Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-08-29
THE PROPOSITION OF COMPROMISE.

The bill introduced by Mr.. Weller of California for
the repeal of certain obnoxious laws enacted by the
Legislature of Kausas, is in fact proposition of com
promise, and as such is opposed by the reliable men
of the Senate. Although al independent measure in
appearance, it is intended a condition precedent TO
the passage Of the Army Appropriation Bill, and S
offered Us IL concession to the unconstitutional de-
! mands of tho Black Republican party. If it were
never so just and proper in itself it should be prompt
ly rejected in consideration of it's object. The South
should not consent to the sacrifice Of shadow even,
to induce the Black Republican majority in the
House of Representatives to abandon their revolu-
tioEary resistance TO the operations of government.
Senator Mason, ever among tho foremost cham
pons of our rights and honor. gave noble utterance
to the sentiment of this State in his speech against
Mr.. Weler's proposition. Mr.. Hunter is allowed, by
common consent, to leGd the conservative majority
in the Senate, and he finds a willing and able sup
porter in his distinguished colleague. Vrgina's
Senators Lave asserted and will maintain her claim
to the hegemony Of the South. This the substance
of Mr. Mason's admirable speech:
Mr.. Mason was opposed to the introduction and
passage of any such r-pea measures in the present
attitude Of public affairs and, apart from any pecu
liar objections to their adoption by the Senate under
the OF recent and pending events in the House
of Representatives they seemed TO him inconsistent
with the theory of the act organizing the Territory Of
Kansas. BY that act O new theory was nauguratcd
in the Territorial legislation Of the country, by which
Congress divested itself of all legislative power
the Territories, and lett the people free to form and
regulate their own institutions. He had voted for
that under sort of duress and not without some
misgivings; but, thinking it safer to trust the regua-
ton Of auca questions in the hands Of the people of
the Territories than in those Of Congress- he had ac
ccpied the "new theory" And now. he remarked, it
is proposed TO undo what have done, aud 10 recall
the power with which we have invested the people Of
Kansas. He was not prepared to endorse this change
in theory aud practice under the act OF 1871. lie
haG not particularly read the laws of Kansas, and
was not prepared to speak in their favor but he could
not bring himself to believe that any portion of the
American people had passed laws which deserved TO
be denounced as infamous" and ''atrocious" He
knew that in certain quarters the legislation OF Fr-
gna upon the subject OF slavery might seem "shock-
ing" and unjust 10 him certain laws in the free
States seemed open to censure and condeinnatlon.-
But would this justify intervention on the part OF Con-
gress Certainly not. Tie Supreme Court OF the
United States and not Congress, the proper ribu
mel for the adjudication OF such questions, and to that
tribunal he willing to remit Ihem But even this
he would not concede until the House of Representa-.
tves had receded from It's lactous attempt TO
the Senate. He deemed the attitude Ot the House
highly revolutionary in is tendency. ltwas the en-.
tering wedge which might rive our Union asunder.-
He preferred to meet the evil at once rather than
make il chronic and dangerous by i'll advised pallia-
tiycs,