The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-09-07

Democracy Of visxia'- Appealing 10 the Dssaes-
r.cy of lhe North.
The following article from the Richmond Enquirer of
the 5h instant is an expression OF the leading sentiment
OF The democracy only in Virginia. but OF the whole
South if we except South Carolina, II is also that Of
the entire West and North. II is in fact but reafhma-
lion OF that old platform which we stood in 1910,
1874 and ls4s--an essential aim Of which to
The principle that the question OF slavery beyond the
jurisdiction Of Congress. except far the guarantee
of the constitution in favor of the right OF the slave
holder 10 recover his fugitive property made it the duty of
the federal government and indeed OF all the States TO do
nothing which could weaken this right. Undoubtedly
the sensbes Of our people have been earuy excited
in the South byjusl appehensions that northern anatics
was undermining the safety OF property, and IN the
North by the influence of that mistaken humanity which
had adopted the idea that slavery an institution at
variance with the interests OF the negro race, and
violation of that spirit OF liberty and equality OF ndi-
ydual rights which pervades our whole political sruc.
ture Out Of these sensbites have sprung up IN The
South the menace OF secession, and in the North the lar
more dangerous and destructive menace oil abolition BE-
tween these two the democracy stands as 1t has
since the foundation OF the government the
letter and shirt of the constitution conhdng in those prn
cples OF and harmony which led 70 it's adoption.
and rejecting whatever could warp the federal government
from the limited sphere which carved out for by
the sovereign States that parties to its creation,
but maintaining at the time, the full force OF all the
granted powers Under such circumstances, between the
Scylla ard Chaybdis of system-between the ten
dency OF the federal government TO absorb into its action
more power than received from the trainers of the
stituon and the other tendency which yields to State
action more than is consistent with the preservation
of the power necessary TO the vgor OF the constitu
tionhe democratic party has shaped its and has
on more than one occasion saved the Union Its mission
now il 10 do the came thing and this will do at the next
presidential election if its friends forgetting all recoec
ton Of past discods will agree to stand where Jefferson
and Jackson did, and consider what mischiefs would
have been avoided if there had been effort to subs,.
tute geographical party for that national one which
seeks its objects by the action of pure public opinion in
respect 10 that wide field Of policy which is within the
sphere Of the undspu,ed powers of the federal govern
ment.
Al this crisis, the main point is the execution of that
compact of the constitution which to the southern
man his right Of property which cannot be denied with
out violating the good faith OF all the parties to the fed
eal compact, and without, therefore, undermining and de-
emit that il the South can be deprived of right guaran
tied by the constitution, the North be likewise. and
that our government instead of being the constitutional
one created by its amers would be that alone which the
will of the majority at any given moment might declare.
There are doubtless among the free sellers many con-
scientious men who believed that in adopting the
Wmot proviso they were exercising constitutional
discretion which involved principle dangerous to
D.4sl kt,hh aua
been produced by the introduction Of that proposition
must convince them that they were in error and that
Mr. Jefferson right when be spoke OF the same Prn
cple a. applied to the admission OF Missouri into our
Union in terms OF aam-as the torch OF an ncendary
That great statesman in such an exercise OF power
the dangers that have since reazed and we can only
steer clear of those dangers future by returning to the
goodod doctrines OF which he was the expounder The
cardinal principle OF this party is the abstinence from all
mower which is not clearly granted and the exercise OF
that which il granted only in the manner that will pro-
mote equally al the interests OF the States.
Il y on such considerations these that Virginia,
rejecting the lead OF Mr. Cheves OF South Carolina to-
wards southern conederacy has adhered to the hope
that the northern democracy would come to her aid and
once more right the ship of State and give new bond
that il shall hereafter pursue the good old track OF such
pilots as Jefferson Madison and Jackson Is 1t too much
"a n hose who are on the shoals and rocks OF seces
.on and abotonism, that il better to re-
on once more to the landmarks Of the purer days OF the
republic and take their party position according TO their
impression Of the relative capacity OF the two ancient par
,;e. 10 promote the public welfare Is not democracy as
ra.,.,ood bv Jefferson and Jackson more TO be trusted
than whiggery a. explained by Mr. Clay and Mr.. web
.,er, That il the question, now stated by Virginia;
and il remains for the democracy TO answer whether they
will stand where they did OF old
From the Richmond Enquirer, Sept S.
r., r,rry or rrx pKmocAAcY VIRGIsA-TnK STAus
"a, co,vxxr,or Much, very much, depends upon the
attitude OF Virginia Mt the present moment Inc demo
c,,c convention held Snunon on the 24sh Sep
h., "a called for the purpose Of making preparation for
N, STATE canvass the constitution, In the event
or i. .dop,ion Still, it is greatly to be desired that dis
,nct and definite declaration should come from Virginia,
r., the esc, that the democracy OF this State will sustain
no man FOR the presidency vice presidency who 10 at all
,in,.d With free-son sentnsnts 1t Is due to their
b,e,br,n Mt tho South, the sound democrat" OF the
Nor,h TO the perpe,uty and of the Union, that
,hs Old commonwealth should proclaim such deter.
,nn.,oo and doubt that the democracy, IN ihoir
convention Mt Sxaunton, will lay down platform oil
nj. character Virginia has, in great degree, turn
"A h.ck the tide of southern dsahec'ion Her POSI-
ion has checked the secession movement and given
,,sns,h 10 the acquicscence in the compromise measures
:, The South as complete aud hnai seuiement on 'he
=. vayv thorough exnguishe oil slavery sg'a
,o. No one therefore, could charge her win arrogance
n hr should now speak the North and declare most EN-
that democracy will give no counfensnce 10