Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-02-19
Ea41r-e':
EIcRxuHp, Fob. u. 1850.

lhlISI.
Whoever has heard Of the bright decd. q; nh,
gallant army in Mexico, is familiar with the na'n""n
tame of Col. Magrulcr, and, therefore, It ""eu W
objectionable in me 10 offer any introduction {" . ,hat
| cannot forbear 10 say, however, OF h' leaseI, ,ms
albeit there may DO in il points inr sheuy IT, ~ ~
Of opinion, all nust concur, th,,'k' III s"" ,mG nnhI.
tho very high ability, sodier!y f%ranAuess' an" "o''
patriotism; ism which nis S Snarso'OF'A' JAMES LYONS.
FoR1 CLARK, TEXAS, jan. ~ 1890
A., Ds,- S;r.-Wb.n intelligence reached u.s. I'D
rrrs lac, IN New Mexico, Of the urpntriotic hfC
reasonable conduct of tho Legislature OF Nas"achu,
.ei,s. | Thought il qui,e ti;le t5at all m'h'r poH';'".
differences, a, least among southern men, enc"iu q.
,ncn III. healed, and that 1t became tbs duty OF every
I;n,,n man Throughout! The country to Shop ms nag,
and 70 be prepared TO make al ne sdcryaees Its honor
snJ security demanded. !, therefore, addressed II
L,rsr To the Hon. Mr.. Bocock, of my natire State
.,rtiny forth villa. ! believed tue best interests o: tie
phots country required Of every patriot at this crisis'
[ know not Ii this letter ever reached Its DESTINATION
Seeing the announcement OF the re-electi"h ~ ."'
Senate Of Mr.. Mason, | avail myself of this occasion
10 exprcss to you ny sincere gratlhcsto',a ana 10 pre-
sont TO you the sans views which tho Intervening
tune has only served 10 coIhrm III my Judgment. i
am i,npelled to this course by the highest OF eaftnly
considerations "a desire 10 serve orr COUNTY, now
ever humbly. and to transmit TO my chl!ufeh 'He 'u'
cs,imah.e uleSsiu D Of her institutions.
1t i. fori innate for the cause OF The Union una. tue
State of Virginia hos been able to preserve d ,uH
timo to the councils of the nation the seFftSes W nI,
l Z y DUI lCA.CC nist ~
defender of The constitutional rights oil every portion
Of the United S,a,s, throughout BIO wnoie eW.ci'
end more reccntly tho author aud tho able advocate
Of the "fuy;live slave laW." NO change, oy "hion mo
country would have lost the benefit Of Mr.. Msson's
sipsriencs aud ability, could have been otaefw!so
than disadvantAgeous tn the public interest.
Vsluipv as do, snore than Ky life, tho union OF
these States, and desiring as =! nave sn!o, mat us
blessings BIO transmitted 10 my Children, ! hIvefonnd
ample cause to rrjoico in the result Of the late guosr'
material and general elections in Virginia. II ia folly
10 expect that the agitatofs OF tina North VIII DO coh'
tented with any temporary triumph. IL 10 my ufih
conviction th1. they hare deliberately dstermtnsG 10
dissoipe The Union, for no sane man believes thet Tue
South will ever part with ito slaves at tho bidding oil
the North, or that there il Il Southerner VINO VIII no'
sacrifice his life, il; necessary, IN Inc ae'enee OF MS
property, guaranteed 10 him by the CONSTITUTION OF
The United States, the compact IN r'rtne OF "nlch
each State came into tho Union. TIE success oJ ne
IEaition!AS IS, THEREFORE, the dissolution o. t%e U"'oa.
Recent events at toe North, indicate clearly the ~
orsa.e of these traitors. aud ,hcir progress towards
mower. Modification | have alwars aad do heartily
cond.nu; il il, however, advocated as n remocy by
a portion OF the Southern and South" es'efh oia'e-'
IN defence Of what all acknowledge 10 os '1eir Clear
constitutional rights.
20 A means oi ATTACK Oh the Constitution at tho
United S.ates-aud without even the PreteSt Of Il
violation uf any rights, private or political, OF ina;
State, Ii is Il n:schierois doctrine wherever advo-
Gated. when all constitutions! remedies shall! have
failed, AMI tho General Government sliali nnd ltsc!l
unshle 10 protect the constitutional rlshts u the
South, or TO throw the weight nl lie lIt1uen"e IN ;n-
vor Of snch rights, t::e ~TerolaSoa @e0"tshs rt2s;-
fgl y,axdy-,hi5 is less miscellaneous, because legs
sasily rrsorted 10. II is more manly and direct, md
being more dangerous 10 the actor', It is less suited
10 the small ends o: thu grovellinS and selfish G.Ha-
gosues who inlcst tho ranks OF al! pa!:ie, in tue
country. But, by whatever means dleupion may be
bruuyh. about, the South cannot be cepsurcd. She
has suffered wrongs from the commencement of this
agitation; for, though fully justified BY the C"nsti'u-
ton, she, in III. delusive bope that the abolltiunis:s
would finally see .hei" error, for a long period an
stained from Insisting upon a Fugitive Slave Law"
and 4 legislative announcement OF The principles chn-
tnined in the Nebraska BILL Bic he's tnally az
serted what she is entitled to under the Consti.
tuition; aud Massachusetts, backed by tho sympa.iies
of the free.soilers vi New York, and the abolition.
ists Of other free States, has, by legislative euact.
rnepts. deliberately set that Constitution, and tho
laws passed In pursNance Of its prUvisicns, openly
and reasonably at defiance.
