Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-11-12
SLAVERY m THE TERRITORIES.

The Illinois elections have resulted as every
good Democrat must have desired. The return
of Judge Douglas to the theatre of his useful
ness, was expected and wished for by the de-
mocracy, in every quarter of the country but
now that his triumphant election has placed
him again upon the theatre of action, 1t Is 10
bc hoped that the Democracy, Lccompto''
and anti-Lecompton. will heartily rally to the
support of the Administration. Let the past
DO forgotten, its anilnoSitieS healed, It's errors
and wrongs forgiven, and, united, let the party
present a firm and bold front to Seward and
his bloody programme, as set forth at kocheS-
ter To successfully meet the onset of Seward
and his triumphant Black Republican, myrlnl-
donS it will require all the will, all the strength
all the united and cordial action of every part
and parcel Of the Democracy.
Bnt, while co,lnscling unity and harmony,
Virginia is not unmindful Of the great qies-
tons that are get unsettled with regard to
slavery in the Territories. Virginia sees, that
though the Constitution recognises, and the
Supreme Court sli,tains, her right to carry
slaves into n territory, yet she also remembers
what Judge Douglas so pointedly brought to
light in Illinois, that this right may DO render
cd null and void BY the non-action Of the Ter
ritorial Legislature. While Virginia recognises
no power that can compel Territorial Legis'
laturc to enact those laws necessary to protect
the constitutional rights Of Shareholders yet
she does hold that Congress has the right, and
is in duty bound, TO protect slavery in the Ter
ritories, until the people of a territory. when
on the eve of forming Il State government, may
decide the question finally for the future State.
This question is one above the platforms
of parties and must he met, and decided,
con>titutonally in favor Of protection, or
unconstitutionally against it. 1t cannot and
must not be compromised: if the Cincin-
natl platform does not provide for this question
it must be made to meet this issue.
This question Of protection to slavery in the
Territories will have to be met, and the South
will demand her constitutional rights; these
rights are recognized in the Constitution, as
serted in the Kansas Nebraska bill, admitted
bY the Cincinnati Platform. and have been
sanctioned and adiudicatcd by the Supreme
Court, and. with this array Of authority, the
South will demand the Legislation necessary to
render valid the rights 50 amply recognised by
the party, the country, the Congress, the Su-
prcme Court and the Constitution.
The right to reclaim fugitive slaves was Civ
ell by the Constitution the Northern States
refused to lcgislatc for the practical enforce
ment of this constitutional right. and Congress
was compelled to provide the legislation neces.
sary to the usefulness Of this provision. SO is
it with regard to slavery in the territories. s.
There is no power to cocrcc Il territorial legs
lature to do its constitutional duty, and Con-
gress must supply the legislation withheld by
the dcrclict territory.
Intervention for protection is 4 fundamental
principle with the South, and wiser nor bet
ter remark never fell from Gov Wise than the
following extract from his Illinois letter:
"Protecton in the territories and ercry9herc
to all rights of person and of property, in ac-
cortlancc with the rights of the States, and Of
the Constitution and laws Of the Union. -
Here. then, may he found Virginia's declaration
with regard to slavery in tho territories. To
this she is constitutionally entitled She csls
no more: she rW take no less