Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-05-28
, E.rv;,R FROM =. 4. DOUGLAS, ESQ.
WAsHINGToS, D. c., MAY y, lS52.

LETTER FROM =. \. DOUGLAS. ESQ.
WAsHlSGroS, d. c., MAY %, 1852
h Ibe honor 10 acknowledge the receipt of your
,,, Of the 1h instant and take pleasure IN respondsne
directly TO your heterogeneous; especiay as NY anSmea
III; III, r.onrr reteraou Of my well matureo opinions
hih have repeatedly been expressed IN my iacH III .ne
senate and in the House Of Representatives, ana 10 my
stituents al home. , !, .ho comnromse
~ or,ed and opposed by Democrats and WINGS NUS
crin,natrly and therefore, could not Jusuy &c Cla'eu
Marty measures yet, deemed II my DUTY uh1e. ~
t} "a a;ve them in the Senate, cordial anu un"aSe'
; snonor,: and Immediately upon my return nome, Wiz h
as,Id bv nv constituents defended anu finaicn'et w.
provisions each and all OF those acts anu
pn,n a faithful execution OF the law Tor INC feca'a'o
Snw,;v.. from labor. Ny opinions upon these ques.l's
nav. Undergone change and shall deem II my GUY ~
whot,yer official position may be placed 10 exert d. s"
IN \ authority 10 enforce the honest execution
If rbose as well all other acts passed IN pursuance III.
CONSTITUTION Inasmuch as the Constitution Oh INC c'cu
States provides that no person hcid 10 service Vi u ~ o
STAT. nnder the laws thereof escaping into anohe sa 70
Of any law regulation therein De
rom snch service but shall delivered up on me cI
ri the marty 10 whom such service or labor may ne uue i w
~ H. ;,narayc duv Of Congress 10 pass all laws neces
snrv 10 carry that provision into ELECT ana no ace
fed 10 render thai provision OF Inc Constitution hope
~ 10 destroy or diminish the force o the existing laws io
Ira f6,snt or 10 impair obstruct the rights OF the cil
zens of any State under it, can ever receive my approval
I,cnrdinu 10 the construction have been inclined 70
,oo urnn your letter, the foregoing furnishes lu ana
mn,,e answer 20 all your incrrosatores but the clause
in which you enquire whether would dlscounenanee oy
avery prone means ali attempts TO disturb or cnans hs
visions Of that law whereby those provisions ght DC tu
less cecua - possibly De construed 10 Imply 'ni' nc
EXECUTIVE would be expected TO influence or restrain c
action Of Congress BY other means .an e''S 81 d"d m
tho Constitution Lest my answer may not DC agenGI u'
an This point il is candor TO state that should mol
feel at liberty any event. 10 use the patronage o e
vernncnt for the purpose OF influencing ls ee'sae aet
h, mr. any other subject but would leave 10 congress
The independent exercise of lis constitutional i"nc'oh anu
reserve 10 the Executive the full measure o, ny
| liuapp q m
Very respectfully, your OBJ aervt
s. A. DOUGLAS
,,":,". e. 50. >--.-...--., --.,.~.
bH WnEarLASp sEAn LANCASTER, Pa, May 24. 1852
| ROM. 6. SccTT, Esq
Sir: have received your communication Of the 18th
Instant asking whether in OF my nomination and
election TO the Presidency would in The administration OF
The government sustain and enforce ''he various acts OF
Congress constituting what ia known the Compromise,
and especially the enacmcnts OF that Iw relating ~ inc
recupture BY their owners, of fugitive savesf
And also whether "wuuld dscOuntenance, by every
proper means all attempts to disturb or change the pro'
,oEs that law whereby these provisions might be made
less eiacta for securing 10 the people OF the South the!r
rights in the possession and enjoyment Of
their slave property! ~
And again. whether SHOULD unfortunately bill be pass
ed by Congress- modifying changing the law referred TO-
80 impair its present valuable enacnentS, would l,
iyou) as President of the Republic veto any such bl!