"Wnen the complaints Of a brave and powerful
"people are observed 10 Increase Ia proportion to the
'!wrongs they have suffered when, instead Of sink.
ling into submission, they are aroused 10 resistance,
''the time will soon arrive at which every inferior
reconsideration must yield 70 the security Of the coun.
cry and to the general welfare 81 the State. There
sis a monen; Of difficulty and dagger at which flat
.'tsry uad falsehood can no longer deceive, aud sim.
''plioity itself can no longer DO misled."
The word, OF this distinguished writer, though
used by him for 4 different purpose, are peculiarly |
applicable 10 us. For, tho timS has arrived, when
"eImplicitv itself ecu no longer be misled." Tho
danger ia Imminent, snd must he looked fully in tho
face. BuI there is 4 ,emsiS. This horh. of iendiai,
fanatics, led on and encouraged by traitors and deina-
.ogues TO :'rhrue their nnnds in the blood of their
fellow citisena, for the Regeneration OF a "ac+ wh'sc
oouditi, III ;iI.y cauuut improve. WI. never Se per-
mitted to succeed in their nrfarious anG ;rtueonnhc
designs, il .'evcry inferior consideration ne made To
yield 10 the security Of the country AMI to the gem
eral snf,ty OF the State
S,auliur, as &c, u.ar tho dividing rid-, Of ;li-
mighty continent, wlicucU tEo waters Cow East ani
West into the broad Atlantic and boundless Pacific,
| contemplate, u~uswayed by prejudice, and up!n.
auenred by personal motives or associations, the p".
liiical parties ia whose movements tho Gsstiuies OF
my country are involved, and l can hes TO safety for
the Republic, bat IN tho great Democratic party of
the marion.
That the American party Of the South is perfectly
sound on the vital subjects Of slavery, there can be
no doubt; but, besides the Objectionable secrecy OF
it's organization, and its impolltic and demonstrations
al meddling with religious secis, its cn.adiutors a;
the North are poisoned with the leproua faint OF abo.
lition and treaeon, rendering il, therefore, az Il sepa-
rate organization, powsrless for good In The great cr!-
ss which is ut hand; whilst tho Northern portion Of
the Democratic party the Brights. the D:cxiusons,
the Douglas. the Shields, nud their patriotic com
peers and followers have shown themselves, III
their gallant devotion 10 the constitutional rights OF
every part of the country, surrounded, as they have
been, by countless enemies, To be deserving OF tho
lasting gratitude Of all who love the union; and have
afforded The noble.t evidence that they will Daiatuin
their opposition to it's enemies. Ms long rs they shal
possess the smallest portion OF political power OF In.
1uence. 1t IS said, indeed, thar the Native Amer
can," party has thrown OF the veil Of secrecy, and
that all its deeds will be-, Hereafter, open TO tho gaze
Of the word. lr is Too LArE-it cannot be feuied,
by its most enthusiastic supporters, that It was Com
ceived in secrecy, born III secrecy, Hnrtnrid IN secrecy,
and was not permitted ~ walk forth into the broad
light Of day, until il was thought to have acquire Cd
sufficient stren2 9Th TO accomplish ills purposes. Should
this party now become dominant in tho country, n
precedent III favor Of secret political societies would
De established, aud would lead 10 evils Of q magnitude
aud nature, compared with which the alleged abuses
i proposes 10 correct, would be virtues ct sporle<s
purity. In whut other respects does the creed OF tho
American party IF The SoHhh, differ from that Of the
Democratic party 7 In two particulars. mainly, viz
LIST. In the advocacy Of al extension of the term OF
naturalization. 2cd. In the combination to exclude
Roman Catholics from all share IN the administration
of public affairs.
The first ia i question Of cxprdioncy-the last in.
wolves one Of the highest principles. The ordinary
limits Of u letter forbid the discussion Of tEess subjects
here. ] can, therefore, Only express my deliberate
conviction thHt the public interests nre amply pro.
tected by tho constitution and the iaws in relation tn
them, as they now exist and TINT there IL 10 good
reason, at :his time, for their alteration. BY the
Constitution OF the United States, no person can be II
Representative In Congress until hs shall have been
seven years Il citizen Of tho United States, nor a Sen
ator until 10 shall have been nine ycarE Il citizen OF
tae United States; anl, by the naturalization laws,
rs they now Stand, no person can become a citizen oil
the United States, wIih tie right 10 II vote, uutil hG
shall have resided in some State or Territory for the
period Of Ave Years. These provisions, faithfully cxa- |
cuted. afford, in my judgment. ample protection 10
the public interests. There ae few, I imagine, who
would desire TO discourage immigration, II they were
acquainted with the vast regions Of our country yet
to be brought under cultivation, and the !nexhaus.i-
ole resources yet 10 DC developed. Having travcrsed
large portions Of the interior continent between the
Atlantic urd Pacific, I deem myseif justified in Sta
,;,, thai a pDnulnii,n If n hurlr.J Millions rorl1 h..