Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-10-15
MR.. DALLAS,


which the several Northern aspirants for the Demo-
cratic nomination push their claims upon the ia"
YOUR of the Southern section of their party. In
the summer and autumn of lS47, Mr.. Buchanan,
Mr.. Dallas and Gen. Cass, each found it expe"
dent to put forth his Droet of platform to stand
upon. Then the application of the Wilmot Pro-
viso to the Territories the great issue in dis
cussion, and the trouble with these patriotic gen.
temen was to take such ground as would be toer-
able to the Southern Democracy, and yet not dis
affect the Northern. Each accordingly hit upon
the expedent of declaring against the Provso as
measure of Congressional legislation, but at
the same time referring the question of slavery in
The Territories TO the people of the Territories
acting through their Territorial governments. Time
passed on, and the Southern Democratic Conven-
tons began to assemble. That of Alabama ap-
pointed the Delegates of that State to Baltimore,
with the high-sounding declaration that the Ala.
bama Democracy would support no candidate who
was not the svowed opponent, both of the WILL
mot Provlso, and of the doctrine that the people Of
a Territory may prohibit slavery; and Mr.. Yan4
cey the leading spirit of the body openly eclared
that this pledge was expressly intended to close
the door against Messrs. Cass, Dallas and Blu.
chanau, but he intmated, upon the authority of
private letter, that Judge Woodbury's position
would satisfy its cond itions Florida followed
suit to Alabama; and the Virginia Democracy,
soon after, soemnly reiterated the Alabama pledge
Judge Caske being the chairman of the commits
tee that reported the resolutions. The Baltimore
Convention met in due time, and disappointed all
Mr. Yancey's calculations, by nominating Gen.
Cass. Mr. Yancey bravey stood by his resolu
lions; but the Democratic leaders in Virginia per.
suaded themselves that the Nicholson letter could
be explained away in manner which the General
has since declared his utter inability to conceive
how any man of intelligence could think it might
be-.
But the Nicholson letter. and all the expana-
nations of it, could not save Gen. Cass. He was
wofuy beaten by the plain old hero of Buena
Vista. In the last Congress, he behaved very
creditably in supporting the Compromise measures
through good and through evil report Mr.
Buchanan was coyertly, all the while, PLAYING
deep game. He visited Washington, and seeing
what his Michigan rival was doing In the Sen
ate, he set himself to the task of doing still
more to commend him to Southern favour. tits
very we'll understood that the real reason why
many Southern Democratic members stood out
against the Compromise measures, was hat Mr..
Buchanan was promising them his influence to
carry the Missouri line He took good care,
however, not to let his proceedings be known in
any way that would commit him, and he still
stands before the North quite as little preiudced
by any demonstrabe Southern leaning as Gen.
Cass.
Mr.. George NJ. Dallas is the next of the com
petitors in the race to turn up and it is in wa
80 singular, that 1t must make him for a while an
OBJECT OF public attention. He has written long
letter to an "Hon. Guy NJ. Bryan of Texas" in
which he leaps so far beyond the positions hither-
to taken by Cass and Buchanan, that we do not
see how they can ever overtake him.
The episte is dated "Schooley's Belmont Hall,
Schooley's Mountain Spring, New Jersey, july
%, 1851" Mr.. Dallas sets out by intimating
that he has "long entertained definite and decided
opinions which are " somewhat different from
any avowed by public men in this quarer"-that
IS, the North. This is, at once, poser 10 mere
Compromises like Gen. Cass and 3Ir. Buchanan.
Union Is essentially the opposite of consolidation,
which we agree to be sound doctrine And next
he makes the great point of his letter, namely
that the true remedy for all the evils of agitation
lies in an amendment Of The constitution. The
process OF recommendation by Congress and
ratification by the State Legislatures he thinks
the best, and he says he does not despair that the
country has good sense enough to approve such
a measure. What the amendment IS that he pro-
poses MI Dallas leaves in great obscurity, but it
is something that will clearly establish the equal
ity of the States. He says, with characteristic
magnil0quence
with me there is no doubt that i myE eoun,rvmen
be gwen the legitimate opportunity, they viii expressly
and unquaifedy prohibit sooner or later what / have
heretofore humby believed they had by the strongest
implication already prohibited They will prohibit
from being forced by the sophsries zsa lots 10 en-.
act me part OF sodaHon; they will place the con-
Suiutional canon, too palpabY for rnisconsruction
against l9e sei-saughter of neTmeddling with nstitu-
ions aug f9h's exclusively OF State creation State
sponsioty' and Stale conro they will render 1t i'm
possible oy any process short of treason revolution
70 convert me confederacy into the of destroying
Ile e'lusV OF lis own members or to direct its ener
ges to uhl the behess of some cher law starting up
Ike the cyuluca Of the minute from the ever ranSinp
and incalen4aole phantasiea OF fhe inner man.
The Compromise measures, Mr.. Dallas very
clearly asserts, have failed of their object. and
this profound hint of an amendment of the con-
stIution to cure their defects is all that he youcb
safes to hsimpatient country.
The next question is. who bids higher or low
er las the terms may beg than that? Let us
hear what Judge Douglas, whose dodge of the
vote on the fugitive law is working sadly aqains
him, has to say!
Jenny hni commences series Of concerts thi.
evening IA Buffalo. The musical mania was again
prevalent 10 maj e''Y aud premiums were freely paid
Monday for tickets to the hrs, concert