Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-04-21


That, like the eternal mountains, God
Created to endure!
EXTRACTS FROM Mr.. DONELSON'S SAL
UTATORY IN THE UNION.
1t is proper that should declare the leedng prnci-
cples which will guide me. This is an obligation due
not less to the public than to myself and, to be proper
performed, will require more time and re elton than
could be commanded within the few days which have
elapsed since my arrival here. / take this occasion
however to say that this paper, whilst under my
aspiring individuals banded together to promote their
own Sc flsh or ambitious purposes; will ever be
the organ OF any single individual whose hopes are
hxed upon and concentrated in the desire to elevate
himself 10 power by abandoning or opposing the long
established usages OF the ancient and honored and
great democratic party OF this Union. Of that party
shall be the organ in that sense alone which aims at the
tlonal and just means.
This seems, also, proper place for me to remark
that shall cordially sustain the recent compromise
measures enacted by the constituted authorities of the
land. shall never cease to urge upon my fellow cit
zens OF every quarter ofthe Union that is their nds
pensable duty in all lawful ways, promote the honest
observance and enforcement Of these measures, and
that their destines wrapped up especially in
the faithful execution OF the tugtveslave law since
nothing less than this ought to satisfy the slave
holding States. II is fortunate that this Compromise
is the Joint work OF both the great political parties OF
the country and that it may therefore be referred to in
all time to come as monument of patriotism which
towers above the oddary spirit party when the safe
ty OF the Union is threatened.
No political compact between States however close
the union which forms, any series of measures in
tended to obyiate difficulties arising of the consruc-
ton OF such compact can long endure unless each
party does perfect justice to all the rest Tit were 9th.
erw Use, the condition of the public sentiment and the
prospects Of the country would be deplorabe inhe ex
treme. No tree people can or will endure, for any
rights to their property. Ten years elapsed from
the time when Granville introduced into the Bril-
fish Parliament the first act vitality affecting the rights
of the American colon lists until blood was shed at fex-
ngton; but throughout these years the parties be-
came every day more and more estranged from each
other. Former kind feelings and atfeconate regards
were eeded by alienation, by angry complaints and
finally by hatreds, which it has required more than half
century to eradicate, after peace concluded be-
tween the parties.
If vast majority of those most deeply interested in
the Compromise are willing, for the sake of peace to
abide by it in perfect good faith and to sustain it, and
it vast majority ofthose least if at ALL interested in
it will not honestly ass list in the execution OF provi-
sons, or will by acts done both openly and covery
render the part for the delivery of fugitive slaves utter
ynul and useless for al practical purposes requires
no prophet to foesee that the hopes of every patriot
and every friend to human freedom must soon be ex-
ngushed in the destruction OF our constitution and the
| utter dissolution OF our Union
The fugitive slave law which is but the expression of
constitutional injunction, must be honestly enforced.
he constituted national authorities it enforce
ed. The true owner of slave must be permitted to
proceed without haassent to produce his proof before
the proper Judicial tribunals, and if judgment is rem
dered in his favor he be permitted without any
moestation to return to his own domici with the pro-
perry which has been finally adjudged belong to him
under the constitution and the laws of the land.
Every calm observer must and feel that the ques-
ton OF slavery must be Withdrawn from the political
arena, or that the preservation OF the Union will be-
come impossibity. To accomplish this sacred
object shall be my constant endeavor to place before
my citizens such statements and views will be
calculated to disarm those fanatics who imagine that
the institution OF slavery though recognized by the fe
dera compact, can be modified or annued by poili-
cal power unknown 10 that compact.
The constitution, as administered and expoupded by
Washington, and the authority of those great minds
which afterwards effected the civil reformation of 1900
shall be my guideon the hand in insisting on the
low OF Union and the avoidance OF whatever can tend
to the alienation OF one portion OF the people from ano-
her and the other in guarding against the dangers
OF consolidation In this spirit the resolutions recent
y adopted by the members of the Virginia convention
| appear to me to have been we'll conceived They
steer clear OF those ultra pos oEs which have been oc-
cupled both at the North and the South and they claim
for the constitution that supremacy which our forea-
theirs intended to confer upon it, at the time that
they recognise to the States and the people the sove-
regnty which has not been delegated Regarding these
resolutions as lmbodyng the public sentiment of the
State, which all the great crises Of history has
seldom made mistake the flag bearer Of the repub-
can party, they are here recommended the platform
on which the same party may still be rallied, and may
bury the agtaons which have grown out OF the slave
ny question: These resolutions agree, also, subsan-
italy, with those of Tennessee and Georgia. and with
the Union platform OF the democracy in all portions Of
| the country.
This hasy sketch of the leading points that interest
the old democratic and republican party this moment
leads to another which is not less important. re-
fer to the necessity OF the reunion OF this parya
cessity which is apparent, that trust may be par
doned for treating it national rather than party
consideration. II we are indebted to Washington and
to Jeferson-the two great minds that founded and
formed our system-or the true principles which teach
the love of union and abstinence from all resorts to
powers calculated to imbter section of the coun-
try with another-f under the same obligations
to Jackson iorl later exposons OF the principles
which were equally successful in destroying the dan
gerous monopoly OF the United States Bank in correct
ing vicious system of internal improvements, and in
restoring taxation to its safe, constitutional limsi in
truth, under every democratic administration, from the
days OF Mr. Jefferson TO the close OF MIR. Folks, we
have had unbroken evidence Ofhe safety with which
democratic principles have always been appealed to
bring back the ship OF State, when blown from its safe
track by the storms Of faction-what should now pre-
vent the rally OF this great party bring about The
results in this most critical and alarming uneture OF our
| public affairs?
Every member of this party must that the cause
of popular selfgovernment is involved in the inquiry
forced upon us blythe existing circumstances the
try whether the panest constitutional compact in
system OF union can be executed or not In the midst
of such an inquiry, will the South pause and unite
once more with their friends to strengthen the party
which has never failed heretofore with constitutional
MEANS foil all serious assaults upon rights of the
people and the States-the same party that triumphsd
n 1900, and afterwards destroyed that progeny OF M
engendered by high tariffs. corrupt banks, and unwis,
internal Improvements Can it be wrong tor me to say
to the South that the remedy still in your hands,
you will co operate, as in former days. with your breth
maton that you viii carry into executloa the threat o
secession at the same time that their best efforts ar'
employed to put down the evils OF which you complain
Grant that il was spirit hostile both to you andthe con
tuition that sought through the fundamentally OF thu
Wilmot Provso to deprive you OF equal rights in tn
territory acquired from! Mexco cannot noble and ge