The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-24
From The R. richmond wa Enquirer, Sept 10.
THE POSITION OF THE PRESIDENT AND OF
The DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

The DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
Mr. Buchsnan's letter relative to the admin
istration Of affairs in Kansas, since his appoint
ment Of Robert ]. Walker TO the Governorship
Of that Territory, has not yet completed its
round with the press Of all parties throughout
the country. When it shall have done 20, it
will, Of course, not have escsped that censure
which, with the enemies of the South, always
attaches to any and everything inimical to the
advancement of their own traitorous views and
desires. But by the truly patriotic and conserv.
alive portion OF the American People, ire.
spective Of sec'ions, Of parties or Of factions,
it has been received, so far as We have been
able to observe, With grateful prase.
The National Democracy, North and South,
recognise it an unexceptionsble exposition
OF the principles and policy which they so faith
fully cherish and so zeslously sustain. The
opposition press Of the South cannot condemn
1t f; and INDEED there are those Of that monde
script psr'y-f party we can call it-who have
not hesi'sted TO accord to it q manly approval.
By the fiery fsctionists Of the intensely Southern
school, who have been recently INDUCING in
illibersl and Unfounded imputa,ions upon the
impartial patriotism of the President, and in un.
reasonable remonstrauces against the course Of
his defenders, this able, lucid, well.toned, and
well timed letter has been met with none Of
those cssuisricsl and bypocritiosl objections,
which their indignant tone aud antagonstic
attitude might have led us to anticipate, pre-
vious TO liz publication. 1t is above exception,
on the part Of any Southern man, or of any
Northern man. who processes to regard the
Constitution. l. defes the most preiudiced
criticism to torture its language into any other
than an acceptable Specification to the South,
and disappoiuts those disaf-cted Democrats
who would gladly detect in it some doubtful
phrase or other flaw, by being Inaccessible to
their most prejudiced earnings or objections,
which could possibly arise from the most inge-
nious Analysis. The course Of Gov. Walker
is the only point Of policy on which the Presi
dent has been openly assailed by his quondam
supporters in the South. And since his letter
on the subject is so satisfactory TO all parties
except the fanatics Of the North. it might not
be unreasonable 10 suppose that he has concil.
lated his pseudo Democratic opponents in the
South, and that they will no longer endeavor
TO embarrass his Administration. Such a sup
position, however, we fear, would soon prove
ifounded and erroneous. Recreant Demo.
Gratis IN the South have been wsging war upon
the Administration, not solely on account Of
their objection to the course of Walker in
Kansas but because there is predetermined
purpose on their part to claim the peculiar
championship Of Southern interests, if possible
with some of them, to bring about dissolu-
ton Of the Union. And hence, though they
cannot repudiate the position of the President
on the affairs Of Kansas, it is idle to expect
that they will be silent long. They may shea he
their daggers and graciousy extend the right
hand OF fellowship again, but luminosity still
rankles in their hearts, and the opportunity
only is wanting to enable the m to manifest
their antagonism under some other guse. In
this category Of ialse friends of the Democracy
we mean not to include those who, while honestly
disappearing the policy pursued by Gov Walker,
have, nevertheless, heaped no opprobrium upon
the President, and cast no aspersions upon the
Administration. We refer only to those who
have seiz I'd upon the alege detection of Walk.
or as a pretext to make war upon the National
Democracy Some Of the best and ttuest Dem.
ocrats In the South have deprecated the course
of Governor Walker, they originally appre.
hended it, but still they have retained their
confidence in the capacity and patriotism OF
the President, and have acknowledged no aflili
alton with the factionis,s who have been ar
rayed against the Administration.
The position of Mr.. Buchanan to day il
identical with that which be occupied during
the tendency of the election, and with reference
10 which he was warmly supported by those
recreant Democrats who have been recently
opposing and endeavoring to embarrass him
And his position ij the position of the Demo.
cratic party proper. He knows no sections. y
but his principles and his policy are devoted to
the interests Of all the States, the maintenance
Of the Constitution, AID tie preservation of the
Union. He denies the right of the Federal
Government to intrude upon the sovereignty
of the States, or to coerce CT influence the will
of the people in the Territories on the subject
of Slavery. The Constitution is the great
groundwork of his Administration.
Previous to the publication CT his letter, pseu
do Democrats assailed him by charging Walker
with q BETRAYAL of the South, and identifying
him in sentiment and in principle with Walker
His letter they cannot and dare not condemn
And vet he expresses his confidence in Walker
Where are they now ? Why this sudden silenc,
of censure2 Who has triumphed in the initia
contest between the Southern disunioAists auC
the Administrator?
The effect of the Presidents declaration OF
the Kansas question is no ordinary evidenc'
of his fitness for the responsible position which
he holds. II proves that he is the man for th,
,imes-that his Administration will perform
what was expected OF it; that the confidence o
the Cincinnati Convention, of the Democratic
party of the conservative old-liEe Wings who
supported him, has not been misplaced. 1t il
his appointed duty, his political mission, to
calm the angry va ers, 10 uSleaI IsnAllclsm, tC
secure the rights of the South by enforcing the
Constitution, TO suppress SectiOnaliSm, and tc
save the Union, without jeopardiDg the Interests
or impairing the equality either of tie North OIL
South. Add he is fulfilling the expectations Of
his most hopeful friends. The Constitution il
his chart, and his course is undertaking. He
Looks To The interests OF the whole country, ard
acknowledg yes the rights of each State and sec
ton. Whether opposed by the fanatics of The
North or the disunionists of the South, he PIE