Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-04-19
POLITICAL.

letter IN The subject Of Abolition ir the District OF ~"
lu,nbia and the rights Of the siave-ho'unS otates
naner,iIv il now fully before the Southern People
On. would think that doctrines broadly affirmed ana
pedpes so distinct and unQnalh"d coula not easily o.
niseprcsanted by the most ptrverSe ingenuity ol ,o-
lcsl injustice But already we have seen parts Of the
arrumrnt sruarated violently from the context, and cS-
h6i,ed as true Of the whole Detached phrases
which, where they stand truly IN the letter are merely
descriptions of existing against which tn" whole
aim of the letter is array every neral aud public anu
patriotic principle, produced, as though Mr. VAN
BuREH had no other meaning than TO INSIST upen the very
facts which lie impugnS SC:h is Inc customary
Justice rendered to this eminent man, and the Issue VIII
be the customary issue TO all the numerous attempts OF
his adversarirs blacken his character. and arrest his
onward march in the confidence OF the American peo-
pie. Each to bring him new irumphs. by afford
ing opportunities Tor bringing his HE ana conduct 10 the
OF public scrutiny, aud each throws the motley ranks
Of his enemies into confusion. The icrce unscru-
puous, dishonest attempts TO connect his name with the
Abo,onsts, have only served TO make manifest that
the leaders and iavorcrs of that class of noxous ncen
dices to be found politically associated with the
Uhigs in their opposition 10 hr Van Buren,, and that
he hnsclfs sound orthodox and pledged toevery point
which is necessary for the tranquility aIC SECURITY OF
Southern institutions. "
The letter contains few simple propositions which
up fully this point, and all the perrersions ms
quotations and gaIbliugs of the hhtgs cannot alle .e
facts-nor, what they for most prevent them from
being known to intelligent truthIorng, ana may
unanimous people.
Mr. Vas BcRES holds that the grant by the Lcgisla-
ment OF eIciusirc Legislation an all cases aratSoeer,
includes BY liz the power in question: just far as
it exists in the States Of Fg nia and Maryland but he
airns it he technical inclusion OF what would have
been reserved and therefore not III compa with the
intentions of the grantors the spirit Of the grant, and
he declares the objections to the exercise OF the power 10
be as iupe,aiitc Mer nature md obligations in Tegu-
iating the conduct Of pujtie men, as ne most papabe
,cant or constitutional p0Sccr 1c0utd te This, then,
his broad unqualified doctrine that whatever may be the
technical pIrsulnptioms ia favor Of power without
right hostility to It's exercise rs as binding duty to the
spirit of the Constitution as iL'lad boon written
plainly on lis lace.
Upon tile application Of this rule u his conduct
his language equally emphatic, and alike beyond ca
viii II elected President, he announces his deternina
ton to 90 into the Presidential Chair The irteIhc and
uncompr0saisny opponent If any attempt tie part q
Coayrcss G6OiiSh Sarery Tie District Of COiubt0
against the wishes Of the holding States, and de-
termination equally decided 10 resist the slightest inter
ference with the subject in the States in which 1t exists
To those explci, declarations OF settled opinions, and
high moral aud constitutional obligations in favor OF TO-
tai abstinence from interference with slavery IN The
District U! Columbia, and OF resistance 70 the designs u
those who would interfere; to these announcements "t
doctrine and purpose lan, there is added solemn
inlmation Of the obligation upon the EXrcuuv" to use
the VETO power in aid Of the South. Viewing the Abo
liton in the District faught with "nnnrnt peril,
if .certan destruction to The Union, he expresses
il his scicar and settled opinOn that the Federal Co.
yernmcnt should abstain from it, aud that az IS tho
cred duty those ,rhom The People Of the Inittd States az.
vernnlcnt) SO to use the coNsrirurIoEM POWER 70Hh
achich they ineeSted, us to preccpt L.
In this letter. them Mr. Van DuMen has clearly cx.
pressed RULE for pubic conduct the application Ut the
rule to his own position and purposes and the means TO
enforce in the e1trrcst case, relating to this import
ant question:
The RULE is total abstinence from Interference with
Slavery in the District 0! Columbia, upon considcra-
lions as imperative as the mos. papabe constitutional
prohibition, and nseparaby blended with the conlnu
of the uSIox.
The APPLICATION is an asowed obligation to 60 into
the PRESIDENTIAL chair nilrAi1y and unCompronIsingiy
hostile to any such interference from any quarter.
The MEANS clearly inlnatcL is the VETO POWER.
Is there an honc:t sincere Union Southern man who
can desire more :-hobIc Register.
The editors of the Southern Recorder have disap-
pointed instead Of categorical 10 the qu.s-
tons propounded to them, they cgas,vey pass them
over and wish to them tie true puim Of ron.
trocersy and Of interest," ch discuss the grounds
of their r0tiag years ago for Mr.. rsa urcH for INC
Vice PresdeRcY TIT to d!ScE$ The raG:fy Of the T.usuus
,cv they SO heartily oppose him for The Pyr<dcncg We
u.e ready to the editors OF the Recorder true
yoint of controversy and Of interest," and shall certain
" do so in subsequent numbers OF this paper. But be-
fore we meet them this truc point, should be gra
tilted 10 have questions properly answered and
tied because conceive that they are intimately
nec;ed with the true point stated by The editors Of the
Recorder
The only direct answer to questions find in
the Recorder is that they advocated the preen
sions of Mr. v Buren, for the Presidency and therefore,
there be'no inconsistency IN not advocating thcn
now Because, say they, they have supported man for
one Office, it is strange log to argue inconsistency be-
cause they will not support him for another For instance,
if man be supported tor the Office Of Judge of the lnle
ror Court by of the readers of the Recorder be must
be very inconsistent if he refuses to support him
ddate for the bench the Superior Court likewise This
continue the editors would be according TO view of the
subject To such argument we have 10 observe, tina,
we ue sorry find the editors resort TO mere quibble
The good sense and intelligence OF the editos Of the
shoud certainly have led them TO abstain from
the comparison they make. Because they voted for Mr.
Buren, for the Vice Presidency, ii is reason that
3 mid have voted, or should now vote for him for
IS .ncy. We cannot believe that The editors OF