Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-04-01
sauattcr Sovereignty.

IN Virginia had placed themselves ny t"c
solemn adoption Of a resolution, declaring
that they would not ''under any political
necessity" support for the Presidency, a
candidate who conceded TO the people Of
a territory, the right to legislate upon the
question of slavery. Such proposition
they placed side by side with the Wilmot
Proviso, and expressed an equal abhor.
renee for each. 1t is true that Immediate
ly upon the adoption of this resolve, they
supported Gen. Cass; but in doing SO they
stoutly protested that his views touching
the question were misrepresented by the
Wings. Gen. Cass is again a candidate
for nomination: he has confessed that the
Wings properly interpreted the language
of the Nicholson letter-what will the par
ty now do, il he should be the candidatel
But more prominent aspirant is in the
same predicament. Mr.. Douglas. the Mag.
nus Apollo Of "young America" is COM
mitted to the same doctrine.i in terms so IN
equivocal, as to leave no room for miscon-
struction. The following extract from q
speech delivered by him to the people Of
Chicago. which We find in the Washington
Union. fully explains his views on this top
ic. Speaking ofthe Compromise. he says:
"These measures are predcated on the
great fundamental principle that every
people ought TO possess the right of form
ing and regulating their own internal con-
Germs and domestic institutions in their
own way. 1t was supposed that those of
of our fellow citizens who emigrated, to
the shores ofthe Pacific, and to our terri
tories, were as capable of sen -government
as their neighbors and kindred whom they
left behind them. and there was no rea-
son for believing that they have lost any
of their intelligence or patriotism by the
wayside, while crossing the lsthmus or the
| Plains. 1t was also believed that after
their arrival in the country, when they
had become familiar with the topography.
climate, productions and resources, and
had connected their destiny with 1t, they
were fully as competent tojudge for them
selves what kind Of laws and institutions
were best adapted to their condition and
interests as we were, who never saw the
country. and knew very little about it,
To question their competency to do this
was to deny their capacity for self-gov-
ment. If they have the requisite intelll-
gence and honesty to be entrusted with
the enactment of laws for the government
Of white men, know Of no reason why
they should not be deemed competent to
legisate for the negro. If they are suf-
ficienrly enlightened to make laws for the
protection of life. liberty. and property
of morals and education-to determine
the relations of husband and wife-of par
ent and child am not aware that it re-
quires any higher degree LIBERALIZATION to
regulate the affairs of master and servant.
These things are all confded in the con-
stitution to each State to decide for itself.
and / kao,o of'no reason mhy the same
principle shouH not BE- crtmdcd to tie
Territories. My votes and acts havebeen
in accordance with these views in all cases,
except the instance in which ] voted I'M
der your Instructions"
1t is favorite subject for facetious re
mark, with our political adversaries. that
Wing principles have become obsolete,
and the Wing party extinct. Were it be-
coming to combat seriously what can only
be spoken jestingly, it would be an easy
thing to show. that the Wing party have
abandoned no principle 10 which it has
ever adhered, and the assumption would
have no pretext of justification, if the loco
focos properly appreciated the distinction
between principles and measures. Schemes
of polity are frequently mere matters of
expedicncy, and as such temporary and
transient; but questions Of principle enter
into the moral being of men and parties.
and are eternal. Because the Wing par
ty have agreed. under existing circum-
stances, to forego the farther advocacy Of
a national bank. are they to be considered
as having abandoned that first and abiding
basis of their neutrality-suspicious. to
Executive usnrpations and abusesl Be-
cause they do not now demand distrbu.
ton of the proceeds Of the public lands.
are they less devoted to that principle.
which recognizes the Legislative branch
Of the government, as the chief depository
of power. and the only legitimate expo
nent Of the popular will Because the
manufactures of the country may have
ceased to demand as high rate Of protec-
ton. as was once regarded necessary.
are those who recognize the change, to be
considered as having departed from the
faith. which accords rights and powers to
the Federal Union, as well as to the sepa-
rate members Of the confederacy, and
which thinks it wiser, TO pursue the path
way marked out by the great founders Of
the governments, than to follow the devious
footsteps of later teachersl They vastly
mistake the quality of Wing principles,
who think they are less dear to their ad-
vocates now, than they have ever been:
and they know but little of the Wing par
~ who think it less determined. united
and powerful now. than in former DAYS it
has shown itself to be.
The Wings of gallant old Augusta held
a meeting last Monday week, for the pur-
pose of appointing delegates to the State