Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-17
QUESTION FOR THE DEMOCRACY.


The letter of Senator Hunter has been submitted
to the people of Rockingham, and we leave it to the
csndor Of every unpreudced mind to cay whether it
is a fair and explicit answer to the resolutions adopt
ed by the Rockingham meeting. The first resolution
procIaims the confidence Of the people in the admin.
istraton Of James Buchanan, and in reviewing his
policy, as far as the same has been developed, they
ind everything to admire, and nothing to condemn
That resolution embraces nothing more than an ap
prova OF the policy pursued in reference to the Nan
sss difficulty, recognizing an honest desire, on the
President, to bring this question to peaceful and
Satisfactory settlement, according to the principle es
tsblished by the Kansas. Nebraska act. Mr. Hunter
was respectfully asked whether he approved Of
that policy and whether he will support or
approve the Administration in its effort to carry
out fairly and equally. this great Democratic prn-
ciple. Has MIR. Hunter responded II 20.
where is the allusion to the first resolution! The let
ter Is nothing more than cap,ious criticism OF the
resolutions, smless and pointless in its import, and
unsatisfactory in its conclusions. Does not Mr. Hun
Ter show coldness to Mr.. Buchanan, and sanction
the efforts of a clique of malcontents in the South
to allow minority Of the people OF Kansas 70 settle
gtimate deduction from hs letter, and it cannot be
made to mean anything else. With this view Will
the people Of Rockingham endorse Mr. Hunter or
his letter Will they stand by the President in the
position that the Kansas Nebraska act is right and
Democratic, and thus harmonize dissensions, aud
bring peace TO the country, or will they follow tho
lead of Hunter and open the whole slavery agitation,
and jeopardize the existence Of the Union! These
are the practical Issues presented to the people, and
it is for them to say which course they will pursue.
Already are our representatives instructed TO vote
against Mr.. Hunter, for contend that Mr.. Hunter
has not endorsed the Rockingham resolutions. il
the resolutions endorsed by the Senator, then
our Senator and representatives. We're instructed to
vote for him; if he did not Of course they were to
vote for some one else. 1t may be contended that
the meeting did not reflect the will Of the people
BE that as it may, that meeting must be considered
reflex Of public sentiment until repudisted by the
people, and no representative, who properly appre.
ciates his position will dsobey those Instructions. IL
unwilling to carry out the instructions, he should
sign and appeal to the decision Of the people. The
ipso dirt of few cannot be placed in opposition to
the expressed will Of large and respectable meet
ing. The October meeting WAS as fair An index OF
the sentiment Of the people of Rockingham rs any
that can be secured and until it is repuda'ed, our
representatives are morally bound to sustain Us ac-
ton. or resign their trust to the people.
1t is one of the fundamental features of the Demo.
cratic creed that the representative bound to obey
the will Of the constituent body and when he refuses
to do 30, he trampIes under foot one Of the sacred
privileges of Republican citizens. We are satisfied
that no representative of Rockingham will be guilty
of such political outrage.-[ Rockingham Dsnocrn.