Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-12-16
FROM WASHINGTON CRY.

lt0rrcspnndcfIcr 0f The Enquirer.
The M@S>"gc-E:G;ct IN Not,onni POiiLcs-Sgua,ter
SorcrTcmty-tior Bigicrs Spc,ch - Tie D,baic
IN CoagressIs imPortancc i,r Mc future West
Itdm RriprOciy- TIE GrCat Measure Of he
ige, Dr., Sc.
WisHINGToS, Dec u, 1876.
The Presidents Message has produced unex.
pecled and decided effect on national politics. 1t
has made up the ssu. between the two great parties
30 distinctly, that it s impossible to avoid it, or
evade i, or compromise with it, il such a policy Lad
even been dreamed Of by the merely expediency
men. II had even been charged that the Democracy
succeeded in the Nor;h by mrkins concessions to the
anti Nebraska sentiment Some have gone 81 inr as
IL say that the vote u condemnation of the Pre-
sidcut on this subject. The Sqaatter Sovereignty
charge was stated 10 be well founded, and com,
Gov. Bigers speech looks rather doubtful Oh that
point. The extension slavery men even said
that the issues uf Gen. Pirrres administration would
he thrown aside. These and u hundred other runurs
have filled the public mind nj the South with doubt
and uncertainty. Many nt the tried leaders Ot the
Democracy regarded the final result rs anything but
satisfactory not much IN reference 10 the present
that was Securrd-as tu tbs future. The re-noml-
nation oi Fremont, and the unanmity with whctpls
follower combined in tie House against Whitfield
added 10 this gloom. Far seeing men, and those who
have been SOcituus iur The common good Of the
oonutry, becou- convinced that the anti slavery lem
wns not defeated. but only checked. The danger was
no. in the issue - .ed un the Kansas bill, but in seek.
ing to avoid !; ;To IN the array .. .he msed multi
tu!e IT The NORTH bat in any attempt 10 escape their
wrath hy comprnm.s or Hight.
In the midst of all this darkness, doubt and unccr
tauty, Franklin Pierce steps into The arena, and
with manness which every Democrat will appre-
ciaie and a foresight which time will demonstrate,
has p.rpctun.d, {" speak, the acts aud policy ot
hs administration as par; Of the policy aud rcspon'
sibiIity If Mr. Buclhnams.
Tie unanimous endorsement oi the Message by
the leaders OF the Democracy md The entire Demo.
cratic press of the country, still further confirms this
responsibility There il end new To timid meas
ur.t ana cancellation with The treesoii clement The
opposition has eagerly accepted the issue, and ITS
managers nrr buSiy engaged directing il into that
path To which the message audes, aud which lends
M where, or Ia d-uuion. Ii is fortupai" for Mr..
Buchanan that all doubts a. 10 She exact line OF pDii
cy of his administration are ,hui removed. Those
Southern men no feared q tenp"riZln- policy, are
now convinced that it Is simply lnpnss BILE
Mr.. Buchanan will n"i fail 10 choose between the
two pariies-lhr Fremont party and the Adrninistra
lion party The wuverlng and tnid must now take
sides The debate III Congress will place on record,
not only the aIinus of our foes, but the principles o
our friends. Among the most important OF the latter
is the question whether the people oi u territory
while in territorial condition, pass local laws
excluding negro property from the terrltnry!-or
whether that question is 10 be left open until the ter
rtnry forIns q State constitution, when the question
of slavery shall be dete' mined by majority of the
people forming the samel The doctrine of squa,ter
Sovereignty csn,;ot be accepted by the Sta;e.righis
m.n oi .h. South, withou; entire change i'll their
purity policy nnd huncst constitutional cunvlctnns.
apprchcnd that the speech of Gov. Biger will he
explained By that gentleman this topic: but, not
-cl crrin il will not be endorsed. Mr.. Buchan-
nn's friend say that he has not authorized any such
position Tor him. and it would consequently he unjust
to anticipate responsibility Of the knd before rs
sumcd.
The question of West India reciprocity. now
made public through tie press, may grow into
al impnrlant feature ] have taken some pains
To ascertain . effect uf ~nch p"!icv on the West
Indies .ni there is no doubt but what it would he of
great advantage {" the South and the entire Union
IL is certainly rl. most important neasure ever pro-
uused from the S:ae Department. as II involves III
i,rests aud emLrnccs European associations which
hay. never before come within the range OF Aner-
oan diplomacy. Perhaps il may he fore runner OF
that sentiment IN England which Is teaching her 10
abandon her colonial policy in America, aud add 10
our advancement by It cordial commercial alliance,
thus paving the way Ia further unity ever required
~ necessary To both countries. Nh Marcys en-
yh,en.d v.wa on n these subjects entiile his slg-
nestioDs to mature consideration. Engiand's past
uoicy in the We. Indies is anti American and even
anti British She is learning every day lhHt her true
pDlcy is close association with III. United Stnes.-
The new treaty therefore leads the mlnd TO The con
sidrrgtiom Of Questions too wci.h,y for ncwspnpe!
letter, but Will refer 10 :hen mgan