The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-18

from March to December, the columns OF that print
teemed with this subject, TO the exclusion of almost
every thing else, of either domestic foreign int.
rest Yet among all the essaysts who distinguished
themselves in the controversy all the wri-
tiers for other papers whose articles were copied
among all the public speakers whose addresses were
commended for their genuine republican senti-
ments-not much as limited that il would be
proper for the President to say what would be his
action upon the passage of the contemplated re-
| strctons! The editor himself, the same who now
conducts the Washington Union, was perfectly
silent upon that subject.
| On the 7th day of December, 1919, the,thrd an
nual message of Mr.. Monroe sent to Congress
that message which, if the present doctrine of Lo-
cofocoism be right, Should have glowed with de-
nunciations of the agitators who were shaking the
Union to the centre Did IL take any such ground 7
II does not mention the question once; it does not
allude to it in the most distant manner. If the his
tory Of the country were to be written from the
messages of its Presidents alone, posterity would
not know that at the very moment this deiv-
ered there impended it the most fearful storm
it had ever encountered from its foundation as an
independent republic. The Richmond Enquirer, on
the l4th day ofDecember, 1872 summed up its heads
in the following terms, and, upon reference to
the document itself, the reader will discover that
the summary is perfectly correct;
LIST. The sickness of our cities; and drought
in the middle and western States. Cd. The treaty
with Spain and incidental affairs. Sd. The
revolution in Spanish America. 4th. Violations of
our neutrality. 5th. Certain commercial dplo-
macy with Great Britain 9th. Fiscal affairs It'll.
Manufactures. Sth. National defence. 9th. Des-
tination of naval force. 10th. Slave trade"
Not one word here touching this question, which
was of far more importance than all the rest put
together, since upon its solution depended very
national existence. But, surely, the self-constitu-
ted Argus of the Republican party of Virginia,
acting under the very eye of Judge Roane himself
did not sleep upon such an occasion Surely he
abused Mr.. Monroe in good set terms, for such
"disgraceful dodge" in circumstances so very pc
culiar! Not bit oft. He did not even SO much
as hint that he had been guilty Of any omission
The question was brought up in the House Of
Representatives, and the third day of February APP
pointed for its discussion Never, if VIC may Judge
from the columns of the Enquirer, was the country
80 intensely agitated. legislative caucus was on
the point of assembling, to nominate Mr.. Monroe
for the second term. Then, if ever, the time to
press home upon him the question of his intentions
with regard to the Missouri restrictions, which it
was known had majority in their favor. If there
was any propriety in making President declare
beforehand what he meant to do with bill, the
numerous correspondents of the Enquirer should
have united with the editor, and with the majority
of the Legislature, in extorting such information
from Mr.. Monroe Did they do it, They did not
dream ofit They did not once allude to it! The
caucus nominated him in profound ignorance Of
his Intentions, for he at that time ignorant
himself of what he should finally resolve upon!
On the 10th of February, editorial in the En-
qurer announced that, few nights before, the
Legislature and the city had been thrown into
terrible ferment, by letter from member of Con-
gress, suggesting the probability of such compro-
mise as in fact adopted very shortly after The
editor does not hesitate to declare that in his opin
ion, such settlement of the question would amount
to compromise of the Constitution. Several able
contributions follow the heel of this annuncia-
ton; but neither the editor, nor his correspond.
ents, ever intimated that MIR. Monroe ought to let
Congress know what course he was determined to
pursue.
1t would be impossible to produce stronger proof
than is presented by the foregoing circumstances.
General Taylor, throughout his whole administra-
ton, has, upon this subject followed precisely in
the footsteps of Mr.. Monroe. The policy observed
by that gentleman was of the most cautiously
guarded nature. He communicated his intentions
to no one, not even TO his own cabinet. He did not
let his left hand know what his right intended to
do. Agitated this question throughout the
entire country, for twelve months before it was
finally scttled-rife it with danger of the
most portentous magnitude TO the integrity of the
Union-near as il had brought the parties on each
side to strife and boodshed-no man, of any party
or faction, intimated that it was right or
proper for him to express his opinion. So far from
Directing to him, because he had failed to do so in
his annual messagc-so far from characterizing
that omission ga disgraceful dodge far from
losing confidence in his frmness and patriotism,
for an offence which, If Jocofocoism is now right,
was TO the last degree objectionable the lcgisla-
ture of Virginia, in two months after that message
was delivered nominated him for a second term,
and the people Of the United States ratified their
choice with unanimity of which there is no ex.
annie.