Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-15
THE PHILADELPHIA "pREss" AND THE


That portion of the Democratic party 10 the North
which has recently srrayed itsef-we will not ga,
against the Administratlon-bu in opposition to th
proposed admission Of Kansas into the Union unde
the action of the Lecompton Convention, seems de
termined to pursue its ill-considered course to th
end regardless of all consequences. As We have area
dy said we impute to them sinister motive. We d.
not believe they are actusted by any disposition oil
desire to promote the interests of the anti slavery
cause. The principle upon which they stand is i'm
pregnable. II is neither more nor less than that IN
people in this country have the right granted by God
and acknowledged by man, TO rule Themselves. 1t il
the essence Of eltgovernment-the only substratuu
upon which free institutions be sodly and safe.
built. 1t is liberty in contradisnction to tyranny-th
divine right truly represented in the majesty OF the
people, and not counterfeed in the person of an i'm
piou. usurper. Such is our idea of the principle o
popular sovereignty. And hence We maintain tha
those Northern Democrats, who, unlike ourselves
and we believe, the entire Democracy Of the South
are not willing for the sake Of peace, to ncquiesce IL
the ac,isn of the Lecompton Convention, do not ne
cessarily subject themselves to the imputation o
ho,,ility to the Interests Of the South. But not
wthstandug this We deprecate their course and can
not but consider it as injurious in an hour whel
perhaps the fate OF the Union turns upon th
harmony of the Democratic party. They ar
obs,inately adhering to principle, the praotica
application Of which has already been obtained OF
the most important point in dispute They are 6rini
at the feathers after the bird has been bagged.-
They are still outchlng at the shadow after the sub
stance has been secured. Theys are pursuing popu
lar sovereignty beyond the point for which the occa
sion calls.
Most prominent, because perhapa, most pertiuaciou
among our Northern Democratic contemporaries wbt
are engaged in fomsning this dissension, and it may
be dangerous division in the party, is the Philadelphia
Press" journal whose discretion in this instance
is far from being commensurate to its ability and dig
uity. In it's issue of the l1h, 1.-THE Press thus ear
nestIy addresses itself 10 the Southern Democracy or
the subject of their attitude the Kansas question
az Il is now-and we trust in its last phase-presen
ed to the country.
"The South cannot surely desire to operpetuate slave
nv in Kansas by frsad. There is an instructive
repugnance among the chivslry Of the South to all
dishonest action. They recoil from the lmputatlon
of being willing to promote their own Interests by
wrong; and shall not be surprised 1t, IN the course
this effect will be made by the leading Representa-
tives of The slave States
sHow, then do the Southern Democracy expect
their Northern allies to stand up In the face Of such
record "a is presented in the Lecompton Consiltu
ton How do they expect us TO turn oack the td'
of fanaticism when, while admitting as ALL the Soutf
must do that there is vast preponderance OF fret
State men in Kansas, they are still determined tf
force upon the people of that Territory Constitu
ton fabricated by minority or by Convention
elected by minority and at the same time depriviDs
the people of any fair chance to vote upon the SLAYER,
onestion itsef7 Can the South be assisted anc
strengthened by breaking down the Democracy o
the North? Can il be fortified in its peculiar nstitu
ton by arousng new elements Of dissatisfaction II
the free States and by placing in the hands OF III
ayowed enemies, Messrs. Seward, Hale. Trumbull
Sumner, Greeley, and others, means oy which new
sectonalism may be awarded
"How il this example to operate in regard to thu
Territories hereafter to be and IN reference
to States hereafter to be introduced To day may
be to the advantage of the South 10 make minority
predominant: to morrow the North may sezs upoI
the precedent, and WELD it against lhe South"
1.-THE Press does no more than justice to tbt
Southern people when it Gays they recoi frsm th'
impu,ation of being willing to promote their own in
terests by wrong" Aud hence they would not,
they could, force slavery upon the people Of Kansas
The Southern Democracy have never asked more thar
their Constitutional rights. They have always beer
willing tolesvs the peoplsfree to adopt their own
institutions. And they do not now propose to depsr
from that libsral end elevated policy, which they
have heretofore ateadfaaty pursued That itwoalc
have been far better for the whole Constitution o
Kansas to have been referred for the approval OIL
condemnation of the people; more in accordance with
the spirit Of government, lsss liable to objection
from any quarter and consequently calculated to pu
an end to the trouble By final and une1ceptionabl'
decision Of the Question wsdo no. entertain doubt
Bot the error Of submitting to the people only sin
gle feature Of the orgaro law has bean committed b!