Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-07-31

1"uSs H''st oHdoe II 10 rise INTO Inc dscenu6nt III
1aore s. ates than one.
The warfare now waging between the Democratic
party and its opponents, in those Southern States in
which elections are to take place the 81 and 9TH Of
August, should warn the Democracy Of the South Of
the danger Of ntes2e dissensions. But We trust that
there is no determined purpose on the part of any
po-ti2S OF the Southern Democracy, TO break with
tee Administration, and thereby impair ts efficacy
in protecting the South and Strengthening the Unioa
by subduing fanaticsm, and enforcing tho CoEsttu
ton on all OCCASIONS and at sge.Y hazard
Mr.. Buchanan muat bs sustained by the Demo-
cracy NORTH and South, or ON their heads, not his,
will sest t.e reaua of their deseriion. And that he
;aW lie backed by nineteen twsntisths Of those who
supported him in November, we have little doubt.
A MEMBER OF THE OSTEND CONFERENCE
DENOUNCED AS OPPOSED TO THE AD-
MISSION OF NEW SLAVE STATES
To destroy the popularity of the Administration and
shake the confidence Of the Soath 10 James Buc
hannah, the enemies .. tae National Democracy per
severe in the ruandlesJ and ridiculous charge that
Mr. Buchanan is opposed to tho extension OF slave
ry and reluctant TO countenance the admission oi new
slavs States
The political history Of Mr. Buchanan, from his
first election TO Congress to the present day, II hs
calumnietcrs viii take the trouble TO study his re-
core, will show how false are their accusations and
how groundless are their suspicious
When the question Of admitting the State Of Ar
kansas with Constitution authorizing slavery, was
agtating the country aud was most bitterly opposed
by the anti.savery party MIR. Buchanan boldly and
ably advocated the admission OF that State. The
members Of Congress from the slave States selected
him to present to Congress the Constitution OF the
new slave Sato, aud his speech upon the occasion OF
ila presentation. i. one Of the most eloquent
vindcations Of the constitutional rights OF the
South which was ever delivered on the floor Of Con
gress
In 1872, when the Whg; we're driven 10 desperation
by the vetoes with which Mr.. Tyler crushed all their
measures Of domestic policy, Mr.. Clay endeavored 10
deprive the Executive Of the veto power. Mr. Buc-
| hanan, who was then in the Senate OF the United
States replied to Mr. Clays apeeoh against the veto,
and his speech should be read by the youth Of the
present day, nlonG with Calhoun's as portion OF
every course OF constitutional law
| He took the ground that the veto power was ma
cessary for the protection Of the So"h asan" ne
North, and that the timo might come when anti.
slavery fanatcism, crushing the conservative Demo-
cracy of the free States, would menace the South
with gross violation of her sacred rishts With
the veto power, welded by an honest President al
| though both Houses of Congress might yield, Dir.
Buchanan commended that the South might be pro-
| tected, and aaoiionism repulsed. The veto power
he argued should be earle.sy exercised to check the
+! lawess career Of the abolition party.
When the South desired the annexation OF Texas
| the National Democracy were for time disooncert
ed, and almost paralyzsd by the detection OF Martin
| Van Buren,, who followed the example Of Henry
Clay in writing leter against tho policy OF annex
ation Here was most important question directly
involving the increase of slave Territory. At this
critical moment James Buchanan published his pow
erful letter in favor of annexation, his influence
wheeled the great State of Pennsylvania into line
and the whole National Democracy followed her ex
ample How efficiently az n member Of the Senate
of the United States, Mr. buchanan aided the cause
| of annexation ia recoected by all.
With reference 10 tho admission of Florida, he
pursued the same liberal and patriotic course which
he did when he urged the admission OF Arkansas.
lie threw the whole weight Of his powerful intiu
| ence against the notorious aid Infamous David Wi
mot, when that apostate introduced his proviso, by
which he proposed to exclude the South from all the
territories OF the United States.
We omit The eghtest reference to MIR. Buchanan's
constant and invariabe opposition TO all the attempts
of The abolitionsta to agtate the question Of slavery
in Congress- ss our object ia merely to show that nc
| al, fha
Of the acquisition Of slave territory than the pure
| and great man who is now the chief executive OF
ficer of the United States.
Not twelve months ago the men who now charge tha
Mr. Buchanan ia opposed to any increase OF the preseh
number Of slave States, ercely denouncing hln
Cor his participation in what was known as the "ostent
| Conference" Many OF hoSr Tho no" question u"
soundnpss on he siare,y question, during he fres'
denial canpass in 1856, charged him Nth seeking 4
inrolye she country in mar Jor The purpose OF nf9ni
ring Stare territory.
| The Ostend Conference was conference OF three
| American ministers, Messrs. Soue, Mason and buc
hanan, at Ostend, in 1855, to devise some plan for h
speedy ACQUISITION of Cuba. The reasons which gov
| srned them were these
lat. That England WAS negotiating either for tb
purchase of Cuba, or for the abolition OF slavery II
| that island
~ That the purchase of Cuba was necessary t
proteet the trade of the Southern States, and Of TIT
great valley Of the Mississippi.
3D. That the acquisition of California and the rail
roads through The lsthmus would, in all probability
give US in few years the trade OF the East and tha
an Island like Cuba, lying at the mouth Of the Gulf
Msxioo should not therefore, be in the possession OF
foreign nation.
l,h. That black republic within sight, almost, o
,bs cosst of the Southern States, and commanding
their commerce. would materially diminish the pros
nsrtv of those States, if not eventually render the
slaves worthless.
Messrs. Buchanan, Mason and Soule were 80 deep
lv impressed with the immediate importance Of &C
curing Cuba that they suggested if Spain refused
all our offers Of purchase, and listened to the vils
suggestions Of England to emancipate the negroes o.
Cuba, that we would be authorized by the laws o.
self.defencs and sefpreservation, to take Cuba by
| force.
In this matter of the Ostend Conference, Mr.. Buc
hanan's offence was too great zeal for The SOuth
! which induced him to suggest the employment Of