These three several questions, answer, without the
slightest hesitation in the affirmative In thus swrrlns Ito
repeat the languagc Of my Richmond letter Of February as
al purpoSey refrain from discussing the original merits OF
The compromise because consider IT, tn employ the expires.
sye language OF the day. ''naty, fixed fact most
important enactment OF law the agitation or disturbance Of
which could do possible good but might produce much
positive evil Our noble vessel OF State reighted with the
houes of mankind both for the present and future genera
lions has passed through The most dangerous breakers which
she has ever encountered and has trumphanty ridden out
the Both those who supported tie measures ut the
and necessary, and those who, regard
ing them in dsren, light yet acquIesce in them iot the
sake of the Union have arrived al the conclusion
that and shall be executed They have thus for every
PRACTICAL purpose adopted the PLATFORM and have re-
solved against the enemy. why then
should they wrangc and divide and waste their energies NOT
respecting the main question: which has already been dein
lively settled bu; in regard the process which has brought
Ihe though from different directions 10 the same conGiu
sion Above all why should tho strength of the Democrat
party OF the country be impaired AMI its ascenency J"on
urjcd Tor any such causc2 We who believe that tho triumph
OF Democratic principles is essential not only 10 tie pros
rery of the Union, but 10 the preservation OF Tho
Constitution ought recprocay 10 forget and need be" 10
forgive the pas and cordially unite with political brct
in sustaining for the future the good Ola cause OF DC.
mouracy 1t mast be source oil deep ana lasting pleasure
10 every patriotic heart that beloved country has SD hap
sv passed through the late trying and danseous crisis
The volcano has been exusushcd trust forever and The
man who would apply llrebrand al the present moment 10
the combusble materials, which still remain, may produce
an eruption to oyeTweim both The Constitution AMI the
Union"
In n,y opinion the contingency, TO which you REFER is re-
mote and hehy improbable that Congress viii ever pass
bill! "muIifyn. changing the Fugitive Slave Law 50 as
10 impair its present valuable enaclmens This law con-
suma;ci The bond OF peace between the snVen?lains ana
/
of history Had il not passed. The remaining mra-
sures OF Adjustment however wise in themselves.
would not have deserved the OF Compromise
bel these classes Of States. II is the single nea-
sure whole series in which the slavc-hodlng States
with exception Of Texas have any peculiar interest Ii
--1-~,,i- --If"t 49," hur" -"";.-.'i e. -
great sacrifices which many perhaps majority, OF their
citizens believe they have suffered. Besides, nearly all the
other OF the compromise certainly The most I'M
pUrant n he their very nature hnn and cannot be
repealed By Congress. Under these circumstances II would
not only b. unjust but in bad faith deprive hese States
of the benefits secured them BY the Fugitive Slave Law
-csDrray law Of this character Is not only author
zcd absolutely required b. The express mandate OF the
Constitution.
In what estimation would the civilized world hold the
duet OF one the parties solemn treaty m peace between
INDEPENDENT nations who, whilst himself in the enjoyment
of all the benefits stipulated in his favor and in which he
knows lie can never be disturbed should then round
and merely he possesses the power, deprive the
other party Of The only equivalent he had received under This
very treaty.
But iorbear pursue this subject. In my opinion the
harmony OF the States, and the prosperity. il may be The
Of the Union depend upon The maintenance and
faithful execution OF all The compromise measures il is
in the day behind the record and discuss
their original merits. Yours, very respectfuly,
JAMES BUCHANAN.
LETTER FROM GENERA. WOOL.
Troy New YuRR, AiAr "a, 1852.
SIR:-At the moment of leaving Washington, for my
Head Quarters in this city, received ynur communication
of the l7h Instant relating 10 the nominations To be made
by the Convention which 10 be assembled In few days
nj Raiir.Orc