Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-12-23
W,sIiISGTos, Dec. lS, 1856.

to pronounce opinions questions ot morals p
Sc, Sc.
W,sHISGTos, Dec. lS, 1856.
The drift of debate in the House is leading, by a
gradual flow, to one common current leaving tho
eddcs aud counter currents along the sides of ind
vidua! position us an onwa-! portion Of n common
stream. That stream il the Democratic party, and
the centre Of opinion, middle ground upon which
the different wings of the party settling down, is
to leave the question of SGlattcr Sovereignty, as IN
ro'rsd IN the Nebraska B, 10 h. decided, il nece-
sgry by the Supreme Court. This policy is wise.
from the simple tact, that may not hope to pusa
successfully the correct Saterghis view, which gave
Us our rights in all territory, independently of the
Missouri restriction, the Kansas Bill, and even the
unconstitutional exercise OF Squatlcr Sovereignty III
the territories.
In. SoufI! and the Democratic party, which has it's
base at the South have two battles TO h.ht-one in
upho!ding correct constitutional principles as the
creed of ou. party the other in so placing ourselves
Il, fore the civilized world and tie people ot the
Ncrth 10 have tie law and the right and the Con
sii,u;ion clearly On our side Our enemies, lifting
themselves above the Constitution refuse to weld ~
tue expedition vi the lssue involved in the hanshs
bill TINT MAJ bc gwen by The Supreme Conrt. II l.
certainly mnrfyag tn fad such departures from cor.
rect prnciple as are evidenced through the current
debate Oh squnttc: soScrc.Snty. lie South 10 ra'
pidy falling back OH the strongest ground fo'
defiance of right, justice nnl humanity, will
prepare for I'll utter overthrow. ihe Pre-
sdent is right Thu first Object is 10 Afii-
cauize i.e Southern States. In q few days
viii be able to send you the abstract of speech
delivered in the South this subject, during the late
canvass II relates lhs e!lec! free negroism
the white population, and particularly the slave
holing population desire TO bespeak for it In ad.
careful reading.
As write, Hon. john A Quiinan of Mississippi
is delivering able speeci: The suhjec; of sove.
rcisny rs involved in or political system. He Us
snmes the broud position ;hat original sovereignty
was in the States forming the compact; That
they stood towards Themselves, as separate and
independent Republics, friends towards the
world. When England recognized that indepen.
dsrce aud separate and distinct sovereignty, she
did it, 10, in regard 10 The "Un,eI Siates"-nor
in regard to a community Of States-nct in regard 10
the people" lnass, bEt in regard to each State.
nanins each State BY name, separately and dis
tiucty independent: The speaker then passed to h
simple ana Deau.,u exposition oi the Jefferson idea.
renarkis that ri this Time no apology WAS nscessu-
ry for recurrence 10 e!oinen.ar! principles
liz may be nc well 10 state here that Gen. Qutman
took oacusion to remark that his vote tho slave.
trade resolutions was based on the principle that
Congress had 10 power nnd rgh. 10 pronounce opin
ulIs on Questions uf morality lie had his opiu-
ions on the slavery question, and on many others,
hut utterly denied The power OF Congress to coerce
him into exposition Of them. or decide in antlci'
patton rs 10 tceir morality. |; was ill excellent
hit and was well received on beth sides of thu
Huuse