The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-09-17
From the Richmond (val Enquirer, August 81.
THE AGITATION OF SLAVERY IN CONGRESS

The triumphs of the National Democracy
over the Black Republicans in the free States
and over the Know Nothings in the South,
have given US good working majority in the
next House Of Representatives. In epite of all
he SANDERS and calumuies of the disunionists
the condition of the National Democracy wa.
never more healthy and harmonious than a.
present. Two years ago, the successor Of the
Black Republicans in the free States and the
temporary prosperity of Sam in the slave State
had reduced our numbers, and temperate,
crippled our strength. The election of Mr.. Blu
chanan was the first cheering sign of our re,
turning power; and now the National Democ.
racy control the Senate, the House of Repre-.
sentatives, and the Executive department of the
Government.
TIE Supreme Court of the United States has
gwen greater dignity and importance to the
principles Of the Democratic party, By render.
ing decision in the bred Scott case in stric
conformity with the doctrine embodied in the
hansasNebrasks act, aud in that resolution OF
The Cincinnati Convention which relates to the
constitutional rights Of the people Of the United
States in the Territories.
There never was, therefore, a period in the
his CRY OF party, when there was more concord
aud harmony in the ranks of the National De
mocracy than at present. North and South
Slavery question. There is nothing. so far az
the Slavery question is concerned, about which
the National Democracy can possibly diffsr
The whole question Of Slavery in the Terri.
tones having been laid at rest by the decision
OF the Supreme Court in the Dred Scott case
and by the acts for the establishment of Terri
torlal Governments 10 Kansas and in Nebras-
ka, there is no phase of the Slavery question
which can be legitimately made the subject of
controversy In Congress. We sincerek tsnsr
that the representatives of the NatioI,l De
nocracy In the next Congress will opuoe and
dePrecate the agitation of Slavery. They viii
have good reliable majority of at least 6fteer
in the House of Representatives anG every
conservative, refiecting citizen Of the United
States desires that the discussion Of Slavery
nay forever be banished from the halls of Con
yress. The whole question having been settled.
the agitation of question so exciting snd CHS.
turbing should be punished as a crime <by AL
who have the interests of the Union at Heart.
Let the National Democracy, now the domi
rant party in this country, determine &C put
down every attempt Of factionists, from vhat
ever quarter they may come, to reopen the
hateful question of" Slavery agitation.
For nearly thirty years. this bone of conten-
ZION has engaged the attention of Congress-, to
the exclusion of everything else. The i.ue in
terests OF the nation, the most importaus ques
tons of domestic and foreign policy, have been
neglected, that sectional strife endsngeIine the
prosperity ofthe country might be kept up, BY
designing demagoeues and raving fanatics
Spectators and lobby members, availinp tsem.
selves OF the turmoil. confusion, aud excten'cnt,
engendered by this hateful question, have pill,
LACED the Government of countless millions.
All the most important interests Of the country
have suffered in consequence of this oeession.
like Aaron's rod, swallowing up all othe1s.s AL.
though few dangerous extremists mag desire
to continue the work of sectional agitation, the
great mass of the people, North and Soatf, de.
sire that the agitation of the Slavery question
shall cease, now and forever. q