Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-07-27

t1HoWdfhS 0I DcW0GT0Cy-tne principles on WHICH
The party has rallied and triumphee in past times
but if il is some one who is TO be brought forward
as the representative Of sections and cliques, and
exclusiveness Of sentiment then, as one, we are
not ambitious enough 10 prefer Northern can.
didate 10 one who can represent and combine the
opinions OF the whole Democracy OF the Union,
be his location where il may.
Mr. Benton is not only man OF talent and
great information, spiced over with liberal
share Of sel(.eseem, but he is in some degree I'M
fortunate in The asperiy and puDgcncy OF his
| preudices All men have their weaknesses and
this is Mr.. Bcnlon's chief. For years he has che
rished a deep-seated rcpugnance 10 Mr. Calhoun
and his friends al The South; 10 such an extent as
almos. 10 warp his principles, il BY SO doing he
could ,hwar them in any Of their movements
Under this influence he misslates the facts, or ra-
her fails 10 state them, whenever he speaks OF
slavery pTopagandism," as he does in whatever
he speaks or writes OF late. He represents The
Southern portion OF the Democratic parry as hav.
ing rashly thrust forward "new test, and de-
manded lis adoption. We do not SO understand
il; and truth demands that this case, as all others,
should be fairly stated.
Ii is needless 10 60 back even TO the last Pre-
sidential election, Tor The facts Of tina, day are
fresh in the public mind. A portion Of the party
were chagTined that the question OF the Annexa-
ton OF Texas defeated their plans, and brought
Mr.. Polk, instead OF Mr.. Van Buren,, into The
Presidential chair. Out OF that disappointment,
at an early day, sprung The famous Wilmol Pro-
vso. We need not say That we should rejoice in
The predominance Of The principle and The spirit
OF that measure il il could be so, and justice he
done 10 all portions of our common county,
But as The Union is now, and ever has bcen but
4 compact OF compromises, you do violence TO
its very nature when you say that one portion OF
the States shall be excluded from lis common pos
sessions and benefits and that the other portion
Of The States may usurp and enjoy the whole OF
those possessions and benefits.
The Wilmol Proviso says to the South, you
may enjoy The high privilege of spending your
blood and treasure in common efor, TO sustain
or extend The Union, but none of the fruits Of
such contest must ever be yours. Confine your
selves 10 your own homestead; but never presume
10 step foot upon any portion Of the public do
main which your blood and treasure have helped
10 win. The Wilmot Provso says that although
the Union was founded upon compromises, and
has been sustained by compromises, yet il will
have no more ofihem! ALI this, MIR. Benton lorees
10 state; but leaps over it, and comes al once 10
what he designates as slavery propagandism,"
thew lest" forced upon The Democracy OF The
Union by the Democrats Of the South Heleaves
his readers and hearers in the dark upon The fact
that The Wilmot Proviso has forced the whole
Souh'into anlagonism 10 the broad requirements
OF the Proyiso. The South says TO The Wilmot
men, il the Free States have done with compro-
misses, so hare are. II you say there shall be no
more compromise lines, ice sag t0o. Ii you say
that Shareholders shall be excluded from The
whole OF the common possessions and benefits OF
the Union, IRE sag they shall be erciuded from none
ofthem. This is The true view OF The case; and
We wish Mr.. Benton had done himself The JUS
80 :, L. ;rA
in The patty, and the marked confidence which
the Administration has given him, renders ii
eminenlly desirable that whatever influence
comes from such source should lie q true inRA-
c'ice; and when Mr.. Benton speaks Of slavery
propa eandism" he should also speak Of the Will
mot Proviso as The provocative Of its origin.
Although this is scarcely The occasion to speak
OF the effect OF that measure, yet every days OBJ
servalon convinces us OF the justice of our oppo-
lis il,..rrihe Wilmot Proyiso IRON The moment OF
very moment when it would most seriously eiil.
barrass The government II delayed. thwaried
and defeated important movements IL bring about
peace with Mexico. II crippled The energies
OF the war Office, and prevented those supplies OF
men and money that had they been promptly
furnished, might have enabled Gen. Taylor to
bring the war 10 a successful issue on the bloody
field OF Buena Vista. But this is not all, and The
Wings have had The sagaciy TO foresee another
OF its effects, as well as we; and hence the COM
mendatons which they have bestowed upon the
Wilmot men from the outset. Already we see
this fatal measure OF folly rendng asuncer the
Democracy of The Union. One portion says, we
will support no man for President who does not
approve of The Wilmot Proviso; and the other
portion is prompt to respond that II will support
no man who DIES approve Of il. u required no.
thing but ordinary sagacity 10 fcresee all this
when the measure was first suggested.
But one thing remains 10 secure The continued
ascendancy Of The Democratic party; and that is,
for all its sections 10 work themselves back as
speedily as possible upon the old Democratic
PLATFORM; and in a spirit of concession and har-
mony go shoulder TO shoulder in support Of their
principles. We, OF The North, should lie first al
The sacrifice of every sectional hindrance; and
when il is remembered that, in the great contest
OF 1910, when the whole North but New Hamp.
shire gave way, six of The Southern States stood
firm for Mr.. Van Buren,, we cannot doubt that
The South will meet US half way.