Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-04

EHE HiCnMUNU LNQUileH
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BY RlTCHIE ~ DUNSAVAST'
FRIDAY MORNING, sEPTEMbhh -
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SLAVERY AGITATION.
The opinion expressed in the "hnquirsf Oh iuesu'y
relative 10 renewal of the agitation OF the slavery
o,s.,;or in tbs next Congress, provoked from the
.Txv" Of Yesterday an auimadver.lon, which we are
sure dr. contemporary could not have considered we'll
its publications for the reason that it instantly
surceis an answer at the expense Of his own conss-
tency and caution.
The Enquirer" holds, that the affairs Of the na-
ton are at present in the keeping Of the National
Democracy, there can be necessity, and it trusts
there will be no cause for further agitation on toe
disturbing question Of slavery 10 the next Congress
which will be strongly Democratic. Inc "ns
thinks this declaration strange, lnasnuch as 'ne
quirer heretofore been among the foremost
journals of the South, in making the slavery 'S'ae
the prominent and all absorbing one DeioFe 'oe
country"
II 10 true We have pe.sistently and jealousy urged
upon the Southern people, the importance OF meet
ing our abolition enemies at every point, anticipa-
ting their attacks, and battling their designs. 1t is
true We have almost daily directed attention to the
slavery question as above all others Immediately In
volviug the interests and honor Of the South 1t Is
true have aided to the utmost extent OF our IN
auence in making the slavery issue, the prominent
aud all absorbing one before the country But We
have done this under tho conviction Of an impera-
tive necessity. Whenever, and however the insttu-
tons of the South are asssed. whether the danger
gbo,ba ia
in the North, or division in the South, we deem it
the paramount duty Of every Southern Journalist 10
point it out and harp upon it, until the action of the
nation engenders sense of security in the South.
The Enquirer" is no agitator. But it has hereto
fore entered earnestly into the discussion OF the
slavery question: and still devotes much OF its aen.
zion to H. not because delights in dscord but tor
the reason that it considers the South rs the Union
next. We occupy that position, in relation to the
agitation of the slavery question, which has ever
been held by the people Of the slaveholding States
We deny the right of the Federal Government to in
terfere in apy.wise with the domestic institutions Of
the States And, therefore, the agitation of slavery
be attributed TO us only in 80 far as it is the re-
suit Of our opposition to the insults aud encroach.
ments OF the North. When the wind is not met by
the tides there is much less roughness the water
80, if abotonism was allowed to move on unob.
structed by opposition, there would be much less
agitation.
The Enquirer" demonstrates against any undue
discussion of the slavery question in Congress- be-
it can discover no good to result from it. The
rights of the South safe under the guardianship
of the Administration; and with Democratic Con.
gress there can be no danger of any insult injury
TO the interests and honor of the savehoding States
Such is the ground which the whole Southern people
occupy. "Let us alone" is all ask Of the North.
Of course, il the Black Republicans attack our nsti.
tuons in the next Congress- they must be met prompt
ly. And hence agitation may ensue. But, then it
will be no fault of the South or the National Demo-
Gratis Of the North.
"But" says the "Whig," sis this true Is the Ma
tional Democracy, North and South, in fact una
upon the vexatous and disturbing issue Of slavery
Why we all know that even the Southern Democra-
cy, themselves, distracted aud convulsed by
fierce and bitter on this very subject; and, if pro-
slavery men are thus divided among themselves in
reference to it, how can it be said that proslavery
msu and arti.savery men agree?' Our neighbor.
we think is decidedly incauous. We are well
aware that it is not the intention Of the "Whig" to
convey the idea that there is portion Of the Demo
cratic party in tine South which, if not absolutely
true is, at least, lukewarm the question Of elave
ry. And ye. when the "Whig" says 1.-The Southern
Democracy are distracted and convulsed by fierce
and bitter war this very subject" any Northern
reader might reasonably ufer that such was the init
nation. Our neighbor, We presume, aliudes, Of
course, to the late disturbance 10 the Democratic
camp, between the adherents Of the Administration
and Its opponents on tie Kansas question. But the
.Whig" should remember that it is read North as
we'll South And it should, therefore, not subject
itself to such demonstrations are sometimes put
upon It's articles. As an evidence Of the extreme In
discretion of our neghbor in this respect, we have
before extract from an abolition paper, the u
Situations of which sure the "Whig" would no,
hesitate 10 repudiate and denonnce with dersion, if
not With indignation and sco-n. 1t 10 in ausion to
ipjudicious article in the "Whig" some weeks ago,
in which, by way OF manfesting his Incorporating
deteststion Of Democracy, and his in1exble efforts
to break down the party at every hazard, our neigh
Dor INDUCED in one or two extreme expressions,
which, though liable to NO nisconstruction in this ls
tude, seem to have been improperly interpreted
by an sboiitonist, who derives hope aud comfort
from tQeLu. LUG extract is d5 lOllOW6:
THE LEAvEs Is WoRxise-CosrEsT OF 1861
The Richmond Wing, the leading opposition paper
of the South, in Q recent editorial the present pc
ltical aspect makes appeal to and factions of
all hues and stripes of of politics 10 unite in grand,
solid and imposing organization against the DsmOc.
racy with the view of carrying the next Presidential
election in 1860. The article in the Wing proceeds
the hypothesis that Kansas will DO admittedin
the Union as State and that then "the slavery ques
ton will DO out Of the way" Being out Of the way"
the Wing advises the formation, on new issues, of
new party to be composed Of all who are opposed to
the Democracy. 1t asks, "would we not he justified
10 standing shoulder to shoulder with anybody-even
with those who may have been known heretofore as
the rankest and most uncomprolnisiDg OF blackre-
puoicans" 1t thus answers the question it puts
I'VE surely would ..,... 81.
The recent Missouri election 10 having it's effect
The eavsn is working. When such paper az the
Richmond Wing is willing TO unite with "black re-
pubcans," there il cause for hope and PROMISE
Illinois State Journal
Now it s evident to US of the South, who acknow.
ledge no division of sentiment on the subject Of
slavery in the South, and who well know the unde.
waiting devotion Of our contemporary to the defence
Of the rights Of the Southern people, that the "Whg"
had not the remotest idea Of intmating any such
couragement to the Black Republican cause, az is
deduced from it's remarks by the journal, which We
have quoted. And, as injustice has thus besn done
the ''Whig," our peghbor we trust, will readily per-
csive the improperly of his expression "the South
ern Democracy themselves are distracted and con-
vulssd by fierce and bitter war on this very sub
ject." We would Indignantly disclaim any aspersion
Of suspected ealy to the South upon any paper in h,
city any party in existence in the slave-hoding
States. And we have no doubt the "Whig" is also
above that partizan prejudice, which, to stab po-
ltcal opponent in the South, would iusinuate uu-
just and ungenerous imputations against it, even
though they encouraged, and strengthened the com.
mon enemy Of US all in the North.
But to return to the original point at issue. The
Enquirer is opposed to the agitation of the slavery
question in the next Congress. And we think We are