Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-11
THE ASPECT OF THE SKIES.

The ASfECl OF LIE ShlES.
1t ID impossible at present to predict with any Ge
gree of accuracy, the relative strength of the Ma
tiona Democracy and the Black Republican part,
in 1861. In the South it is evident that the former
embrace almost the whole people; and in The
North there are also signs of greater gains among
the conservative masses within the next three years
than We have heretofore had reason to anticipate
But it is nevertheless true that sbotonsm is still al
rampant in its ravings violent in it's denuncistion
and seemingly as determined in its purposes as ever
Whether when the next Presidential contest come.
on it's cohorts will have multiplied or diminished, ii
question difficult to determine. But whatever may
be the difference in the numerical strength of the two
parties they stand now or as they may stand three
years hence, it is papable to the most casual observer
OF events, that the aspect of the political skies il
much more cheering now than it has been for some
time past.
During the days OF the old Wing party, when il
was national organization soliciting the suffrage.
of all sections, and aiming to control the country
there was danger, in the event OF its success, that
through the agency of its latitudnous principles lis
Northern wing might ipsidiously, if not openly, in
troduce and enforce abolition doctrine under the spe
cious pretext of legitimate federal legislation. Such
was the great domestic danger in the Wing party
Its principles conceded to- rather claimed for the
general government, prerogatives aud privileges
contradictory to the rights OF the States and subver
sye Of that security to the South, which We derive
from strict construction Of the Constitution on al
occasions, and in every instance whether the ques
ton pertains to other matters demanding discrimi
nation between State and Federal authority, or di
rectly and Immediately to slavery itself. Anothe
i'll effect of the existence Of the Whig party, h
division it produced in tho South by which tn,
strength of the slave holding States was impaired
and abolition aggression invited. 1t has, however
passed away aud lives only in history now. Th,
Black Republican party is now The only opponent o
the National Democracy. Abolitionisn, open ant
undisguised, is the sole dispu,ant of the principles
the Democratic party. And it counts its supporter
by hundreds OF thousands. But whils the North il
not united, the South presents compact column.
1t is not to be denied that, aside from the domestic
dlssensons growing out OF the question Of slavery
the condition Of our country has never been NOR
peaceful, prosperous and promising than now. Ant
even that prolific Of contention, agitation
trouble, bids fair to become less annoying to the ma
ton, if not indeed to be referred altogether to it's legi
innate tribunal and thus removed from the theatre
Federal action. When this is accomplished, the con
serva,ive portion of the American people will hav
achieved Victory over fsnaticism, selfish ambition
and sectional prejudices, which will greatl
conduce to the political peace and prospert
Of the country, and render the Union impreg
nable, and unexceptionabe to all who do no
desire its disruption, from the mesnest mo
tives of grovelliug and selfish ambition AS long q
the institution of slavery is admitted into the halls
Congress, legitimate topic Of discussion, just 81
long must the country be disturbed by sectional AMI
mostly, turmoil and trouble. Therefore, the grea
object of every lover Of law and order, Of every ad
vocate Of constitutional liberty, of every patriot il
the nation should be to deny and refuse to the Fede
raj Government the right to exercise jurisdiction owe
the institution Of slavery, whether in the States or il
the Territories, except in far to enforce thos
laws which protect it from unsirness and violence, g.
every other species of property is protected unde
the agis OF our Government. II is an institution
amenable in all its aspects to those and thos
alone who are Immediately interested iE it, that il
to the States within which it exists, and to the peo
ganic law, either accepting or rejecting it. This i:
the point to be settled before the country can be
come quiet, and before the slavery issue oan be
made subordinate to those great governmental mea
sures which rightfu!ly come alone within the egisls
ton of the Federal Government. And, at this time
we think there are evidences of an increasing dispo
siton on the part Of the patriotic people of both
tions, to effect this end speedily as possible
Hence hold that the aspect of the political skie
is more cheering than it has been before ;or mum
ber of years. The late Presidential election wa.
with reference principally to this Identical point
policy Mr.. Buchanan was supported by the con
servative men of the North aud South because
he and his party held the doctrine, that the Fedora
Government had jurisdiction over the institution
of slavery either in the States in the Territories
II was upon this point that thousands Of the former
opponents of the Democracy, came over to them in
the campaign Of last fall and there ia in this fact in
dubitabe evidence OF right understanding of the
subject and disposition to peace and quiet among the
loyal, law abiding and conservative citizen, Of both
sections of the Union.
The South only asks that the powers Of the Federal
Government shall not be brought to bear upon the
domestic lnBtltutlOns OF
ty of the people shall not be iufrigned upon in the
Territories that slavery shall not be advanced or re-
tarded in it's course by the acts of Congress- that the
General Government shall be confined to its proper
sphere That there is ardent desire, on the part o
the patriotic portion Of the American people, to effect
this end, and thereby to allay the excitement and
animosity of the two contending sections, is evi.
deneed in all the signs Of the political skies. The
Administration, in conformity to the principles which
it upholds is bending all its energies to the accom-
plishmsnt of the patriotic purpose of referring the
slavery question to those tribunals alone to which
lhe Constitution and the spirit of our government
render it amenable. With what SUCCESS it remains to
be determined. But the indications, we think, are in
favor of the redemption Of the republic from the
dangers of the ratriodal course which has hereto
fore been pursued by both sectonsthe North on the
offensive and the South on the defensive-in their
contests on the slavery question, and before tri
bunal which is not entitled to Jurisdiction over it.