Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-07-11
1AY NiORNENG, JULY II, 1855.
THE "wHIG" ANSWERED OUT OF IT'S OWN

! THE "WHIG" ANSWERED OUT OF IT'S OWN
COLUMNS.
Our neghbor is modest overrnuch. No sensible
man will concur in its disparag;ng estimate of its own
ability Iadeed, lis disclaimer of any skill in the adj.
pomncy of polite joarnalism is obviously rleto.
rical urtiice and as an airoit hectaon of simpli-
city, is intended to aay the alarm Of an attack of
aophisry His suspicious soo,hed b. protessa:ions of
innocent purpose, the realer-sach is the calculation
will fall al easy prey to sudden surprise and the
arts of mys:!t:a;ion Accordingly, our nelbor tolls
through column of elaborate joke, mixed metaphor
and false analogy in vain attempt to perpleS the
public understanding OF 4 very pain matter. 1t i'm.
plies no lnputaton on our n:ignbors skill III 1.-THE d.
DloInacy o polite juurnaii3m to ailr:n that It utter
y fails in its impracticabe -ffrt.
Some time since, tho ITtig reproduced speech
delivered by M.. Buchanan in 1873, in which
red these very words "All will admit that the psople
Of that territory" (Iacaning Cnfornia) ''assem
bed in convention to form O State constitution,
possess the SOLE tile exclusive power to determine
whether slavery shall or shall not exist within its linn
It's IhIa language is plain that the arts of so.
vh'sTy cannot peryert !s meaning. 1t afiirsns ls,
hat na people uf territory; 2n!!y, assembled in
convention To form State constitution, possess; 3dly,
The soc, the EXCLUSIVE power 10 determine wheth-
er slavery shall Or shall not exist within its limits
so repeat the words Of Mr. Buchanan's speech, be-
cause it is impossible to explain his meaning III more
precise aud explicit language 1t is not within the
Of flilacy raise doub in the least log
sal mind. that Mr.. Buchanan here distinctly declares
that the people of territory when assembled in con.
titu,iunal convention, Cii a other ,riod Of their
p,ii:cGi rIstc.cS, possess the soi the EXCLUSIVE
power TO admit prohibit savcry-wnris which de-
ny the power ch:r 10 the Federal Government or to
the terr rial Legislature. The power rests sulcy and
exclusively ,;i,h The people Of territory, 0sSsm6d
an cOar.a',oa 10 form S.a;c constitution. Ii the
constitutional convention in territory possesses the
sole nnd exclusive poweT to admit or forbid slavery,
"i course the single and excuavc powes can
moi rest with the territorial legislature
We abhor the subtlc;ies OF srGoia! pleading and if
there be any appearance oi refinement in our COM
,nentary Oh Mr.. Hucanais words, it is attributable
to al aLotiye attempt to conveyhis meaning in more
luminous language.
The Wig, recovering IN measure from the shock
of its explosion slowly rises and declares that it
is hurt not bit! People the reco and the con-
sequent prosraon, yet neghbor solemnly insists
that its blunderbsss did not kick at all There is
resisting the evidence Of the senses neither ia it pos.
sible for the wig to avoid the effect of the language
which it quotes from Mr. Buchauan's :peeoh. All its
elaborate explanation only serves 70 involve it in
greater perplexity. Tie lNig not 50 unreasonable
rs to expect ls this hot day. to follow il. through its
ilouuderiag. When the weather gets cooler we may
expose its sophisry. Meanwhile rest the OH