Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-25
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25. 1907
Is THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN DANGER
OF DISUNlON
BY RITCHIB d DUNNAVANT.

OF DlSUNlON!
The recent manifestations of difference OF opinion
betvesn the Administration and portion OF the
Northern Democracy, relative to tue aom'saon oi
Kansas under the Lscompton Constitution, have
given rise to prediction, of the disruption OF the
party And such forebodings. If we'll foundedw would
bs calculated to inspire every votary OF the Con-
stitution and the Union. with anxiety and alarm
Rpt for our own part, we can discover no cause Of
.nnrshension yet; unless, indeed, mems motives are
TO be interpreted otherwise than by their professions
and acts 1t is true that opposition to the Admins.
traon, even on mere measure Of eIpediency, 10 to
be deeply regretted in times like these. But when
the principle on which that opposition rests at the
same time commands the appreciation of the Federal
Executive and Of the conservative citizens OF all
sections of the Union, the difference, however dsa
preeable and embarrassing for the moment is essen
TALLY Modified.
That tie people of the Territories should be lett
perfectly free to frame and adopt their own organic
lsus-to exercise their Sovereignty in the establish
ent of such domestic Institutions a. they may pre-
fer when prepared for application for admission as
State, is republican doctrine which cannot %
questioned by any right.mnded man under such
Government as this. It has never been Denied e1'
cent BY the enemies of slavery. The Democrao'
marty ia committed to it, in terms not to be msun'
d.rstood. The Administration unequivocaliy ap'
prove. it, The slave States recognise it as SINE qua
non of their continuance in the Coniederacy' ~ Is
the great sheetanchor Of their NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
strongest guarantee they can have OF the
ion of their separate Sovereignty and the mamie
n.nce of their individual rights. Let US disaVo"
this doctrine Of popular Sovereignty IN 'he leff'o
r;s, and ve will at once invite another such act OF
radsral u.urpstion as the odious Missouri Compro'
mse for, if the people of the Territories "nen 'ne'
ara rsadv 10 come into the Union as State or States
have not the right to form their own INSTITUTIONS
the enquiry must inevitably arise, "who hasf
There ia but one answer. If the right ID oen,eo 10
tho naons. it must be conceded to be somewhere.
"A f,oneres, must be the acknowledged power.
Tb;, conclusion is inevitable, if popular Sovereignty
in tba Territories 10 repudiaed. And what Southern
man. what State Rights man, what true Democra''
North or South, is willing to subscribe 20 oogna
40 contradictory to a the principles oi sen
| oovernment and 20 suicidal to the interests o'
oftssn sovereign States7 Those Democrats OF 'he
Nor,h vbo ara at issue with the Administration 81
nre,eu, on the Kansas question: are oontend'ng or.
.an,,v for this identical principle, that the people Of
the territories SHALL decide for themselves up..
their own domestic institutions. IL m'sH'
argued then by superficial observers tna' tne y,
| Democracy are right and the Ao"' -.
Southern Democracy wrong-too' '"e to'
-.,. from whom We differ in regard 10 Tue Le'
conp,on Constitution, are truer to the soutn 'nan
Tho Sonth il 10 herself But this 10 not al all So
In certain sense they are right as we'll a' we. mere
!. mn difference upon the principles but as the question:
If s.very 10 the only ono involved In thecon'ro'e'sy
,,o only one with reference to which the NebrasSa
hill, VIVA proposed and passed and the only one upon
,rb;cb The application of the principle OF popular
,o,.-o;on,v bas ever been denied, We MAINTAIN
tba, the course of portion OF the Northerh De
mocracy IL not only altogether uncaed tor out tna
ira calculated to embarrass the Administrauon aho
;,s,yste a renewal of agitation without being aoe-
rus,s 10 any possible good. They cay that Kansas
,,o,,d M. bs admitted until the uhoie Constitution
b,s been approved by the people. We contend and
the Administration maintains, that the slavery quee
,;o, 10 ,hs p;,t of the matter in dispute. And as it
h., been referred for popular approval Kansas
sboud be received into the Union without any
trouble or excitement on the subject. Suca 10 ''ie
d;fsrsnes on which the predictions of division Of
the Democratic party are founded. We 40 not De,
lieve tbs, such will be the result. The breach WIN
be closed as soon as the Kansas question dsposeo
Of in Congress And will not entertain the appre
han.;on that the Northern Democrats who 90 no'
concur with the Administration on this mementary
matter of e1psdency and proprie,y will be conoma'
.;or, enonph to break with it on its general pohcy
e-,,, anu .uch nuerile consideration.
n.nocr,t, NAV ouarrsl among themselves today but
when the enemy come in sight to morrow harmony 10
restored, and their ranks are closed Tor the con'e''