Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-10
II an Slf Oracle,
And when / ope my mouth, lot no dog bark"
MIR. REPLY.

The letter which we publish in another column,
from Senator Hunter, in reply to the Rockingham re-
solutions, will no doubt BIZ read with interest, but
whether it will be satisfactory, is q question OF serious
doubt. We consider it no reply at all. Ii 10 evasive
and poin,less, aud betrays an evident design on The
part Of Senator Hunter, to refuse to define Dis posi-
ton iu the conflict between the friends OF the Admin
istration aud the factious malcontents. The Senator
does not even venture an allusion TO the frat resolu.
ton endorsing the Administration, but immediately
Jumps with svidity to other themes OF less conse'
quence to the people and less dangerous 10 himself
His reputation for candor and righteousness, 10 GER
tainly lessened by this simless document. His reiu'
sal to state his position in regard TO the policy OF tue
Administration, is an acknowledgment of his want of
eympathy with it in it's efforts to settle the dlstractlng
questions involved in the Kansas difficulty upon con-
stitutional and conservative grounds, and ut once
places him in the same category with Keitt q Co
Whether the Democracy of Virginia will sustain him
in his course, is a question for the future. His posi-.
ton is "a istasteful to us. 1t is not in accordance with
our ideas of the position a representative OF the De.
mocracy OF Virginia should occupy. AS a Democratic
journalist, desiring to maintain the National or
ganiz alton of the Democratic party, we protest against
this neutral position occupied by the honorable Sen
ator. In the principles of the Democratic party,
which are derived from the Constitution, We behold
a sure guarantee of the rights Of The country being
respected, and a fair and impartial Administration OF
the government. Hence, the unity of the party is in
dispensable for the maintenance Of the rights OF the
South and the integrity OF the Union. MIR. Buchan
an is the representative OF those principles, and his
incorruptible patriotism assures all Conservative citi.
zens that he will strictly adhere to them under all
circumstances. He has 80 far faithfully executed his
trust, deviating neither to the right nor to the lett Of
the Cincinnati platform. But has he given satisfac'
ton TO the extremes ! No. He has been assailed
BY the extremists of both sections, and Senator Hun
ter has shown a disposition to bolster up the disafcc-
ted Democrats of the South in their iactious war
upon his Administration Is it the intention Of the
Democracy of Virginia to cut loose from the nation
al organization Of the party, and join with those who
are clsmorous for a Southern party7 lfnot, how can
they support and eustain the cold indifference and
studious silence of Senator Hunter? We leave the
Democracy to answer.
The subject matter of the letter of Mr.. Hunter diff.
fers very little in opinion with our own. We are
forced, however, to differ with the honorable Senator
in regard to the submission OF the Constitution to
popular ratification. The refusal of the Convention
to submit the Constitution TO the people of Kansas
would be a violation of the Democratic interpreta.
tion placed upon the Kansas Nebraska act, and the
repeated pledges made by the party to the people in
ali the discussions upon the question, aud q violation
of the fundamental features OF our system OF govern
ment. 1t was the intention aud design. II not the ex.
press words, of the Kansas. Nebraska bill, that the
Constitution should be submitted to the people; but
If the Convention arrogates to itself the power to
form a Constitution, can it be rightfully commended
that the people themselves controlled and adopted
their own organic law7 On the contrary, il would be
a removal from the control of the people, and a de-
" otIub VI ~ PtfN VI eSS's SfNe
Of their representatives. If it is An infringement upon
the powers of An inchoate State for Congress TO require
n popular ratification, how comes it that the honora-
BILE Senator did not resist the Minnesota bill, which
required the Constitution to be submitted to the peo.
ple7 If Congress possessed the power in one in.
stance, it ought surely exercise it in the case OF
Kansas, especially when il is known that the senti-
ment of the Convention is in direct conflict with that
of the people.
The unjust differences of the Senator in regard TO
A.. -.,,lnt;,o, a,d b;a far f.tnb.d combinations uiIl
not add to his reputation nor hid ingenuity. The ra.
solutions give no more power to Congress than il has
actually exercised with the sanction and acquies.
cspce Of the honorable Senator and The Democratic
party. The Kansas Nebraska act was a compromise
of conflicting opinions, as the Senator in Il previous
letter admits, and if power wns retained by Congress
over this matter, it has met the sanction of the PEG.
pie and the general acquiescepce OF all parties, save
those who contend for the entire control Of Congress
over the Territories. Neither do the resolutions
claim the power of Congress to prescribe who are TO
exercise the right of suffrage. The laws Of the Ter
ritory have already done that, by requiring a resi-
dencs of six months. Theee constitute the bona fde
inhabitants of the Territory, and that expression was
sufficiently Ineligible for the senator to understand
that .'aliens, Indians and negroes were not included
in the term residents Of Kansas"
We arc as far from permitting Congress to exercise
doubtful powers as the honorable Senator, but We
csn see no invasion Of the rights Of the people by
Congress requiring the people Me'nsefDts, by popular
vote, to adopt their own organic law. We are for q
complete, unequivocal and fnal recognition Of the
right of popular sovereignty in the Territories, and
whether its practical application il for or against our
desires, good faith will require the South TO acquiesce
and submit. Every consideration Of duty and pa.
triotism prompt the people of the South to maintain
principle rather than crpediency.
We submit the letter TO our readers without farther
comment. If they are Satisfied with il We shall not
complain, but bow with pleasure to their will. But
if the hour should ever come, when they will regret
their misplaced confidence, they cannot 'shake their
hoary locks at US and say we did it," nor warned
them not of the danger.- Harrisonburg (Iahryl
Dsnlocr1k.