Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-10
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
NOVEMBER 10, 1887.
SENATOR HUNTERS ANSWER TO THE
ROCKINGHAM REyOI .IrrIoNS
BY RITCHIE g. DUNNAyANT.

10Y before our readers to-day another crplanato
ry letter from the Hon. r. NJ T. Hunter 1t appeared
on rrlaay last IN the Valley "Democrat" and is ad.
ore'Seu, as VIII oe seen, to the committee appointed
oy Tue ia'e meeting in Rockingham, to forward 10
n'h 'he RESOLUTIONS then and there adopted. We
had noped that in this answer, Mr.. Hunter would be
80 comprehensive and explicit as to satisfy every
friend OF the Administration, in Virginia, of his un.
qaaned approval of The policy has 60 far pursued
ana consequently OF his condemnation of the course
OF the ultraists who have assailed it. But we are
sadly disappointed again.
Referring TO his letter to Hon. g. F. Leake which he
says ESQ fully covered the subject matter" of the
Rockingham resolutions the Senator devotes his An
entirely to reconsideration Of the right with
which he alleges, the Convention in Kansas is vest
Cd, TO submit the Constitution to the people or not,
at its option. We do not now propose to discuss
with the Senator, the technical question on which
alone he evidently relies to sustain his position. The
principle involved is too plain and practical to be at
all affected by the sophistca conclusions of the most
ingenious augmentation. The North and the South
have mutually pledged themselves in the Nebraska.
Kansas act to abide by the decision of the people of
the territories either for the adoption rejection of
slavery, when they are prepared to apply for admis
sion into the Union as States. And unless the Con.
sttution deciding the question is known to be ap.
proved by majority of the bona de inhabitants of
the territory, 10 which, State, it is to be applied,
the principle cannot be carried out. There is great
moral as we'll as political law at stake in the decision
Of this Kansas question. But as we have repeated.
ly said, the Senator's sentiments this subject afford
gated him.
We wish to know whether he approves or dissp.
proves the course of the faotioniss who have made
Governor Walkers conduct pretext for attacking
the Administration. He has failed to meet this en-.
qury in either letter And as he n,mates that he will
make no further disclosure of his opinions, must
remain in doubt, until from his seat in the Senate he
either dispels our suspicious confirms our fears
The Senator construes the fifth resolution OF the
Rockingham meeting and comments on it, as if it was
intended to signify that Congress has the right to pre-
scribe the qualifications of voters on the Kansas Con
sttuton. The language and intent of it are plain
It says, in the event of the refusal Of the Convention
osubmt the Constitution to the bona de inhabitants;
not that Congress should reject it, but return it
for the approval Of the residents Of Kansas. And,
thereupon, Mr. Hunter with characteristic ingenuity,
tortures this language into signidcation which be
toys with and dilates upon for while, as if to pro-
duce prejudice against the resolution, when he frank.
y admits that he does not believe it designed
by the meeting. The intention is clear, that Con
gress shall simply refer It to those rghtfuy entitled
to vote upon it. The Senator's argument is altogeth
or irrelevant
We mean to maintain, not that it will be impe.
rativsly incumbent upon Congress to refer the
Constitution back to the people of Kansas, If it
10 not approved by them before it is presented for
after the admission Of Ksnsas State, the people
may easily call another Convention, and adopt diff
farent Constitution but we do hold, that ought
by all means, in the first instance, to be submitted to
the bona fde inhabitantsi and if that is not done,
Congress ought to return it, to be sanctioned by the
popular voice. The interests and honor Of the South
demand this course.
II must be evident to every mind not controlled by
prejudice, that if Congress accepts proslavery
Constitution, which 10 really obnoxious to the sense
Of the people Of Kansas, it will at once be claim.
ed By the abotonists as an evidence that the Demo
cratic party attempted to force slavery upon people
who did not desire it. Nothing can be gained by
6ucn course, anu uluch may pe ioSt w il' "ny'
then, do Southern gentlemen seek TO present addl-
tional obstacles 10 the advancement of the slavery
cause instead Of aiding in the removal of those that
already exist Why do they seek to embarrass the
Administration, and impair the popularity and infu
ence of the Democratic party, by encouraging the
Kansas Convention not to submit the Constitution to
the people, when it is papable that no good can grow
out of it, but much of evil to the South may1
The Senator etill stands in an equivocal attitude
We cannot but hope, however, that he will not mis-.
represent the Democracy Of Virginia, by co.opera'
ting with the enemies Of the Administration. We
shall see.