The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-15

papers abound; but its position here is one
that must be maintained.
We commend to the readers attention three
articles on our fourth page, from the
Richmond (Va.) Enquirer, bearing date, De-
cember 10th, January 1st and Sd. They are
irrpUrtesrre, Tmanaung from the organ OF the
Virginia Democracy, which claims to have
taken the lead in the nomination and election
of James Buchanan.
For some time after the election, the tone Of
the Enquirer was so moderate as to attract
attention, and lead the Nev York Herald and
other Northern papers, not deeply versed in
tactics, to proclaim that the South
ern Democracy was backing down from its
defiant position, and therefore we might an
ticipate quite a conservative Administration.
Some of the Northern Democratic newspapers
extracts from the moderated edto-
rails, to show how much the Southern Buchan-
an press had been maligned by the Republi
cans. Our readers will recollect that, discred-
ting this apparent conversion to reasonable
views, we admonished them not to be deceiv-
ed: the paw was velvety, but the claws were
there, as sharp as ever.
Now, read the Enquirer of the 10th Deem
Der, and see how boldly it throws off all Disguise
1t announces, that as the North will not be
quiet, it shall have war; it had hoped for a
truce, but its bright anticipations had been
blasted. The Republicans had again opened
their batteries let the South marshal its hosts,
and confront them in the field of battle Did
the Enquirer suppose that because fourteen
hundred thousand freemen had failed to secure
a guaranty for the freedom Of Kansas, and the
arrest of the Slave Power, in the election Of a
President, that they would at once abandon the
contest, and give up their arms? Did it not
foresee that in that very failure they would find
additional reason for keeping up and strength
ening their organization, so as, by powerful
opposition, to restrain, if not battle, the pro-
slavery policy of the new Administration? 1t
did foresee all this, and such was the burden
it did not therefore summon the Shareholders
of the South to an immediate, uncompromising
conflict. 1t was comparatively tranquil, rest
ing on the arm of the President elect.
There was nothing novel, nothing out of the
way in the response of Republican members,
provoked by the Presidents arraignment OF
1.-the voters of the free States-nothing in the
general disipsaiis' Of coarss of the E&GuircF
Why then its proclamation of a renewal of the
WARP Read the whole article. Senator Bigler
unfortunately let slip few remarks in favor
Of "Squatter Sovereignty "a few hints of his
preference of free to slave society--a few de-
nunciatons against the Extremists of the
South as well as the North and the PennsyZ-
eanian issued an article eulogistic Of Thomas
ID. Benton, an object as hateful to the Southern
Democracy, as "Squatter Sovereignty" itself.
These were the real grievances which wrung
the spirit Of the Enquirer. The extremists,
who boasted that they had elected Mr.. Buchan
an, began to suspect that their merits we're not
so. highly rated at Wheatland, as elsewhere.
The idea OF being excluded from the new Adj
ministration, while Thomas II. Benton was to
be looked up to as a NeStor, ranked, and the
irritation broke out in the Enquirer, which
plainly told the President elect, that if, by Eek
tremists," were meant the advocates of the
revival Of the foreign slave trade, we'll and
good-:but if the meaning was to crush ont all
those in the South who had made up their
minds to resist by force, whenever they saw
force to be necessary, then he must array him.
self against the great majority of the Southern
Democracy-that, as to Mr.. Benton, the South
might as well announce in time that he must
be eschewed.
The whole article betrays the fixed purpose
OF the Disunion Democracy to control the in
coming Administration, and its tone CONVEYS
the impression that in the judgment of the
writer, Mr.. Buchanan is quite amenable to the
language of menace.
Whether the impression be true or not, the
article brought response from the Lancaster
PA Lntetligencer, which assumed that neither
Mr.. Bigler nor the Pennsylvania was author.
lied to speak for Mr. Buchanan and dealt in
emphatic, but, as the Enquirer thinks, indef.
mite declarations Of Mr.. Buchanan's LOYALTY to
the pledges on which he had been elected.
The Enquirer, January lst, noticed this re.
Spouse, evidently but half pleased, but, by
iterating and reiterating its confidence in Mr..
Buchanan's commitals, it reminds him of the
absolute necessity of keeping faith with the
Southern Democracy; and it takes occasion TO
say that, no matter what others may do, it will
see to it that the position of the South be dis.
tincty understood by the President elect.
hat -
editorial of the Sd of January, in which.
throwing aside all disguise, it proclaims what
1t calls the ~ltimatuns of the South and the
Southern Democracy--an ultimatum clearly
intended to regulate the Northern Democracy.
and the Administration of James Buchanan.
This is two-fold-the legitimate expansion of
Slavery, and, as necessary ID this, selfpro.
tecting pOacer in the sl0ve States, to be secured
by demanding, Internationally, Equality OF
REPRESENTATION IN THE SENATE.
We hope every citizen of the Free States.
especially every Northern Democrat, will read
the Article. Let it be reprinted in every
newspaper in the free States so that the Con.
servatives who are dreaming of peace and
moderation on the part of Southern Democrats,
may fully understand on what condition they
are to have peace.
The editorial opens with reference to the
rapid growth of the free States, their pre.emi.
hence in manufactures and commerce, to
which it attributes their wonderful prosperity.
But this, it assumes, is Fictitious, the product
of accidental causes. A breath can unmake,
as breath has made" Commerce and man