Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-27
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
BY RICHIE & DUNNAvANT.
FRIDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER ~.


ERN DEMOCRACY AND THE ADMINS
TRATION.
"The South" seems to be assuming less equivo.
cal attitude. Its leading article Of yesterday bore
this attractive caption, THE Northern and Southern
Democraey-A word of Warning We say attrac
tive, because we we've anxious to hear our neighbor
on such text and we presume the public also had
desire to know his precise position with regard to the
Northern wing Of the National Democracy. For some
time past the course of "The South" has been such
as to prepare US for its open hostility to the Admins
tration, at any time. So far, however, our neghoor
contents himself with stopping short Of declaration
of war. But if We mistake not he is rapidly rising
to that pitch of opposition. In the leading article OF
yesterday, to which we have referred, "Ihe soutn,
Il 10 true, does not commit itself against the North
ern Democracy nor does it in the succeeding article
-sn appropriate psudant-proclaim Its enmi'y TO-
wards the Administration. But, we think, our
peiyhbor has taken one step forward. Asyet he mas
neither exactly satisfied US nor the public, we pre-
sume, as to bis intention. But we now suspect more
strougly than ever, that he contemplates rup'u'e
I with the Democrats of the North. We will moi Say
the same with reference to Mr.. Buchanan because
"The South" expresses the belief that he will "repu
diate Walkers Objectionable acts." And 90 oe',e'
ing, it cannot OF course, contemplate opposing n'n
on that point at least.
Our neighbor has actually said, 1--WE own alie-
glance to the Democratic party as national o'sah''
zation." Such is the opening paragraph 10 tn'' a'
ticle of yesterday. Aud it would seem TO pronns0
well; but "The South goes on and soon leaves l'''0
doubt, that the allegiance" it acknowledge
n
is more imaginary than real-the result o. pro
vious habit rather than inclination or conVlc''on
Blu, are the readers Of The South" not aston'Sneu
to see that it appes the word national to the Dc'no
cratic party at all, except with sneer IL naS 20,
tany seemed to be dstasteu 10 cur neighoor N sucn
q connection heretofore.
In its argument intended to justify the faction's'S
in their protesation against the SUBMISSION VI .nV
Constitution Of Kansas 10 the people, "Ioe 0"u'n
appears 10 proceed upon the principle that oe0Au''
the sbolitionists by refusing to take part III 'uo
elsction. allowed themselves to be defeated IN 'ne
,slscion of men who were to frame the organic iaW'
that the pro. slavery men should take advantage o'
their contumaoy, and not allow them 10 'o'e upO.
the Constitution. In other words. because they had
done wrong, the pro.slavery men snoula "'So w
wrong. With all imaginable Difference, We must
be allowed to express the opinion that our
usighbors argument is even worse than Dis
position would allow. 1t is puere in the extreme.
Notwithstanding its conviction that the ConVention
and not the people of Kansas should determine upon
| the adoption or rejection of slavery, "The South
admits it's willingness to agree to what has been
done, without complaint But it takes Issue with the
Democracy Of the North as represented by number
of journals to which refers, because they contend
that the whole Constitution should be submitted or
that Congress should return it. Our neighbor says
sin the face of the Nebraska Kansas act they affirm
the right of congressional Intervention, and invoke an
exercise of the prerogative." We do not concur in
the view that Kansas should not be admitted into the
Union because the psople are allowed only to pro
nounce upon the slavery clause Of the Constitution.
But "The South ia easily answered by simple
elaboration of its own argument. According to that
same Nebrsska Kansas act our neighbor should re-
member it was guaranteed that the people OF the Ter
rtores should decide upon slavery for themselves,
by fair and full expression Of their sovereign WILL
free from all Intervention. 1t cannot be denied that
it is not only right but the duty of Congress- to see
that this will of the people s expressed fairly and
fully The propriety of ordering troops into the Ter.
rtory for that purpose has not been questioned Han
sas is under the guardianship OF the Federal Govern
ment az long asit Terrtory-and it can never be.
come State until its Constitution ls recognised by
Congress- If then there is evidence sufficient to
vince Cengress that the organic law not approved
by majority of the people for whom it was
| framed, can it be said that return Of It for
the ratification Of the people, would be such an
| Intervention on the part of the Federal Govern
ment as the Nebraska bill anticipates and pro-
hibitsl Would Congress thus be influencing the
choice of the people, either one way or the other
Assuredly not. 1t would only be doing what it has
already attempted to do, and to which exception
has been taken-protecting the territory in its rights
by insisting that the will of the people shall decide
the character of their own institutions according to
the provisions Of the Nebraska act, the principles OF
our government, and the dictates Of Democracy and
Justice. But "The South" seems to be apprehepsive
that those Northern Democratic journals are acuated
by other than motives of fairness and rigid regard
for the doctrine Of popular sovereignty. 1t anxious
ly asks:
What may be their motive Is it that they will
not consent to that clause in the Constitution Of Kan.
sas which guarantees the security Of the slave pro.
perry now in the territory? Or is it that they sppre
bend literal execution of the threat of the Abolition
lists TO abstain from voting on the issue submitted for
the popular decision Are they resolved that no
other slave State shall be received into the Confede
racy Did they assent to the repeal of the Missouri
restriction with the mental reservation that the South
should never benefit by the concession Is the prin-
ciple Of nonintervenon to operate only for the az
grandizement of Aboltionism, and to be of no au.
th0rity and effect whenever 1t may seem to promote
the interests of the South
These are suggestive enquiries. And we will not
believe the Southern Democracy can be persuaded
to participate in the distrust which they imply In
stead of iusinuang suspicion upon the fidelity of the
Democrats of the North, we should allow no oppor-
tunity to pass, without giving them assurance of our
appreciation of the selfsacrifcing heroism with |
which they bore the brunt Of the battle twelve
months ago, in defence of the institutions of the
South. They had no immediate interests at stake
They own Eo negroes. Their rights of property |
we're not threatened in the late Presidential contest.
And yet this same NORTHERN Democracy gallantly |
disputed every inch of ground with the abolitionsts
on their own soil. They outnumbered and over
powered is true. But that adds to rather than de-
tracts from their merits. In the South there
was but feeble opposition to Mr.. Buchanan.
But in the North the enemy mustered in my
risds. The Southern Democracy had only to contend
with remnant of the rear-guard of Know. Nothing
ism. The Northern Democracy were brought face
TO face and hand to hand with the Aboltionists at
the height of their strength and in the hey
day of their zeal. And are these men, who
fought for us 30 gloriously in the midst of the
enemy, who fell in the front rank and turned
the tide of battle in our favor, now TO be sus.
pected of being untrue TO the SOUTH Is this our
gratitudsl Since they have served US, are we thus
to throw them Oft The true Southern Democracy
will sanction such couree.
Our neighbor, we are afraid, is rapidly falling in
with The most ultra Of the "Porcucine opposition"
II 10 true he still declares confidence in Mr.. Buc-
hsnan. and has not yet directly charged the
Northern Democracy with trcachsry to the South.