Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-05-15
Fairly Caught in lis OWN Tran.

Ii will be remembered, suppose by most Of our
readers, that the Enquirer and the Democratic press
generally, since the adjournment OF the Phila
delphia Convention, have been loud and bitter il,
their denunciatiOn of the platform which that Con
vention adopted maintaining, with indignant ear
nestness, that it vas a shameless aud unqualified SUI
render of the rights Of the South the question q
slavery. But now the tune is changed-the Enquire,
stoutly cOntendng that the language Of the Nebras-
ka bill and the language of the seventh article of the
Philadelphia platform identical III substance and
meaning, and almost in words This being so, wha,
is the necessary iDierences Why, this in brcf-that
if the Kansas Nebraska bill is the one thing needf
for the South and its approval the great test Of de
~ TO Southern nstitutOns-ifH contains DECLARE
ton and guarantee in favor of Southern rights and
Southern interests-it follows the night the day
that the seventh article the Philadelphia platform
embraces every thing which the most ultra Southern
man could expect or desire! That platform and the
Nebraska bill, the Enquirer proclams to the world
enunciate precisely, without shadow of difference
the same principles and the same doctrines and OF
course If one Is worthy the support Of the South aud
a security for its rights So iniallibly is the other
We defy the Enquirer, with all its astuteness and
critical acumen, to find flaw in this argument We
submit II to the judgment Of men Of all parties say
whether the reasoning here employed in accordance
with the Enguirer's own premises is not impregna-
BILE and conclusive.
But for the benefit Of the Fillmore Electors and
friends generally, ia the present canvass we de-
sire to put upon record the exact words Of the Er
quirer on this important subject Aiter quoting the
language Of the Nebraska bill aud the seventh aricl,
Of the Philadelphia platform, it says:
rs not tie meaning ~ these sentences MeHficdi
In hUth, the drticie ~ tie 1mcricm yiaitorm il
obviously a plagidrism from tie Raasas- NeJrdsh
bill"
We hope our readers will treasure up this mos
valuable Democratic confession II is complete an,
unansworable reply 20 the allegation that the Ameri
can party not sound the slavery question:, tina
their platform is not bold and explicit enough on th
main issue between the North and South, viz th
rights Of the South IN the Territories. AccordEi
10 the Enquirer IL the Nebraska bill is worth any
thing To the South, then the Philadelphia platform
worth just much--that is there Is no earthly dbl
ference between the two IN substance aud IN mean
ing IN unfolding tic Philadelphia PLATFORM there
fore, simply adopting and pledging ourselye
20 the maintenance Of the saving principle Of III
kansas-Nebfaska bin. And IN doing that can vi
Fillmore or his supporters with any Resemblance
or justice whatsoever. be charged With Unsoundnes
OF indifference respecting the rights Of the S1utn
The simple suggestion Of such an idea demonstrate
It's utter absurdty IN sustaining Mr. Fillmore o
the Philadelphia platform, according, be il remen
bered, 10 the Richmond Eaguirsr we are standip
side by side. shoulder to shoulder, with the warme
and sturdest supporters Of the Kansas Nebraska bi
that great test Of Democratic orthodoxy" as IL
EEasniNer has characterized IT,
Wa trust noW that vre eball hear uofI,fug mo,
from our Democratic contemporaries touching Il
unsoundness and ineflciency Of the Philadelph
platform. That platform has been broadly and co