Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1857-09-26
From the Richmond Enquirer September 4.
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER SATISFIED
WITH AGITATION.

We hold that, as the affairs Of the nation are at
present in the hands of the National Democracy,
there can be no necessity, and we trust there will
be Cause, for further agitation of the disturbing
question OF slavery in the next Congress, which
will be strongly Democratic.
1t is true we have persistently and zeaously urg-
ed upon the Southern people the impoi tance of
meeting our abolition enemies at overy point. atici-
pating their attacks and battling their designs
1t is true we have almost daily directed attention
to the slavery question above all others mmedi.
ately involving the interests and honor of the
South. 1t is true we have aided, to the utmost ex.
tent of our Influence, in making the slavery issue
the prominent and all.absorbing one before the
country" But we have done this under convic-
tion of an imperative necessity. Whenever and
hcwever the institutions of the South assailed,
whether the danger is distant Immediate; wheth-
er it is increased by unity in the North or division
in the South, we deem it the paramount duty of ev-
cry Southern journalist to point it out and harp
upon it until the action Of the nation engenders a
sense of security in the South.
The Enquirer" is no agitator. But it has here.
tofore entered earnestly into the discussion of the
slavery question, and still devotcs much of its at
tention to it, not because it delights in dscord but
for .he reason that it considers the South first the
Union next. We OCCUPY that position. in relation
to the agitation of the slavery question: which has
ever been held by the people of the slaveholding
States. We deny the right Of the Federal Govern
ment to Interfere in any wise with the domestic in.
stitutons of the States. And, Mrefore. the dgita.
ton of slavery be attributed to us only in far
it is the result Of our opposition to the insults
and encroaChments of the North When the wind
is not by the tides there is much less roughness
on the water; SO, if aboitionism was allowed to
move on unobstructed by opposition. there would
be much less agitation.
The Enquirer demonstrates against any undue
discussion OF the slavery question in Congress- be-
cause it can discover no good to resu! fTom it,
guard.
ianship of the Administration and with Demo
cratic Congress there can be no danger Of any in
suit or injury to the interests and honor of the
snveholdiGg States Such is the ground which the
whole Southern people occupy Let us alone" is
all we ask Of the North OF course, if the Black
Republicans attack our institutions in the nextCon-
sress they must be met promptly. And hence ag.
:tatop may ensue. But then it will be no fault
OF the South or the National Democrats Of the
North.
But to return to the original point at issue. The
"Enqurer' is opposed to the agitation of the slave
ry question in the next Congress. And we think
we are sustained in the opinion by nine-tenths Of
the conservative citizens of both sections. As it
now stands the South is satisfied. We want no
more legislation on the sub bect by the Federal Gov.
ernment. The States and the people Of the Terri
tories now acknov vledged by the supreme laws
of the land to be sole arbiters of the question:
That is all the Constitution comedies. 1t is all the
South has ever asked. Why. then, agitae the
question further befOre tribunal which can legltl
imately exercise no authority over it? 1t cen
surely be productive of no good to us. As long
rs laws of Congress existed which encroachcd
upon the rights of the South, intruded upon the
jurisdiction of the States, and impaired the equal
ity of our section of the Union. agitation was in
dispensible to assertion Of Southern lights and
a vindication of Southern honor.
But now, since the Federal laws recognize our
rights we can no necessity for claiming more.
Until the repeal of the Missouri Compromise it
was INCUMBENT upon the South to continue to dc
nland that equality in the Union which denied
her. 1t vas duty to wage upon the North
for the recovery of that which has been wrung
from But to advocate agitation now would he
to demand more than would be reasonable or right
If the abulitionsts in Congress continue to press
upon u.s. We must of course meet them, and beat
them if we
We opposed to further agitation of the slave.
ry question in Congress. except for the poupOse o
protecting and securing those rights we now have
There other questions than that of slavery which
demand the auenton Of the country. The south
asks no more than that acknowledgements shall
not interfere with the institu tions of the States
and popular sovereignty in the Territories.