Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-02-12
w.xu,xarnx Echluarv 3, 1850.
r. ro,s,;tusnks of the l4at Congressional Dsfr'a IN


on ,nn Sentiment The relation in which stand towards
you demand that should express my own W., s, u and
hpI,hv sentiments of those represent here require lso
That should now do, ask your counsel ana aa'ie III
rat,er so deeply interesting To us all. ;..
;,i direct YOUR attention To the action OF the Lcglsa-
,e Of Virginia. in session. Resolutions are al pre-
ssnt nending before thai body the distinctive features o
h; ara recommendation send delegates TO thr Con
,ion m he held Nashville in June next Secondly Tue
vii If Convention of the people in their several districts
eau VI aloaates 10 General Southern Convention, upon
10 ninm of either nf the following events through the
Zion Of the Federal Government, that is list lhc pas
agc of the Wmot Proviso in laws for the government!
h Territories ID, The passage Of any law anolsfn.
rerv in the District Of Columbia: Sd, Abolshlng the
ovc trade in said District, ih, Prohibiting the slave
trade between the States. ,,.:
~ remoye all suspicious that my opposition may arise from
sectional motives here make the declaration that go win
Vi,nnia for veal for My best efforts shall be eX
~ ,r her be she right wrongbut my ardent wish Is
Ia, virginia shall be right Every thing dear 10 me oil
earth is centred there The prospects of the glorious future
- onnre 10 those who follow even more inter
esno than any good i'll that can beal me in this rem
nant of llfe - , ,,. =. ,h N.h.;I,o
Cnpyention Is this premature! Has not Virginia on
several occasions lately declared her firm detenlna-
,ion 10 resist aggression her rights Who now doubts
her SINCERITY! Is more inlamed state oi the pubic hd
coscd hy the sympathy attendant upon the collection OF
large masses PERSONS desirable for the peacefl ana wise
settlement of this question Is not Virginia IN precisely t
son,c situation that she has been for the last twenty years
hcn as now she had Just 10 complain OF the refusal
If the Northern States afford for the apprehension
NJ slaves NO act oil the
lin view Of this subecD has enrenched upon the rights OF
h South unless you include such the Wilmot Provso,
enrrafted into the Oregon BILL But that insertion was in
conformity 10 the Missouri compromise In winch measure
Virginia participated in and asscntcd to- II the Union Is OF
value-if rapid and inconslderae action may precl-
nitotc lis dissouon-f GOODNESS and camncss and wise
PATRIOTISM have heretofore been 10 lis construction
and preservation do not hazard something IN sending de-
eaaes 10 convention where in all probability will be found
those OF heated and excited minds produced from the con-
temptation of real supposed injuries or insults Where
in all probability cmnaoni in the South will reproduce cr
mination the South? Where most likely some indiscrce
persons will make wholesale denunciations Of the North IN
Guiding therefore those noble patriots oil that country who
stand p the interests and rights OF the South and VIII
not that body of friends be broken down by this
course when their fanatic enemies shall point to the South
and say: Behod those whose interest you have advoc
ted preparing for disunon nj Nashville
will it not be dignifed in Virginia. after what she
has already said and done 10 await all further action until
some overt act of aggression shall have been committed
And committed at ALL will not the melancholy hour OF
separation and blood have then come sufficiently soon 10 sat
sy the fasdous of those who have taste Tor that
state OF things!
The second objection 10 the Virginia Resolutions this
WHY make the abrogaion of the slave trade in the District
OF Columbia for angry denunciation and hostile
measures on the part Of Virginia. When at this time,
il MARYLAND or North Carolina transport negroes
with the intention OF making the city Of Richmond mart
for the sale OF slaves they he slaves would become free
from operation Of the laws OF Vrgniaif am correct
ly informed.
