Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-18
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
FRIDAY, DECEMREK 10, 1857.
THE "ENQUIRER" TAKEN TO TASK BY
1.-THE SOIITHn FOR REFUSING TO EX.
- ~NSoSo0>~-'
BY RITCHIE & DUSSAVANT.

LIE 'ENQUlRER' IAhEN ~ lASN b1
THE SOUTH" FOR REFUSING TO EX.
COMMUNICATE SENATOR DOUGLAS.
| On Saturday lest "The South essayed to expe
Stephen A. Douglas from the Democratic party. Not
content with proDouncing him an "aposate' in poll
tics ard that too in terms of the harshest denuncia.
ton, our neghbor went farther, and exhibited, we
think, most uncaled for and unbecoming degree OF
vindicve animoaity, TO cay nothing OF bad taste,
| in referring with severe sarcasm. TO the "early
education of the distinguished Senator from
| lllnois-the glowing tributes TO whose past ser.
vices from Southern speakers and Southern wrlters,
would fill volumes. With that however, we have
nothing to do. If THE South" thinks proper to
consider the Senator boo. by birth, it is no busi'
ness Of ours. But may be allowed to suggest
that it seems strange, indeed 10 Republican coun-
try, and at this enlightened day, to taunt any man
with "the rugged vulgariiies of his early education"
r1d especially ono who has risen to eminence and 10
honors, by dint of his own energy and ability.
On Tuesday, the Enquirer" expressed its opinion
relative Senator Douglas his services to the South
cause and hspresent position on the Kansas ques.
tion. While We strongly disspproved what we then
considered and what We st consider the over.hasty
and too severe of neighbor, purposely
avoided any allusion to "The South" Our own
views, We were satisfied, would he quite attractive
and equally acceptable, without reference to the al
tack Of 'The South" upon the Senator. The differ
ence between was wide enough, We thought. to be
discovered without the aid of controversy to de-
velop it more fully. Our neighbor, without reser-
walton, proviso or condition, pronounces Judge
Douglas deserter from the Democratic to the Black
Republican party. We, on the contrary, declare an
unwillingness TO believe that he who has heretofore
been so gallant and true, can now be such craven
and 80 fase The interests of the country, perhaps
the tate of the Union demands concord and peace in
the Democratic party now. But 1.-The South not.
wihstanding seems to have no aversion to another
setto with the Enquirer" If our neighbor desires
it, be il so.
During the past summer We were engaged, as our
readers will remember in active warfare with q
few Southern journals, which, We thought then, and
think now, were determined upon annoying, and if
possible seriously embarrassing the Administration
Of Mr.. Buchanan, as the prelude to a disruption Of
the Democratic party. We considered them the or.
gans, of what We were pleased, to denomiuate-and
we thipk appropriately-"the factonists." THE
South occasionally came in for its share of eI-
posulation and reproof We considered the Of
our neghbor at times highly prejudical to the nte-
rests of the party. And often did we deem it our
duty 10 ten him co. and to demonstrate with him on
the exceeding improperly Of some Of his positions.
The consequence was, that The South" and "En.
quirer were entertaining, perhaps provoking their
readers, with an almost uninterrupted interchange Of
sauations for weeks. At last, however the FAC
tioniss" began to knock under and The firing gradu-
tI,
much grafed no doubt az our opponents, at the
cessation Of hostilities The Administration siill
: tands unshaken in the confidence of the country
Aud We indulge the hope, that the msdcaps who
vany assailed it, will conclude not 10 renew their
attacks, at least with the desperation, which
could only result in cousgnpg them TO political per-
dition, and encouraging abolitionsm by disturbing
I the harmony OF the Democratic party.
, THE South seems inclined to dig up the buried
, hatchet, and fight our battles again. A few
weeks ago, We informed our neishbor, that We were
resdv IN resnme iilts With him, il he desired to
defend the 'actloni'a" any farther. If our memory
us, he gracefully decru continuance Of the
combat. And being advocates OF peace in the par
ty, right gladly did We welcome the truce then
concluded the wur was over, for while at least We
have nevertheless held ourselves in readiness TO make
battle with The "factonists again, whenever, where
ever, or no rever they may attack the Administra.
tion as long as it remains true to the policy upon
which it went into power
In it's article Of yesterday to which we have been
referring The South" attempts to place us in po.
sition which We do not mean to occupy. Alludlng to
our course the Kansas question: it says "the En-
qurer would tolerate no difference among Demo-
Gratis, even upon mmateral issues that "the entire
State Rights Democracy Of the South were excom-
municated from the party by the Richmond Euqu.
: rer,'" &c. Now, our readers will remember that
we repeatedly expressed the opinion, that Democrats
might, aud did differ in their views of Governor
Walkers course, without seriously disturbing the
unity of the psrty-that there numbers Of De.
mocrats in Virginia who did dsapprove the policy Of
Walker, and who still firm friends Of the Admin.
istration. The South" should have refreshed its me-
mory by reference to s files of the Enquirer" As to
our communicating "lhe entire State Rights Demo.
crscy ofthe South that charge may be the result of
difference between neighbor and ourselves to
who are the Southern StateRights Democrats. He
may think they confined to the clique, which has
been 30 clsmorous against the Administration. They
aud they alone, were the Southern Democrats, with
WuoW VIC ~eEo CoutououH' <auu tucEciOto u u
presumable, that our neighbor includes no other,
in his State Rights school, Butwe are more catholic
and comprehensive in classification We con
slider every true Democrat, North or South. an up
holder of State Rights That doctrine is one Of tht
: cardinal canons of Democratic faith. And all who
reuounce il place themselves beyond the pale of tht
party. 1t cannot be- therefore, "that the Enquirer
communicated the entire State Rights of the De
mocracy of the South" BY such q proceeding We
should have excommuicated ourselves. We defend
ed the Administration from the covert we'll as oper
assault of those Southern macOntents who were ben
upon breaking it down, that the only barrier Of the
cherished project for dissolution the Union might
thus be removed by dividing and destroying the Ma.
tional Democratic party. They our foee
We fought them actively and "to the water
edge" And We are prepared to meet and bea
them again, and as often as they dare to measure
! their own with the strength of the Administration
as long as Mr.. Buchanan stands by the constitutions
rights Of the South, he has done and is doing Blu
our neghbor calls attention to the fact that though
we were 30 exacting from Southern men, in our de-
fence of the Administration, we refuse to repu.
diate Senator Douglas, whom We acknowledge to be
in open opposition to MIR. Buchanan, 80 far as the
admission of Kansas under the action of the Le
compton Convention is concerned. "The South" il
= sngularly constituted. Can our neghbor not un.
derstand the difference between opposing the Admin
istration, for the express purpose of breaking il
down, and opposing it only on single measure Of
expediency1 The Southern malcontents attacked Mr.
Buchanan because his policy ia not sectional, and is
therefore, not calculated to facilitate disruption of
the confederacy. Judge Douglas differs from
him, only in his Interpretation of the Nebras
ks BILL and al to the propriey of admitting
Kansas into the Union, without referring the
whole Constitution to the people. Upon the prtn
c,ple of popular sovereignty they concur. We agree
with the Administration and dsapprove the position