Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-18

evidence Of his disapprobaon of his policy. That
seems to be altogether overlooked by the newfound
friends Of the Administration, who insist dogmst
cally that the President has condemned the course Of
Gov. Walker in Kansas. They prefer to rely on the
Sliman letter alone. And upon that we willingly
meet them.
According to the original understanding and inter
probation Of those who opposed the language and tone
oil Governor Walker in his Topeka speech, we grant
them, that Mr.. Buchanan does not approve the opin-
ions imputed to him on that OCCASION But Governor
Walker has long ago not only denied that he intend
ed to convey any such meaning, but he accompanied
the denial with declaration Of opinions, to which
the most ferocious ree eater can take no exception
And they are the sentiments bespeaking the po.
licy which the President has approved and en-
dorsed.
THE SLAVERY QUESTION IN CONGRESS.
The next Congress will be strongly Democratic
The "EDquirer hns expressed the hope that there
will not be rsvivs os agitation the slavery ques
ton, inasmuch a. tho part of the South, there Ia
no occasion or necessity for it. The slaveholdinR
States are deeiroua of perpetuatng the Union They
are determined too that their rights shall not be tram
pied upon, or dsregarded by the general government
The affairs of the nation now and will be, until
the expiration of the present Presidential term under
the supervision and guidance of able and experienced
patriots, men who "know no sections" but who ad-
here to the Constitution, aud devote their time and
talents 10 the advancement of the interests of the
whole country. They are the peculiar friends nei.
ther of the North nor South They are the accredi..
ed representatives and true types of The unadultera.
ted Democracy, whose principles are the same in all
latitudes and under all circumstances. The compact
between the States il their guide; and as long as it
is observed, no State section has the right to COM
plain. Such ia the doctrine of the Democratic party.
All it asks is that the Consolation shall be enforced.
Is there an utrast in the South who would dare to
claim more1 Is there a fanatic in the North who
does not7 1t hes always been held by the Southern
people, that, according to the original agreement
among the States comprising the confsderacy, which
is still the supreme law Of the country, the Federal
Government had authority to legisate either for
or against the institution Of slavery, In the States or
in the territories belonging to the States.
Such has ever bsen and is still the position Of the
South on this exciting subject. All parties in the
slaveholdng States have uniformly concurred upon
this principle, self evident that but fools and
fanatics can dispute it. The Democratic party has
always been particularly explicit and emphatic in its
declarations and demands upon this point. And now
that we have Administration above suspicion, and
will have, in December, a Democratic Congress, in
all sincerity ask, whence the occasion or the ne
cessy for the farther agitation os question, which we
all deny to be amenableto the tribunal before which il
must be agitaled il agitated at ALI Congress, is
true has heretofore discussed and acted upon the
Institution Of slavery. 1t has usurped the authority
to do so. But because it has been there 10 no rea
son that i: should always be 3d. While the Missouri
restriction rested upon the South, as an insult aa
we'll as injury, we had right to demand its re.
moval, from the came power which had
created it. AS long indeed as there was any enact
ment of Congress interfering in anywise with the in.
stituton of slavery n the States or ts extension into
the territories, it not only the right, but an i'm
perative duty, of the representatives. OF the South
to eudesvor to effect its repeal. But now, we would
ask what federal law s in existence, with regard to
slavery, which the South is anxious to abrogatel-
Where is the congressional enactment, which inter.
feres with the peculiar institution" either in the
States in the territories belonging to the States!
There ia none. Why then not GeRreoate all farther
agitation Of the question il Congress? The South
can gain nothing; the nation may lose much by the
continuance Of suoh q course. To refuse to oppose
agitation in Congress the subject Of slavery, is to
deny that upon which the South relies for security
n the Union. To contend that the Federal govern.
ment has no jurisdiction over the institution of slave
ry and at the same time to favor its farther agita-
ton in Congress, is palpabls contradiction.
1t is now the established aud acknowledged policy
of the government not to interfere with slavery in
the States and to allow the people Of the territories,
North or South East or West, to decide for them.
solves whether they will receive reject it. What
more can We ask7 What obstacle is now in the way
of the institutions of the South, either to embarrass
them in the States, or to impede their extension into
the territories which the Federal government has
ated. or which it has the power to remove?
If abolition measures are introduced in Congress,
they must, of COURSE be boldly met, and If possible,
put down. Agitation from such cause may provoke
the regret, but can never command the condemna.
ton of any Southern That agitation outside the
walls Of the National Capitol, among the politicians
and the people, which ensues from the conflicts
between advocates and sustsiners Of the North
and of the South, is also preudicial to the peace
and. prosperity Of the country. But it is inevi-
table, as long as the institutions Of the South are
calumniated, mensced and denounced by the North,
our interests and our honor demand that We should
refute their calumnes and resent their insults.
Agitation of the slavery question in Congress Ia
contradictory to that sound constitutional doctrine
which denies the right of the Federal Government
any authority over the institutions of the States and
upon the maintenance of which, not only the seouri
ty of the South but the whole fabric Of govern
ment rests.
THE "ISOTHERMAL QUESTION"