In all other matters contained in the resolutions agree
that passed and attempted 10 be carried into operation by
tho Federal Government they would ALL either Of them
be in violation Of the rights OF the South and that the South
would only be cxcusae but in duty bound 10 resort
modes of protection and redress But do not hesitate to
declare that in that emergency would be- better 10
throw ourselves under the protection of the broad shield Of
the Constitution and the laws while they sIbstcd than
resort to disunon 10 revolution and TO force
give il TO Won my opinion that hc Union is safe, al
though assalcd by the scky and maussh humanity OF Abo
on and the strong spirit Of political ascendancy ad
dressed TO It's scnsbes But dsunion the hearts
OF tho people will give you cheering evidence in support
this opinion Of very On the 18th Of Fe
bruary there laid upon the table of the House OF Rep
thaf
and New Mexico containing the Wilmot Proyiso BY vote
of los rs Where did obtain this majority for the pre-
servaion OF the Union by adding to the OF the South
that the hearted Of the North and West And
here indulge the remark that the security OF The pro-
perty and peace Of the South, depend much upon
councils and conventions among ourselves does upon
the cheerful recognition of the conduct and careful avoid
of of the acts Of those of the North and the
West who boldly adhere TO all the compromises Of the Con-
sution.
In relation the insertion Of the Wimo Proyso into the
the government of the territories all the interest the
South has in that is 10 save her honor The
try acquired from Mexico can b. slave conntryna
rc has forbidden it, Because of the great staples OF
commerce be cultivated there pay for slave Ia
Dor But will resist the exclusion Of slaves there by the
action of Congress- upon the ground that Congress has
no right casate upon the subject Of slavery. II
subject difficult ADJUST but adjusted and settled By
our fathers the time OF the adoption of the Constitution
and il is in bad faith 10 disturb that matter now.
Various plans have been talked of for settling the
tending interests of slavery and non-sayery My plan is 10
run the line Of the Missouri Compromise 10 the Pacific
ocean, Of 36 degrees, 30 minutes, north litdc Let BE-
forever the line Of separation between the free and the slave
holding States. Then, in single bill admit California into
the Union north OF that lnc provide in that bill territorial
for Dcseret and New cxico and leave those
tolerate slavery not when they form constitutions and
claim admission into the Union Ii this be admitted 10
Southern claims would part By the spirit of
ccsson and compromise permit TO be inserted in that bill
provision BY which the District of Columbia should longer
be for the sale Of negroes brought from other quarters.
Ihavc written Ia you in all candor is my manner.
am aware that my opinions will moi meet the APPRECIATION
ALL especially the ardent and impetuous but the valuable
tons obtained, cannot be preserved in that
spirit Among free people questions like that which
urb will be gotten up have their period of agitation
and will eventually die away others have done before
thcm under the impulses of attachment existing in
the hearts of people the excellence of systems
government and above all the preservation and pcrpctua-
ton OF the Union. most respectfully. your servant
J. NJ. Fl. BEALE
VIC deem il our duty publish the State without, de-
lay the above letter from member of the Virginia dele
CATION in Congress his constituents which Just reach
ed from Washington We learn that lis existence
known the colleagues Of the of the Democratic
party leas unit, stray copy fell into the hands of OF
,he days after the date it bears but that hundreds had
previously been sent b. mail to his District
We confess that have read il with feelings OF bitter
modification and disappointment We cannot understand,
viewing the attitude which Virginia has been compelled
take on the questions which circular discusses
nmity of her councils and of her peopeas confirmed BY
successive ccctions-how Of her sons trusted with her
honor abroad could have put forth such paper unless il
under counsel alien his State We this with
reluctance but have other mode Of solving such dcc-
ton To say that is The result Of his reflections alone
say tina, Mr. Bcac considers himself wiser than all his
partywscr than the General Assembly in their mos,
lemn dcbera tons-siser than the entire South.
The General Assembly has twice solcmny declared with
unanimy unparalleled that the contemplated b
their resolutions shall be enacted iro law the State will
have alternative Uhe Constitution longer yielding them
protccon hut defend ITSELF TAT every hazard and TO the
last extrcmy."-But Mr. Beale does hesitate 10 de-
clare that in that emergency would be better
throw themselves under the broad shield of the constitu
ton" &cThus in substance when The State of Virginia
declares that she resist when the Constitution the
hands OF awloss majority, longer be appealed to-
Mr. Bcac declares that in such emergency he would
appeal only instrument thus proven mpotent for good
but potent for ruin
This goes the whole length of the resolutions Mr. Clay
whose doctrines until now stood unsustancd in arorol
certainly BY single Southern representative. We
repeat that we deeply regret the occasion that calls for
these remarks We nothing in the letter but
sells that however intended must lead disunon if they
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