Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-04-26
Aubmon0 enquirer.

1ogE RANDOLPH TUCKER, OF FREDERICK.
FOR coSGIESS-THIRD CoSGREssIoSAL DISTRICT,
JOHN S. CAsKIE, OF RICHMOND.
JOHN LETCHER AND THE ANNEXATION OF
TEXAS.
We are glad to sec the : Wing cndoavoring
to muster up an excuse for Mr.. GogCin'S vote
against the annexation Of Texas. When we
find the Wing dcvoting Il full column 10
this question, we are satisfied that 4 grave me-
cessitv alone would induce our contemporary
thus to devote so much time ana space 10 the
matter The extension oil slavery was 100
;,t;ma.ely connected with the annexation oil
T.xas for the Wings Of Virginia TO he indlilc.
rent or opposed to its accomplishment. They
were in favor Of it, and though they voted for
Henry CLAY, they did so notwithstanding. his
Raleigh letter" with its five explanatory notes.
We are prepared to prove from the record tha'
William L.. Goggin miSrcpre>cntcd his party
in Virginia when he voted against the an'exa-
ton of Texas. We do not think the Wing
is correct As 10 the history of the opposition OF
Mr. Clay and the Wing party to the anneXa-
ton Of Texas, in the following extract:
..when. however, the question was brought
before Congress. and it was proposed TO admit
Texas By joint resolution. another difficulty
a crave constitutional dificulty-stood in the
way. 1t was maintained that it was grossly
and palpably unconstitutional TO annex Fo-
reign territory by means ola joint resolution OF
the two Houses of CongrcSs-tha; the authori-
" in the premises belonged exclusively to the
treaty making power-that is, to the Senate
and Executive. And those thu, maintaining
were bound bv 4 solemn oath to oppose the an
~nexation OF Texas in the mode suggested
These constituted the objections to annexation
on the part Of Mr.. Clay and the Wing party Of
that dav. That they were sound and valid Oh
%icctions. no fair minded man and no lover OF
the Constitution-and certainly no States
Rights Denocrat-will pretend 10 deny. And
these objections controlled the action Of Mr..
Goygin ia the matter and upon them he stands
rot only excused for voting against the joint
resolution for the annexation of Texas, but JUS
tilted and commended before the whole Amer
lean people"
IfMr. Go..in is 10 be excused" and com
mendei' for opposing the Joint resolution"
what will the 'Whig" say Of Mr.. Clay's oppo,
sition to the Treaty maxim. power for annexa-
ton In the Raleigh Letter" we find the
following, which We extract,
assuming that the annexation Of Texas is
war with Mexico. is il competent TO the Treaty
Making Power TO plunge this county into war.
not only without the concurrence vi, but With
out deigning TO consult Congress, 70 which, BY
the Constitution, bciong> exclusively the power
Of declaring war:
Here was a distinct intimation Of opposition
70 the Treaty-unaking power, as we'll AS a clear
reference 70 "i2i.: re.ois.ion" for the concur
renee Of Congress As the proper mode Of an
n~cxa,ion. In fact. Mr. Clay combats Mr..
Tylcr's Treaty proposition in one Of his cX-
plana,o-y letters u a bubble whose burstin.
has Injured no one but Van Burcn-aad
hence. ne could not have believed As the
..Whiy" asserts, that the authority in the
premises belonged exclusively to the trca-
ty.making ~powcr-:hat Is TO the Senate
and Executive and il the "whig" sill
refer 70 the proceedings Of the Virginia Le-
g~islature. it will find that every Wing
voted for Witcher's resolution, which,
admitting the constitutionality Of Milton
Browns joint resolution, says: that the con-
ditions and guarantees passed by the House Of
Representatives. and sent 10 the Senate for its
concurrence, in the opinion Of this General As
sembly, are jpS, and proper, and will be ap-
proved by the people" Hence, if Mr.. Gogsin
voted against the annexation o! Texas because
Of the m9de, he opposed tie mode pronounced
'Jrsr Ayp PROPER" BY the entire Wing party
of Virginia in the Legislature. Il could not
have been the msde of annexation that induced
Mr.. Goggin TO vote against the annexation OF
Texas. What his norrEs were we shall not I'M
dertake 10 explain. The fact is upon the his
tory of the country that William l.. Goggin
voted against the annexation Of Texas. and III
doing 50 must have been influenced by some
motive different from that which ac,uatci the
entire Wing party in the Legislature Of Eirgi-
mia, who voted for Witcher's resolutions ap-
proving Of immediate annexation. and cndors-
ing the joint resolution a, Just and proper,
though forbcaring to express any opinion as to
the Constitutionality Of the joint resolution.
We cannot arrive at the motive Of Mr.. Lctch-
er for advocating the annexation Of Texas
Whatever that motive may have been, is of
little consequence. when we look at tue act
which resulted from that motive.
IF Mr.. Go.gin voted contrary to his whole
party i'll the Legislature Of Virginia, and that.
too, upon a measure SO intimately connected
with slavery. and with Joshua r. Bindings
and other Abolitionists, the motive, whatever ii
may have been, was anything else than favor
able to slavery.
Blu. this motive thlt controlled Mr.. Gogcin
against Texas. found further expression when
he recorded his vote with Gidlinss a.ainS; the
Mexican War. 1t will scarcely be contendcd
that Mr.. Goggin voted against Texas to cos
SERVE the institution of slavery. We do not he.
lieve Mr.. Goggin was an Abolitionistin Isis
like Mr.. Giddings, with whom he 50 often
Yo,cd-but he was not the slavery propa-
gandist" his present supporters seem to be Gu
dcavorinc to establish. Let it be remembered
then. that WIN. l.. Gogsin voted against the
annexation of Texas. and that John Letchcr adj
vocatcd the annexation, and the people must
decide the mo,iycS that controlled each.
Election Of Judge Of the Court Of Appeals.
So far as heard from, Mr.. Robertson is about
500 ahead, with ten counties to get the official
returns from. The vote is said to he very close.
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