Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1853-09-20
LETTER OF DANIEL. 5. DICKINSON, E>Q.
Refntatiou OF the Charge OF Ab"litionisn.

Ncfnthti0u OF the Charge or abolitionfsn.
BIxunAMros N. T., Sept. l3 1853
Ny DEAR SIa-l have this moment received your lavo
81 me lUt calling attention 10 an article IN e WASH
ngon tni0n charging in substance with having favored
and advocated thr Wllmol proviso in The Srnat of tn
unfh States IN 1917 and presenting partial extracts o
speech then made Ia prove il.
The !fre soil Journals Of this State have lately made
similar discovery probably aided BY similar nptic but
thereon honored with tie distinction ot stereotypng my
nnnc enclosed in black lines the head OF their columns
Tor months and recommended that be burned in egy, and
treated with personal iniigncs aud violence gave
ie concern O them endravoTing 10 divert attention
from themselves by assailng me in opposite direction
Nor since the Washington Union has furnished lis con
nnlion, should have thought The matter worth my notice
i"ose VINO pursue me III my retirement whether az open
ana manly opponents otherwise have their service 10
perform ana their parts assigned tem and have 90 more
disposition 10 disturb vocation than have 10 inquire
as u the nature and of their wages question the
manner IN which they fxecH,e her,wok.
was hohored with in the Senate of this State four
years and there introduced resolutions the subject
slavery and spoke aud voted hereu was President Of the
same BODY Two years and years Senator 10 Con-
greSstron The annexation OF Texas until after the passage
VI e compromise measures nave 100 Tor the last twenty
years, oen been member Of State
and naona have presented resolutions made speeches and
proposed addresses; and IT. in my whole political course
speech vote resolution can be found avorng free soil
ments, will consent 10 occupy position in the public
judgment as degraded the malcyoen of that faction
or lis most convenient accomplicc
Near The close OF the session of lSiI returned Ia
In The Senate from most painful and distressing domestic
ailcun and found the Three Million bill under discussion
during which he Wilmot provso $50 caed) waa offered
and MY colleague Gen Dix presented resolutions rom
Legislature passed with great ununimy, inslrucng
dvOr OF The provso Gen. Dix advocated The udop
ton D lhr povisO and voted for it, spoke against s
adoption and voted against 1t. and in doing, aroused
against me free soil and abolition maignity throughout The
country.
The main subject under discussion WAS hs propfety
placing fund OF three millions in the hands Of the Pres
dent Tor the purpose Jf negotiating treaty Of with
Mexico by ha purchase OF territory The proylso was sn
INCIDENTAL question: and treated accordingly Neither my
frame Of mind the eygences of the occasion afforded
Tie any adequate opportunity 10 consider or discuss he
question: but the whole driit und spirit OF what did say
upon the SUBJECT although mperecty ed against
All slavery agitation us Will be seen by the following ea
tracts
"As though il enough leeslate for the govern
nenl OF such territory may be procured under and by
virtue OF This appropriation II any shall te%hch O course
esla in unCerainyihs amendment fursOot provides Tor
The domestic regulation OF ANY territory on The continent oil
Amer lea which shall hereafter be acquired by annexed 10
the United Satrs IN any other manner whatever And mus
this wholesome and pacific again be subjected
delay and Tho hazards OF defeat the war must be prosecuted
alrrSh with lie engines OF destEucon or abandoned by
and dsgacefu retfeu campaign after another
be lost while The willy and reacherous foe and his natural
ally the romo hre preyng upon The brave hearts OF our pa
trioc sodery; that may egisG mol merely tor HE
domestic government OF Mexican ter,Ty 10 the rSprclu
lion that may hereafter obtain it, but That erect
bnrs prevent the sugur manufacturer and cotton plant
O the South from extending his plantation and his slave
towards the polar regions IT, then, the popular Judgment
shall that pioneer benevoencc which seeks TO pro-
qulslion yeI sleeps The wide abyss OF possibility, may
be acquired by this proposed negotiation the appr0pa.
ton shall be made aud negotiation opened and The Pesl'
dent shall propose accept for indemnify and The Mexican
10 cede portion Oi territory ana The terms sa
be stipulated and treaty be made between the two govern
mens and ratified by bo; and the territory De organized
by the legislation of Congress- what adequate enconums
shall she lavish upon that more comprehensive philanthropy
ard profound craftsmanship which, in bill designed TO ter
inmate bloody and prottacted war raging in the heart OF an
country casts into the discussion this apple of 10
dscor under tho pelence o extending he DeneVo-
lent Tgis OF freedom any territory which may ut any
tme In any manner upon any part OF The continent DC
acquired by the United Sacsl II ia Justification or te
introduction of this element OF strife and controversy d,
this tne and upon this OCCASION that II IL abstactey Js'
and proper and that the southern states souu o "U
cepon to It's provisions AL knew the sm"uderne "ae
rIas which The Introduction Of this topic would gne-te
scc,unu s.rir and local bit terness which would ioow m
its Train; all had and read ills fatal history al le 1881
session. aud knew well what controversies, dcay anu
vexutiuus must hang over it-what crimnaon anu re-
elimination would attend upon lis losome ana precaou'
progress and what az would wait upon the resu-ho~
would array man against man. Stale against oale sec
lion against section the South against the Noth ana 'e
North against The Southland what must be- not onV us
direct auI positive mischief bat how Its dsorganEng anu
peruiciDus influences be extended 10 oner measures
necessary sustain the Of governnrnt MS bu hot
only suffered defeat at the last session on' as so oeen sun
rclrd TO the DELAYS hazards and bUcngs OIL ths ny ea
son of this misplaced pr0vso. Upon the very anlpouss
agitation have and mnglrd their dscornh' ihluen
This provsO pretending TO clrcnhS;iioc tG ni.
