Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-27
sn1naY MoRN1NC, NOvEMBER ~.
TBE ADMINISTRATIONS AND THE UNION.

'JHE ADMINISTRATION AM AhG SNiON'
We "a firmly convinced that the success OF the
Administration now in power is essential to the tran
ou;,;tv of the country, and, therefore, to The existence
- ,bs Union. The slavery question was once only
On ;,c,d.ntal consideration in defining the policy Of
VARIES. and In the selection of candidates for the Pre-.
,ldeucy. Then, Abolitionism was confined to a few
whining sentimentsliste; but, now that it counts its
hosts by hundreds Of thousands, and boldly threatens
TO trample upon the Constitution and overthrow the
institutions Of the South, all the old issues OF tne OPP
position are forgotten, and the principles anu pohcy
of the Democratic party are adopted almost unani'
mously IN the slave States, and by the conservative
men of the free States, as the only %efectual safeguards
rs Southern rights. Slavery has become the one
great absorbing practical question IN our NATIONAL
contests. Opposition TO it is the only issue made by
the Black Republican party. And the South ana 'he
friends of the South are obliged torally all their forces
and concentrate their strength on this single point IL
ordsr to bsfae the designs Of the enemy.
The Democratic party stands alone against Aboli'
ncnism, not altogether from the fact That upon the
Immediate question of slsvery it is known to be
sound In all sections of the Union, but also because
those principles to which 1t has ever adhered with
unfalteriug faith, are SO directly derived from the
Constitution, and so exactly in accordance with Inc
s2irit of our government, as to preserve the sover'
eighty of the States inviolate. The old Wing party
Of the South we believe to have been earnest and
honest enough in its defence of slavery, but the poll
cy II advocated for the general government, was
such az to leopard the institutions of the South by
copcedipg such powers as to render State sovereignty
subssrvient to Federal authority. 1t is impossible
that the government can be administered exclusively
With reference to slavery. There must be measures
relating more strictly to politics proper. And it Is
the mode of working the machinery of government
which determine its safety. The Democratic party
(, not only committed to the protection OF slavery
DIR se, but ito policy in regard to all the affalrs OF the
country, Ia such as to give security to the States'
while allowing to the Federal Government a full ana
free exercise Of all the prerogatives it oan Constitu'
,ioually claim. This Is the reason that 1t has mann
tanned Ito integrity through sunshine and storm and
that In the hour of danger the Southern people nave
soueh. shelter under its aag-many OF them regard
l.ss OF cherished associations and embittered preJu-
d:ces sgainst it.
The Administration now In power bas, go far, prr'
sued the policy with reference to which Mr. Buchan'
an was elected. And unless it 10 sustained by the
o,ople, It osnnot be expected to accomplish all that 1t
Otherwise would.
According to the principles re.afirmed by the Cir
cinnati Convention, advocated by those who espoased
the Democratic cause in the contest of last Fall, and
enforced by the Administration the question of slave
~ Is placed beyond the Jurisdiction Of the General
Government altogether, and left to the people of the
territories, and to the sovereign States. The Ne
bra.ks.Ksusa, act exemplides forcibly and beautiful
" the great cardinal doctrine of practical liberty. 1t
directs attention to the essence Of self government
The sovereignty Of the people, and carries rs back to
the days when political chioanery aud party fnesse
were unknown, and the will of the majority was in
dispensable to the sanction of Legislation. BY com.
mon consent, the American people agreed TO adjust
tie mos, dangerous difficulty that has ever arisen
amongst them. according to that great pervadiDg
principle Of their government, which constitutes at
once the basis and the cap.stone of our Institutions.
They agreed to 20 back to the simple but severe
truths of republican policy in lite earlier and better
days. The Administration represents and Is
expected to put in practice the sacred covenant
between the North and South which embodies this
patriotic purpose. 1t occupies the only ground on
which the slavery question can be justly adjudicated
aud the country restored to peace and quiet. Aud
unless hr. Ducuduou IL upueiu IL iuot PoAoy "ueh
knows no sections" but according to the Constitu.
ton, lhs genius of our government and the express
provisions of the Nebraska Kansss bill, does justice
70 the North and to the South, by leaving slavery to
the people alone, the good faith ofthe two contending
divisions of the Union can never be renewed. agita.
ton will be aggravated, and the oonfedsracy cannot
stand. The true Democratic policy declares that the
people shall rule, that the government shall be ad.
ministsred in it's primitive purity regardless Of all
al.rai.m either in the slave States or the free States.
And now it only remains to We seen whether the coun'
try will abide its own decision, and be saved, or whe'
Their the Administration is to be over.ruled and tie
Up:on destroyed.