Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-04-02
FRIDAY MORNING. APRIL =.


'he TTrginia Democracy and the Compromise
We have rarely seen disputant in any form
neither of law or logic, who, when fairly corner
but resolved not to surrender, did not endea-
to dodge the obnoxious question which he
uld not answer. The Enquirer, of yesterday,
esents notable example of this almost univer
fact. We asked of the Democracy of Virginia
by. on two signal recent occasions, when 1t felt
self called on to review its whole party ''plat-
rm,'' and make it applicable to the present
bndition of the country" it wholly omitted men,
on of the Compromise measures-the fugitive
ave law particuarly-and gave the go-bye to all
iscussion of mems opinions in regard to these
homeutous issues And what is the Engurer's
nswer to this plain question Does it attempt to
ccount for this omission in the drama of its par
doings, which looks like the play of Hamlet,
With the part of Hamlet himself, 'lett out by par
iculdr request ?" On the contrary, it seeks a
Fefuge in the imputed sins of Wing Conventions,
n some of the free-soil States, and this it calls
turning the tables" on the Wing press of Rich
nond. Are we then to understand that the De-
lnocracy of Virginia stand no higher test on
his subject than the free-sol Wings of other
States-of tide " Johnson-Sewar Scott Wing
Convention" as it calls the recent Wing Conven-
ton of Pennsylvania! "Proh Pudorn'
But did it never occur to the Enquirer, when it
permitted itself to say of the pure and venerable
hero of two wars-a Virginian too-who has
''done the State some service,' of which his bo-
som bears the honorable scars, 'that Seward aud
Johnson of Pennsylvania rank abotionists and
interventionists his principal grooms and
backers," when it arraigns as insufficient evil
denee of General SCOTS 'ssoundness'' and 10y
atty to the peace measures, his 'smuch Landed,
and newly trumpt-up Castle Garden speech,
and Clay and Webster letters, - because that
speech made and those letters written before
the fugitive slave law passed, and because s'he
has never yet publicly avowed his support of the
fugitive slave law--the only portion of the Com
promise in which the South is interested, what
cutting sarcasm it was pronouncing on itself and
its party in this State! Pray sir, when and where
has that party yet publicly avowed its support of
the fugitive slave law Is it not of foregone pur-
pose, as Mr.. Tim Rives let out in the phrenzy of
his late inspirations, that, should the Wings of
the South conclude to run a candidate on South
Ii
run such a candidate would get the most North
ern votes of all sorts And again, if we did not
disdain to defend ourselves against the charge of
treason at home by plea of the existence of dis
affection abroad, mig ht not point the fact of
similar and apparently arranged scheme upon
the great vital measure of the day in other congre-
cations of the faithful Democracy, in other parts
of the country! On this point, our colleague of
the Republican pointedly remarked the otherday
-''It is obvious That Compromise is to be given
the go=bye and will not be recognized by the De-
mocratic party. The Democracy of New York,
Ohioand Virginia alike shut their eyes to it. The
Democratic Convention, which nominated Cover
nor Johnson, said nothing about it. In the Dem
ocratic Congressional caucus it only raised its head
to be thrust under foot. 1t (the Virginia Con
vention) leaps over the momentous issue of the
present to reaffirm the resolutions of '98 and 99
Can there be a doubt that the Baltimore Conven-
ton will pursue the course The Demo
cratic free-soilers of the North will be perfectly
ready to accept the resolutions of '98 and 99, Civ
ing them their own interpretation they have
already expressed their willingness to sanction
the resolutions of 1914 and 1848." And the Re-
publican might have added, in the case of the
New York Democracy expressly because the re-
solutions of 1914 and 1848 were of date ante
rior to the fugitive slave law.
Let us tell the Enquirer, in all sincerity that
this won't do. 1t will require rather more OF in
genuty, to get its party out of the fix in which il
is now placed, and in which, without a radica
change of policy it will be kept than that paper
has so far exhibited.