Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-10-07
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the National ln;c!!isencer.l
VILLA MARGARET, Sept. -. 1859

VILLA MARGARET. Sept. -, 1859.
McSsrS GALES X SEAr"N:
Gentlemen II have read with pleasure, as
well as instruction. your numbers OH the Terri
torial Question which have appeared i'll the Ma
,iona lnteligencer They present compen-
dun OF facts which, sooner Or later, will form
material for history; and hence my desire to
cDpear N It's columns 10 correct I'll error in
regard TO mysel! into which you have unin,en
t,onaliy fallen. proroSe 20 Go 50 with the
greatest brcvity.
In your third number You are good enough
10 sav that, in the discussions growing out oi
the Missouri question in ls20, Was the only
person who in debate expressed tue opinion
that Congress possessed lao constitution! right
70 pass any law prohibiting slavery in the Ter
ritories Of the United States. In this You re-
present M opinion most truly. In your
fourth number You aScribe TO me change OF
opinion on this subject, which | ieei IT to be
due alike to myself and you to diScialn. You
employ in that fourth nuabrr the following
language:
Up to the year 1875 VIC need not say that
the power Of Congress 20 pass the Missouri
compromise, and thus 10 exercise the preroga-
tive of prohibiting slavery Ill one part OF onr
territorial dominion while sancLoninc 1t in
aaother, remained generally acquieSced in in
all parts of the country. Ia that year this
sentiment received a solemn expression and re-
affirmation in the resolution adopted the tirs;
CAV of March, 1915, and approved the same
dIv by President Tyler. admitting the Rcpub
lie of Texas into the Union Of the United
States In these resolutions II was provided,
among other things, that the Missouri compro-
mise line. as i recognised compact on the sub
jcct Of slavery, should be applied 10 Texas IN
case 0f any new States formed 81 SAID territory
north or south Of said line. We cite the fact
as showing TINT ut thst DAY, whatever may
Ia, : been the opinions Of certain distinguished
gentlemen with regard 20 the proprcty of that
great adjustment, It's c0"S.ttNttoadt!ty Was held
to be no longer doubtful by those who had been
the most determined among lis opponents ut
the date of its adoption. vi those opponents
We have seen that none was more decided in
the wear 1920 than NJ Tyler, then 4 leading
representative from the State OF Virginia Yet
in 1913, As President of the United States, he
affixed his signature 10 the Texas resolutions
wn:ch re.atiirmed the Missouri line-thus Civ.
in. his solemn assent To- a condition which We
may be assured he would never have accepted
II a, that day he had not become convinced Of
lis conStitutionaiity, whatever may nave been
his recorded doubts upon tue subject quarter
Of century before
With the aclinowlcd .mcnt of my obligations
to YOU for the friendly terms you have employ
cd in the reference you have made to me, |
must nevertheless express my regret that the
reason for my approval OF the Texas resolutions
should have been misunderstood and miSappre-
hended BY You. That approval implies no
change in my opinion since 1920 rs 10
the powers OF Congress over the Territories
belonging to the United States. That opinion
remains no. only unchanged but greatly
strengthened by all that is now passing or has
trans pired since. Nor is there any thing in my
advocacy and approval Of the resolutions OF
Congress, which upon their being adopted by
Texas made her bright and glorious star i'll
our political galaxy, at war with tina, opinion.
Pardon ne for saying that y0u have mixed
up question Of cXpediency with one OF con-
stitauona!ty. The negotiating treaty or
entering into compact with foreign Govern.
ment il regard TO territory belonging TO that
foreign Power. is essentially different thing
from that OF making rules and regulations
70: the government Ot territory already belong
ing TO the United States The first Is only 10
be acquired on specified terms, which terms
may emanate properly, either from the United
States o; such foreign Power. Lxpcdicncy
and sound policy are the only umpircs to decide
FOR their reception or rejection by both the
parties 10 such treaty or coinpsct. Texas
might. for INSTANCE, have proposed stipulation
Tor slavery throughout all ie- borders ami it
would have been Tor the United States 10 have
accepted. rejected. or modified the proposition
after the manner that sound policy might >ug-
gcst. suppose that 10 one would doubt that
4. 4 l., IL
United States She might do 50 with stipula-
ton that the island Should be received into the
Union as slavcholdng State, witt, the further
provision that slavery should no; afterwards
he abolished by the State government withcut
an act providing fair remuneration TO the owners
accompanying the act of emancipation; o: that,
II It should tall out that Great Britaia should
enter into negotiation with the United States
for the ccSsion O; the Canaias, she might urge
4 stipulation as condition of the cession
tina. slavery should be prohibited in the ter
ritories thus coded 1t would in either case
be for the United States q question Of cXpe.
dency and sound policy which would deter
mine the acceptance or rejection Of the propo-
Si,on so made In the numerous contracts b.
tween the United States and the States them.
selves ceding Territory, Virginia leading the
way, terms and conditions for Such ceSSioGs
nave been rendered and accepted on either
side, all going quite rs far as the resolutions Of
Texas, without any question Of constitution
atty being raised.
These reflections, thus hurricdiy stated, viii,
hope, satisfy you OF the error into which you
have hilcn OF aScriblng 10 lie q change oi
opinion on the Territorial question. The cor.
rection OF it is o! no earthly consequence ex-
cept to put history right a'n free to confess
that the more realty sanctioned the provi
sion in the compac, with Texas, because the
line of 81 deg. - min. seemed by long acqui-
,scerce to have entered into the settled policy
of the United States, and was therefore TO be
regarded as the harbinger 0! peace and harlno
ny to the Union; and may be permitted to
add the expression of regret, without intending
to imply any ccnsure for its omission, that n
similar stipulation had not been introduced
into the treaty OF Guadaloupe HidNgo [;
would most proPably have exercised the dan
gcrous spirit Of Sec'toaalism.
au,, gentlemen, most respectfully and tru-
~, yours, JOHN TiLER.
The Steam Fi-s Engine Contest.
PHILADELPHIA. Oct 1.-The first prc:aiam
horn for the hest Stc,,n fire pnrine has been