Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-03-23
MESSRS. CASS AND DOUGLAS.

1t is we'll understood that the Senator from
Illinois is the special favourite of the ~ Dung
Democracy" of the South, whilst he OF Miehl-
gan has become the object of their undisguised
aversion and contempt. Aud yet we find upon
enquiry into the opinions of these two active
competitors for public favor, that scarcely shs-
dow of difference exists between them. Upon all
the old party issues, we take it Tor granted that
they entertain similar views. In respect to the
Wilmot Proyiso, Intervention, the Compromise,
&C., their votes and speeches in Congress show
complete coincidence of opinion upon every
important point involved in the consideration OF
those subjects.
The organs of the ''Young Democracy" as
sign as a reason for their new born hostility to
Gen. Cass, that he has repudiated, since the last
Presidential election, one of the cardinal doc
trines upon which he was then supported
by the Democracy of the South. Such is
the language of the Georgia Telegraph and
the South Side Democrat. upon which, we had
occasion to comment few days since. This
.scardinal doctrine" the Reputation of which,
according to these high authorities, precludes
uon. lass IrUln oil lutuIt Cldil W OoubliCIu
support, is the doctrine of the Alabama and Vir-
ginia platforms that the people of territory
have no right to legislate upon the subject of
slavery. Now, it SO happens, that Senator Dou-
glas occupies precisely the same position with
reference to this question that Gen. Cass does.
He. too. repudiates this cardinal doctrine of
Southern Democracy, and consequently, is as
II, l,,I from, win fnaI.- c,Iy,
port as his Michigan rival. The following ex-
tract from a speech delivered by Mr.. Douglas,
to the people of Chicago, which find in the
last issue of the Washington Union, fully ex-
plains his views on this topic. Speaking of the
Compromise, he says:
These measures predcated on the great funda
mental principle that every people ought to possess the
right of forming and regulating their own internal
Germs and domestic institutions in their own way. ltwas
supposed that those of fellow citizens who emigra
ted to the shores of the Pacific and to other terrific
ries were as capable of sefgovernment their neigh
bors and kindred whom they left behind them; and there
was no for believing that they have lost any of
their intelligence patriotism by the waysde while
crossing the Ishmus the Plains. 1t was also beev
ed that after their avain the country when they had
become familiar with its topography, climate, Produc-
tons and resources and had connected their destiny
with it. they fully competent to Judge Tor them
selves what kind of laws and institutions best
adapted to their condition and interests as
who the country, and knew very little about
III.
nv their capacity for sefgoyernment they have the
requisite intelligence and honesty to be entrusted with
the enactment of laws for the government of white
men, know of why they should not be deem
ed competent to egislate for the negro If they
sufficiently enlightened to make laws tor the protection
of life liberty, and propertyot morals and education
to determine the relations OF husband and wlte-ot
parent and child not aware that 1t requires any
higher degree of civilization to regulate the affairs OF
master and servant These things all conhded by
the constitution to each State to decide for ITSELF and
know of no reason why the principle should not
be extended to the Territories My votes and acts
have been in accordance with these all cases,
except the instances in which voted under your in
structons.'.
Thus, it will be seen, that if the Southern
Democracy are determined to adopt Senator
Douglas. as their favourite, they must invent
some other pretext than the one already
alleged for discarding Gen. Cass. The true ex-
PLANTATION of their hostility to Cass, and their
zeal for Douglas is to be found, after ALL in the
innate propensity of human nature, to turn its
worship from the setting to the rising sun, and
they would do well to emulate the candor OF
their national organ, the Democratic Review, by
confessing the truth at once. The objectionable
sin committed by Cass consists not in the repu-
diation of cardinal doctrine of the Southern
Democracy, but, in his having been woefully
beaten in the last canvass, whereby the Democ-
racy were banked in their anticipations of
clutchins the spoils. "Hlnc lilac laclsrymae."
e.