Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-12-08
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
TUESDAY DECEMBER S. 1857.
THE SUBSTANCE AND THE SHADOW.
BY HITCHIR d DUNNAyANT,

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THE SUBSTANCE AND THE SHADOW.
The battle between the abolitionsts on ono sid
and the upholders Of the Constitution and defender
Of the Union on the other, was fought in Novembe
1856, almost entirely on single issue. The Nebru
Arkansas ret, declaring the sovereignty and supre
macy of the popular WILL represented and embodie
that issue. Slavery or no slavery as the peopl
of the territories may determine was the sui
stance-the principle of popular sovereignty IL
shadow, so far as that contest was concerned I'll
question now is, has that issue upon the popularity
which the election turned in favor of Mr.. Buchana
been observed and decided in the organization Of Sta
sovereignty in Kansas the American people decree
should be donel AS We have said, in previous al
tice the supremacy Of the popular will in this cou'
try canuot be controverted without striking directl
at the very basis of our government. No pot'cs
party ever has dared or ever will dare TO express
denial of the sovereignty Of the people as one OF IN
principles on which it appeals for the suffrages
American citizens. 1t would be palpabe and prspos
ferrous contradiction, 10 attempt to overthrow INT
great theory of liberty and selfgovernment, by call
ing upon the people gay that they are not
1t would indeed be an acknowledgment in act oi lha
which was denied in words. To ask the peopefo de
eide that the right to rule is not in them would be 10
tell them that they hare the right to say that they
have not the right, which would be at once 10 az
NIT what they would be called to deny And yet
such would be the ridiculous paradox propouuaeu'
in the event that popular sovereignty as the grea'
prnciple of our government should be controrerleu
by political party with candidates before the peo'
ple II is evident then that in thls general 'e"se'
there was no such issue this in the late contest lot
the Presidency. But that election did turn
upon this principle in some shape or oller'-
In what sspect was it 1t was 10 so far as II
referred 10 the organization of territories into states
and this again. eliminated little, brings Us TO the
true point of the controversy between the i'ho"erS
of Fremont and the supporters OF buchanan. Dy
the former it was held that Congress had the rght 10
inhibit slavery in the Territories. By the ia'ter IL
was contended that the pt0P'c alone have The rgh' Vi
popular sovereignty; that it belongs to them oy
nature; that it is demanded for them by
the spirit of our government tha' Is
conceded 10 them in the Nebraska bil. Ana
thus it was that the principle OF popular soVe
rsonty was canvessed in this country ant at this
.,,ce Of the existence Of the freest government IN
tina world. 1t was virtually denied by the Black Re-
nublican party in its application 10 the territories Of
the United States. And upon this grouod The issue
was made. The Kansas Nebraska act had direct re-
ference to no other institution than that of slavery
The battle upon the principle of popular sovereignty
in the Presidential election, as every man in The
Union must know, related only to the right of the
people in the territories TO adopt or reject slavery
when they framed their organic laws preparatory to
application for recognition as separate States. ihe
party contending for this right of the people tri'
umphed. And as we have said, the only question
to be considered now s-are tho people of Kansas al
lowed the exercise of the right which the National
Democracy daed themselves to guaranty 10 them1
The answer, il, that the question of slavery or no
slavery is to be submitted for their decision. And as
that was the issue between the two parties IN The
Presidential election, the fruits Of the Democratic
victory have far been enjoyed, as they We're pro
missed to the country, and contemplated by the party
This was the praetcG! question involved in the prn
cipe of popular sovereignty, for which the conser'
yatiye men, North aud South, fought 60 gaanily in
the Buchanan campaign.
The time has not yet come, when specdi
act Of Congress will be necessary to secure Inc
people of the territories their right to frame
aud adopt their own organic lsws-ezcept with
reference to the institution Of Slavery. II ia sild
however, that the simple submission Of the question
of Slavery in Kansss to the popular vote, does not
fully carry out the principle Of popular sovereignty
And it is true. But it enforces il go far as the real
issue in the late election is concerned 40 tar as the
Nebraska bill especially directed in its aim; and
40 far as the immediate necessities of the country de-
mand it to be extended We repeat, that we would
have preferred the submission Of the whole Constr
tuition to the people. But, the Convention having
decided otherwise, we are satisfied with the SUD
stance, and will not pursue tho shadow' IL
there are other proviSiCDs in the Constitution oo
noxous the of the people, they are not such
as in themselves to interest the whole country. And
therefore, they should not be made the objects Of
Federal Intervention in so delicate and dangerous
juncture as this. The first error was, perhaps the
omission the part OF The people TO adopt the pre-
caution of instructing the Convention to refer the
whole Of their work TO them. But there is no me-
cesssty now, that Congress should interpose,
The principle of popular sovereignty must be held
sacred to the American people, if they would pre-
serve their liberty. But the Black Republican
party, the only party that has ventured 10 inn
pugn it lin any respect, has attacked it only with refer
ence to the right of the people of the territories to
decide slavery in the new States, it needs no far
ther vindcation than the triumph achieved in the
Presidential election, and attested in the determination
of the Lecompton Convention to allow the popular
will supreme authority in the acceptation rejection
OF the institution Of slavery. The circumstances OF
the case at least, such 10 Indicate clearly the
policy and proprety of not attempting to remedy the
wrong Of the Convention by The Intervention Of the
Federal Government The emergency demands no
such dangerous experiment. Let Kansas come into
the Union with without slavery as the people may
elect, and then the people may call another conven-
ton and adopt different constitution, without re
opening the healing wounds and widening the breach
between the North and South. The people are sick
of slavery agitation.