The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-10-10
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER AND GEN. CASS.

adopted.
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER AND GEN. CASS.
The Richmond Enquirer of Friday last makes an elabo
rate reply to the brief notice took days previous
of its attack upon Gen. Cs The tone and temper OF this
reply are violent than the original attack but
yet far moro libera and personal towards Gen. Cass
than we would expect from democrat towards an
other especially when the difference in the age and pub
lie services of the assaant and the assaed such as
suggest propriety of using but the most respectful
language We the subject not SO much Tor thu
purpose vndcang Gen. Cass as to give the Enquirer h
benefit of its correction of msapprehenson into whct
it says we fallen and then to correct most material
error into which its editor has fallen as to our position IN
regard to the next presidency.
We must suggest the Enquirer that the reason io'
which declined reply to the very full and triumph
ant vndicaton of Gen Cass by the Detroit Free Press
seems to us be insufficient 1t should be remembered
by the editor that his attack upon Gen. Cass made in
language far from mild respectful to him. If his friend
at Detroit chose to reply in the tone of bitterness
and severity he only followed the bad example by the
Enquirer But suggest, in the next place. that when
the Enquirer determined to conne his reply to short
notice of his attack it due to fairness and justice that
he should omitted from article that portion
of it ON which we rested General Casss defence The ORR
gina attack made upon report OF General Casss
speech which confessedy imperfect and unsatsfaco-
rya report most probably made by an enemy for the
purpose subecting him to assault We thought it lib
era unfair in the Enquirer to make such report the
basis of so violent attack We waited until we saw q
version of the speech in the Free Press and upon
that our notice of the injustice to Gen. Cass by the
Enquirer made The Enquirer quotes at length what
we said ois from the middle of our article the brief
. u . 49, l.-l
we relied to show that he been berally and unusty
assaed When it is remembered that the Enquirer pre-
faced its attack upon Gen. Cass with the declaration that
f his language be correctly given in the report Of his
speech &c. we how the editor of that paper
could reconcile his omission of any ausion to anthem
tic report of the speech with spirit of fairness and justice
towards General Cass
Whilst the Enquirer was thus consolidating notice Of
his attack the ntmaton that we had wully represent
ed his article seems to us to be made with an exceedingly
bad grace But it matter of Importance to to
know the exact point which the Enquirer rests its at
tack on General Cass than eavl about question Of
editorial courtesy The point stated by the Enquirer
is contained in the following extract: +
We did not rcproach General Cass account of his pri
vate opinions VIZ iberal stupid an to
net of northern rigid conformity to our own creed In
to negro slavery We long since taught not to
look norhward rational views this subject and
are content to that quarter simple tolerance of in
stitutions This is all demand snd this is what General
Cas refuses to concede He might be averse to
slavery and we would complain if he would Tgidy abb
sian from assang it, But he will not observe an honest
neutrality With professions Of friendship his lips he
throws the weight of his influence into the antsavery scale
Whilst affecting regard for the rights ana security OF the
outb he stimulates the fanaticsm OF the abotionists by
Joining in their denuncation Of slavery Seemingly anxious
IN rre the conhaprat;on he diligently heaps fuel on the
flames With effect Gen. Cass resist the aggresons
of the abotons while he niiames their passions against
slavery If we the honesty of his lotre we must
confess that it absurd policy which he pursues lie
anxious for security yet contributes to raise the storm
that is to overwhelm u.s.
wv, are heartily gratifed find that the editor of the
Enquirer is MT bsral or 30 stupid as to exact OF north
r men rigid con rmity to his creed in respect to sa-
and ,b, hc does not reproach Gen. Cass for his pri-
vo,e opiniops We are equally sratfed to find him SO
e,,v agreeing with us also in demanding OF northern
men nothing than simple tolerance OF our s'u'ion
and faithful observance of the constitutional protectcn
and security thrown around them These sound senti-
ments will be cordially approved and heartily responded
10 b all conservative men of South But Gen Cass
reproached not because believes slavery be social
and political evil but because he rgdly abstain
from assailing it, We understand the position of the En-
aurer to be plainly this that he not how much Gen
ass may be opposed slavery long he keeps his
opinions to himself; but that when he makes public
avowa of his autislavery opinions he identifies himself
with the abolition enemies of the South and deserves to be
classed with Benton and Van Buren,. We submit to the
Enquirer that his position would utterly paralyze ana
render totally inefficient every northern man who
is disposed recognise and sustain the interests and
rights of the South He oveooks entirely the circumstances
which surround and embarrass those of the North
who nobly battling with the abolition feeling. He for
gets remember that all the North educated
in the belief that slavery evil to be there regarded as
friend to the institution necessarily cxcites popular
prejudice which seriously embarrasses and dcracs from
the influence and efficiency of northern speaker before
northern audience Taking advantage of the universal feel
ing of hostility to slavery at the North the political man
ayers of the abolition stamp charge every friend and sup
porter of the Nebraska bin being friend to slavery
The practical question: then, presented is this When
friend of the Nebraska bill who stands charged with pro-
saverysn goes before audience in whose minds this
prejudice exists should he his real sentiments of op
position the institution and thereby the prejudice
existing and clear the way for the assertion and msnte
by argument of the constitutional rights of the
South should he rigdly abstain from declaring his OPP