangers which
oyershadow the republic than those which brought that
gallant State into glorious Union But in govern
ncnt like here always he inequalities and d>aj
,anagcs in working and operation Practically il
not be otherwise lrdocd how cen be supposed that ~
delicate ana complicated association TINT 81 tr..
INDEPENDENT States less various in their habits AMI
pursuitsin their productions climates and population and
feelings assucations-any Union could he formed
continue 10 exist without spirit 81 compromise anu o!erd-
tion and with mutual balancing Of advantages and tisad
MANAGES The constitution ITSELF ought never 10 tor
get the result of compromise and concessions and with
out it, il could never have been formed.
What, them the objections the settlement of these
important questions upon the basis vi the proposed
promise! Its ayowcd object IN the first place i 10 settle
the exposition of the compact between the United
States and Texas. The number of States which IL
br admitted into the Union laving the requisite populi
on either r@h or ritiom Sarery rs tue people OF each
State may finally determine, when authorized 10 do
Nor have the committee proposed, or intended sa:ng,
TINT the territorial governments such should have tie
power Of legislany upon The subject Of slavery either for
lis adm, or exclusion inasnuch rs no such power un
der the constitution is vested either in Congress Ter
oria government il may establish Hence citizen III
any State in the Union can be prohibited from removing
into the Territories belonging 10 the United States
with slaves or other property Upon the subject .; tie
Mexican claims ahroIating savery, have decided npin
ion ! regard the treaty Of Gandahys Hdii.0 and iii.
fact oi conquest rs the American arms, : decisive oi IT.,
question. The constitution of the United States extended
these newly acquired Territories, and repealed all Mex
laws inconsistent with lis provisions equ.niy H.
citizen removing into the Territories b. prevented /.
the laws of Mexico from carrying his slaves with him.
regard the argument Of The very able and distinguished
from Georgia conclusive the subject Nor doc.
il need any legislation by Congress this right
the sauthcrn people This form valid objection, III
my opinion, TO the proposed compromise.
The main Objection then 10 b. IN relation 10 ih
admission of California with her present boundaries AMI
without having been first formed into territorial govern
mcni Now under other circumstances this objection might
be welfoundcd, and have operated her exclusions but
ought il operate, under the present OF things and in
the proposed 10 keep her ont o te Union, think
not have never doubted self ha; California would t
admitted into The Union by the present. Congress in some
shape or other; and believing 81 prefer The mode Suge-
ted by the committee 10 that recommended By the ExecG
tive. In the one case she would in alone and single
handed leaving the rest OF the territory acquired from Mexico
wholly unprovided for By governments whilst all admit
that the United States bound provide Tor
these Territories under the treaty stpulat!ons with Mexi
CO. III also required for The security 81 the persons and
property Of lis inhabitants and then the boundary between
Texas and New Mexico unsettled, The consequences cf
winch, II permitted Ia Continue, might lead 10 conHotlon
and civil war brtm their respective inabi,arts
We next have the recommendation iur additional security
'1r ugire Sares terreniion as to the abolition d
slavery IN the District Of Columbia. Now what more,
der existing circumstances and AT such crisis could have
been expected OF the committee The question is not
whether the South gain all ev desire but whether il hg
Ict the compromise They Will better their condition.
long ~ they remain part ri the contcderacy iwicthcr
is not better 70 avoid the hazard d-nion and civil
and hy accepting this scheme show their devotion th
Union and sill preserve their essential rights Should tn
be adopted and fairly carried out then
unite and prepare for the last resort final separation
The min object OF the committee in t,cir recommendation
seems To have been the provisions of IN; const
lion in spirit Of Justice oT5earance and MODERATION ami
To preserve our glorious Union Ilorc Is certainly
mpt q party or sectional feeling in Il.
These, my dear sir briefly views upon this
ing and important subject shall doubtless differ with
ny personal AM political friends 18th whom have been long
associated and which shall exceedingly regret but have
no alternative The opinions have formed deeply /
Impressed upon my mind and n,y helrt Toe Yielded
hinseo Many a!e ana patriotic think that ii peo-
NE oil the South were 10 refuse their the prscn,
che' ana lcci all o:ers COMPROMISE iicy would ina!
succeed In getting all they ask and entitled 70. Th,
night have been So admit the South had been united in
cat!on 10 The Southern Convention Ii all the saveholing
States mad been represented in such convention
proposed by Mississippi and Virginia. and they had settled
ieiny Inc ground upon which alone fher would consent
remain In the Union, all NIGH, have been ADJUSTED ana
eace ana quiet restored TO The country But dyi
d. ami the approaching contention al Nashville will II is Ia
'e feared be able 10 do but little good Disunon amongst
ourselves mas taken from that convention the power to ac
'onPiish the great and beneficial objects intended bv its