Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-10
ULTRAISM,


abuse OF the privileges Of popular government and
departure from the fundamental law by violent ex-
ercIse OF the prerogatives of constitutional liberty is
The great radical danger, inherent in republics To OBJ.
vate the i'll effect c. this, is impossible unless there
can be found counterpoise in the patriotism and
servatve sense of the grea. mass of the people. We
do not deny that such the differences in the or.
zstions of mems minds as to render written expo
stions of powers, principles and laws liable 10 honest
mlsconstruction it matters not how clearly they may
be expressed. And hence, we have always had in
this country two opposing parties, contendng for an.
tpoda principles, and each claiming to conform to
the Constitution. But nevertheless II cannot be de.
nied except by those to whose blind prejudces it di
rectly applies, that in both sections of the Union, in
the South as well as at the North, there are pot.
clans who, in their misguided zeal. either for
their own individual advancement, or what they
conceive to be the best interests of the coun.
try, clearly disregard the genius of our gov
ernment and the spirit Of our Institutions
They yield to that dangerous impulse, which
impes men to obey their own instructive de.
sres and convictions, without considering the col.
lateral circumstances which must materially modify
the propriety and legitimacy of the means they
would employ to effect their end The Abolitoniss,
in their Dsane anxiety for the consummation of their
designs upon slavery hesitate not to disclam openly
all allegiance to those constitutional laws, which
would check them in their traitorous course. And
the Usiss of the South those excessively sensitive
and excitabe gentlemen, who are continually making
such chivalrio demonstrations against the whole of
Yankeedon, and indulging in such impassioned ap.
peals to the pluck and patriotism Of the people Of
the slave States, whose warwhoop ia heard like the
yell Of mad savage, when there is not the remoest
indication Of any immediate attack, and who become
painfully choorc in their Intellectual effort to get up"
sensation when there is for it, they, too, we
say are most egregiously given to forgetfulness of
the fact that the true interests of the country be
best promoted by an undertaking adherence to the
primitive principles of the government, in all their
original signifcancy and strength. The ultrsism of
the North involves premedtated treason. That of
the South is the result of overweening estimate
Of their own acumen, together with the sgitating
proclivities of those who compose the clique of fire.
eaters and factionists.
The Democratic party proper is eminently national
sud conservative BY national, We mean, that it's
principles and its policy are devoted not to the inter
ests of factions, sections, States separately but
as much to the portion of the Union another.
And by conseruatve mean that it 80 exercises all
the elements Of our Government, all the powers OF
our political system, in their separate spheres, as to
restrain that tendency to uraism, which must ever
characterize every people who attempt to govern
themselves. The difference between the Democratic
party and its opponents, and also between 1t and its
refractory members Is. that true Democracy operates
as wholesome regulator, while its enemies and those
of its professed friends and followers, who advo
cate extreme measures, put in force that peculla'
procviy to overleap the conservative checks OF on:
Government The Democratic party proper rigidy
conforms to the faith, that propriety and prosperity
are never antagonistic to principles. 1t looks hs-
yond the mere apparent eIpediency of the nome I,
and never acts until it calculates final results. THis
contrsdistinction between genuine and adulterated
Democracy, is appositely illustrated in the ex-
ising discrepancy Of policy, now evident in
the course of the utrasts Of the South and that
of the National Democrats. The mscontents who
oppose the Administration are encouraging the Kan.
sas Convention to take advantage of its opportunity
to act independently Of the will of the people, by re-
fusing to submit the Constitution to them thus msn
Testing disposition to disregard the agreement EN-
bodied in the Kansas Nebraska act, and thereby to
give color to the outcry of the abotoniss against
the aggressive spirit Of pro.slsvery propagandism"
Whereas the true Democracy adhere to the terms Of
compact in spirit we'll as in letter, and insist upon
a submission of the Constitution for popular ratifca.
ton. The one course is contradictory to the chsrac
ter Of republican institutions, to popular sove-
reignty and to the ultimate success of the slavery
cause. The other is in accordance With Democratic
government. and is calculated to strengthen the
Union and guard the rights of the South.