slavery s made the occasion for the presentation OF uecd
tory resolves s favor and the bill becomes as oy u
rua appointment the common battle ground o abstract
aoonsm each tcoctic agitation is Indebted 10 Inc ohel
fu existence and each subsss alone upon the aneht pro-
vIcd ready lis hand by its hostile puVeyof inc 'oa
Iirs Of opposing systems 10 have drawn tief W NH
die h. respective altar fires and 10 vie with each oher IN
hir elorts 10 determine who shall the smoke o their
incense to ascend The highest Both are assaing 'e sae
rdltce from different angles and Tor aegea opposing m
snnsboth declare that their support OF tue o
IN hc contingency Of The amendment, and Tie efforts OF
both Unite in common result and that s pfocraslihalo
and the hazard OF defeat The common enemy Is overlooked
and almost forgotten that may glare upon cach otnei
o sn hor issue and revive the siumberng elements oi
controversy in proposing prescribe domestic
for The government Of territory which We nave somo e1pe
Iatun we may time, IN some hlahhef upou 'o'
n, Of The continent from government or people, ahu
upul some terms procure. This exciting ana
question has necessary connecoh WIN 'l7 o, "" ~
indeed il can ever any practical operation "hae'e''
il would certainly be equally operative II passea separately
gul suppose We noi ALL well may not OBTAIN
hv NEGOTIATIONS any portion Of Mexican territory what
snbne speclucle Of legislation will clause Ike 'his pre-
sent Ia the wodl 1t will stand upon tie pages oi III.
statute act Of the american congress uu's. h,
IN reouate tho government Of Mexican territory, Du
,yh,se ou.rution was suspended By Tie ntefpositloh
The Mexican chapter IN our history ~ pc elV5
by out eur,nes evidence ni rnPacY' o hh' 49,, W %
nraved n,orals target for the Jrfrs anu ecohs ~ =, M
10 governments of the earth, for the derlsl'h o'
..II and the general contempt ol mankind. apee
to the memory of misplaced benev'ehce 80. aoo'''
lalion :, -. :, ,ho, ,ho an .r,;ca ol no
ouar freedom, throughout the world are sso"lns wiz" .'.a
urap prathca ton 10 this great naoh unable 'o prose
c1e war against crippled and comparatively ccoe t,t
NV without placing in the foreground o It's measures NE
element ut domestic controversy, "hch e "o
s.ns and knows is the cankcr which gna"s hl m "' u
nr d,mestic peace ana when il Is known ha rom h's
ans. esoccaly we have practically proved our nao'Y 'o
mite in the prosecution of war, or 10 ptoVhe measures :,
peace we shall be- regarded as NJ ooJeci oi
and couumeIy and be laughed 10 scorn oy tie
he government with which we are al stfie' ana "ncn W.
have hesaIed 10 stfike ofcuuso " 'e'
ness" -. ;,, ,,ob mora ousnu.
70 than c.ndor has clipped out ~ sull present heIes
lies AMI convict me Of "ree soil" sentiments was NY eA
MIA ion of the general sentiment oil the Notelh pe"p
m r,olv 10 suggestion that all must be ahollionlss
he episIaure instructed upon all questions reh'ns I"
very with such great unanmity The following Is he e3
tract - =,
50 far as am advised believe the great mass "l t
p.ope of Tue North entertain but one opinion upon wv.
ier md that is the same which Is enefishrd oy many
the South They uhe Northern peope) !esuh 'he ,nsu
lion ss great moral and political evil, ann %oulu t,ias M - ~
no existence They not unaware OF 'ne ol'lLuI , I
which bcse IT, and do intend TO provoke sectional
ousy and hatred by i'll Timed and mlspuceu
They will not listen cry ot the fanatc OF aV m M
signs Of the political schemer from me Nol.n VI 'ic
nor will they ever disturb or trench upon tne comp'or ~
of the Constitution They believe the hsntulioh ~ " ~, ~
cal and dome sc-u be established OF aooil'ntu ~ 49,
S,o,cs themselves and alone subject 10 ihslf con' a
rhai federal legislation have very lh'r ihi'c.'e
Ru, heiup thus the institution OF local soVeteshy anu
nh FG n