Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-05-07
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We have unused. with no little edification, the
shifting ground and varying issues assumed by the
Democratic press OF the South, in view Of the APP
preaching Presidential election. At time, the
rights and interests Of slavery magni6ed and
pressed into service the great and important fea-
ture in the ensuing campaign at another, the rights
of the States and the principle of popular govern
ment in the territories arc pressed into active ser
vice; at another, the repeal of the Missouri Com
promise and the support of the kansas-Nebraska
bill is the great question; and yet at another, the
preservation of the twothrds rule by the Demo
cratic Convention, and the rigid enforcement of it,
principle is the panacea for all the evils of the day
To the rejecting mind properly informed as to the
secret party machinery at work to secure power and
beStow patronage, these various weighty considera-
tons, as presented, most amusing But to the
. unrcaecting and exctable they occasionally have
the desired effect Ii is in this view, proper TO re-
fer to them, and, by a candid investigation strip
them of their tinse and expose them in their naked
and heartess deformity. This propose to
do.
We have already adverted to the extreme danger
and revolutionary tendency of the effort section
alice the slavery question and hope that
have at least arrested sufficient degree of attention
among our readers to show that, long the
Union lasts and the Constitution and laws are oh
served slavery, it exists, and of right must exist
does need any such artificial and out-of theway
remedias but, on the contrary, is weakened if not
betrayed, by every such fortutous assistance. The
mere abstract question of slavery is very different
from the political aud legal rights Of slavery,
under and by virtue of the Constitution As to the
first, every man must form his own individual opin-
ion, to suit the convictions of ms mind but as
TO the other-the Federal compact-the express de
claratons and necessary provisions of the Federal
Constitution create the rights and render it obga-
tory upon every good citizen, North and South, in
obedience to the law to recognize support and de
fend the political and legal rights of slavery. NJ
party, set of men, have the Ioocr violate these
rights aSsail these interests so long the Con
sttution aud laws are observed.
Ia this view the individual opinion Of men, rs To
the abstract right of slavery does not and, in the
very of theory Of government cannot,
disqually them for a thorough aud unqualified ap-
probation aud defence of the political and legal
rights, under the Constitution. The South does not
need the defence of its absolute rights this subject
They are, by all candid minds readily conceded. 1t
is the results, affecting her relative rights which
create the danger and widens the breach between
the North and South This point of view involves
the territorial existence Of slavery. Hence the cN-
citenent at this time as to Kansas. The principle
recognized in the KansaS-Nebraska BILL that TO the
people citizens of the territory, belongs, exclu-
sively, the right, and in them when legally orgaI.-
lied is vested the power To adopt reject slavery.
when the State constitution is formed, is, in our
opinion, neither pro-Slavery nor anti-Savery fea-
ture Ii Is simply plain, practical declaration of u
clear right and distinct recognition of the Inda-
mental principle of republican governments Egis-
lattice avowa of the constitutional power reserved
TO the people If the provisions of this bill had
stopped at this point, and the selfish politicians could
have forgotten the alurements of office and served
their country with half the Zeal with which they
sought to serve themselves, all would have been
well; the country would now be at ease; the storm
which overhangS and darkens the hopes of the pa
triot, would never have gathered.
But no sooner had this bill passed than it was
from its provisions, regarded at the North as a step
onward in the march of free-sOilisTn. The plan wa.
formed to cooase this territory with the abotionis
and iree-soiler This system the bill Acknowledged
ised-iustied. Hence the rife system, the pulpit
appeals, the mass meetings at the North The South
as we have shown, appealed to to send out
their emgrants, that this territory may not be taker
possession Of and controlled by Northern abolition
lists" So stands this delicate question. We canno
discover wherein the rights of the South are thus pc
culiarly recognized distinctly protected But we
do detect and designate the feature in this bill
which by its practical bearings is dangerous an,
antagonisc to the South. 1t is the potcer given {,
the new conner, the recognition of the citizenship
OF the squatter who entities himself to every poit
cal right by the act Of taking possession Of and
holding the designated quantity Of land IL is thi,
feature which has impaired to the unnaturalized 70
reigner the power, in this territory to vote on the
formation OF the organic laws, when no where else
in the United States, could he vote at ALL
The great principle Of the bill we endorse and will
m no way fail to support but it is asking too much
TO expect us To advocate this peculiar feature W,
are not advocates Of forced settlements. or pr.cocio
growth, in any section Of the country We rerar,
all such legislation dangerous and illadvi,ed nh,
the present results natural a. they are olnoxios fl
the spirit and genius Of our Constitution We mu.
ask our readers To recall the Oft repeated declaration
ut the North that this bill was frce.soil in it, .nt
cies, in favor of freedom, aud Hat Mi, tas gi,e b,
Norther" noe" rs heir reason tor spyortiag II.
Let Us not be Inexperienced We distinctly NJ,
prove and will cordially support, the great repubi
can principle OF the bill will as distinctly ad,o
cate the nonrepea Of the repeal Of the Missouri com
promise. We will adhere with a tenacity unsurr,...
by any, 10 uc reserved rights Of the states and III,
Constitutional rights Of slavery We will assert III,
right and maintain it too, Of the Southern ,layehol
or 10 60 with his property, whether slaves or not
any OF this territory and settle Of right. 50 Ion
a. IL isa territory. llt If hc should he outyot,,
and tc territory become, a free State, hc may thai,
the friends II this peculiar feature in the blu for Il
late, aud must yield Ia the consequences Of such in
mature legislation. But, for the present we nu
dismiss the subject
CSors ANp PRovfsloSs At BAnnaDors--A letter dat
Barbados, April lltb, says:
"Ihc weather continues dry and the wind st,o
enough 20 work the sugar mills that good progress.
made with The crop UpWards u one.half Of ba. l.
reaPed' and 1000 hhds. shipped Business ,ctive
imports a. we'll ~ exports. Several vessels have INV
a'ey WIN hour meal and other provisions irou.
States, and dcmaud for sugar Tor the state. he, IL 4,
lately arisen which has served 70 raise the pric. on
90 % co.
The brig Echo arrived on the sch from g,ltiuore
The following the only vessels loading Tor the sts