Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-07-30
CONGRESSIONAL INTERFERENCE WITH
SLAVERY IN THE TERRITORIES THE

Inc slavery uutetlOn VIII not Dc allowed 10 sleep
fondIy hoped, the principles of the Minneso
ia bill. The peace of the country and the prospects
and hopes Of the Union, alike to BIZ eoparded 10
keep alive ths slavery issue the pabulun upon which
the Black Republican party have subssted. Slavery
in the Territories il to be the issue in 1860 Upon il
tha whole country to be convused, and, If possible,
the Union endangered
The Black Republicans will not await the silent &C
ton Of popular sovereignty upon the question in the
Territories; that party will submit the question TO
the arhi,rement Of principle that the people shall
decide this question fo- themselves when they come
TO form their Constitution preparatory 10 admission
as a State. No-that ia too quiet-it does not serve
! the end OF their organization -dgnation Under
The quiet workings Of the principle OF popular sove-
reignty agitation csases, and Black Repubicsnism
dies.
The "New York Tribune" informs the country
that ain regard to tho common Territories OF the
Union however, we, (the Tribune claim an equal
voice and vote with every other citizen of the United
! Siaes :" and there, (ths "Trbune") says, there
there exists no power to make slavery legal. We
say there exists no power to make slavery Illegal be-
yond convention of the people. assembled to as
sume the prerogstives OF sovereignty Slavery in the
legalzed by The statutes Of Gods Holy Word 1t
was sanctioned by the laws OF ancient and modern
nations; the constitutions and statutes of fifteen sove'
reign States egsize the institution; and the supreme
law OF the land the Federal Constitution recognizes
its existence, and the highest constituted forum of
judicial power has dudicated and pronounced upon
its iegatny in The Territories
There Is authority, human and Divine, for the le
gai,y of slavery in the abstract. Slavery in the
States is unilnpeached, evea by the Tribune Ter.
rorsl slavery, sanctioned by tbe Constitution has
been confirmed by the Supreme Court and yet, with
all This array of authority, with the principle OF pop
ular sovereignty adopted by the Democracy, the
question of Territorial slavery is sti TO be agitated.
Upon the principle Of popular sovereignty all par
ries unite; for under il even and exact justice is
done to every section; Whg, Democrat and Know.
Nothing pro slavery and anti slavery, can all meet
and harmoniz-. Under the workings of thot prin-
cple the property OF the North and the property OF
the South-the yankee from New England and Inc
slave holder from the South the Psnnsylvsuian, with
his Conuestoga, and the Georgian, with his negro-can
alike enjoy the common Territory.
But this happy condition of political affairs would
be the end Of agitation and hence The death of Black
! Republicanism. Not even the odious and infamous
doctrine of squatter sovereignty will satisfy the "Tri
bune; nothing abort OF actual congressional Inter
ference and Intervention against territorial slavery
will afford sufficient agitation for that philosopher
That paper says: 1--WE propose to remove all doubt
on the subject by Act guaranteeing 10 every resi
dent in those territories who sha not have forfeited
bis liberty by crime his naii.nabe rights to life H.
berty, and the pursuit Of happiness If majority
| think with us their votes will make the law, just as
they did with regard United States Bank, mausre
decision of the Supreme Court affirming is consii
tutionalty. In short, mean to re-estsblish the
policy with regard to slavery in the territories, fret
embodied in an ordinance by Thomas Jefferson in
1874 sud unonirnousy affirmed bv Congress in 1887"
This, then, is ,hs platform for 1860. Under ~"
| bred Scott decision negro slave would not in legal
! contamination be RESIDENT" and, hence, such
law of Congress could have application TO slaye
property Hence We see that the object OF Black
Rspubcanism ia not really 10 ex'cnd the area OF free
soil-because all common territory is save territory
until made free by act Of sovereignty on the part
of the people framing Constitution. The end there
FORE OF sill this, ia aSitGt'oa
In view of this open decaraiion on the part OF the
leading Black Republican journal, that "if majori
ty think with u.s." (ths Tribune,'l Congress is again
10 he made the arena for the slavery discussion. In
view nj tbis we ask our Democratic friends il it is
moi high time that bye cones should remain bye gones
That the "e1nct issue" of Kansas and Lecomp'on
should remain "e1tiuct;" ami between Democrats
harmony, concesson, fraternal feelings be cultivated
Tbe defeat of every Democrat, whether Lecompton
or anti. .Lecompton, sends Black Republican to Con
grass and .wells the anticipated majority that ia 10
enact An unconstitutional law, merely to insult the
South.
So far as the Democratic party is concerned, the
procipe has been adopted, that transfers the slavery
question, in 80 far as il ia connected with the adrns
sion OF new States, from the Halls OF Congress-
nothing but our defeat introduce that ques-
ton again into Congress Does II not then become the
high duty of every Democrat to assist in electlng
those who will oct in concert with tne party, 10 the
maintenance of the established principle of popular
sovereignty, even though they may have differed
upon y now "extinc, issuel" In this view OF the
case what shall be- thought Of those Democrats who
hesitate between Douglas and Lincolni What shall
he thought Of that journal protesting Democratic
nrincipl.s. and mainly sustsned by Democratic
patronage, which continues madly TO war upon
Judge Douglas, when it is apparent that his defeat
strengthens The enemies, not only of the Democratic
party but Of the South and the Unioui
In THE connection VIZ commend the following from
the South Side Democrat" Our contemporary,
though disagreeing with Judge Douglas on the LIE.
compton question, yet, will not hesitate between
Douglas and Lincoln. We hope the wisdou of our
souh.side contemporary will commend itself to 9TH
ere, and that the great practical good sense evinces
] G,al n-iO wiIl N
more of our Virginia contemporaries
THE CONTEST IN ILLINOIS.
We have watched, with the greatest Interest, the
contest in Illinois. WEie regard the course of
Judge Douglas throughout .hs past nine months a.
aud reprebensibie in the highest degree,
while Wa think that his apparent determination still
10 continue q upon the position OF The Admins
tralion and of the Democratic party deserves rebuke,
: aud puts him out of the pale Of future hopes from
the Democracy, while We think his own words con-
denim him as severely IL language can, aud can only
b, rurprised that he should eempt To unchurch men
who will not cOms into his organic aon, because they
do not submit 10 organization. yet we cannot read
his speeches Chicago Springfield without regret
ting that sound on the great constitutional
ouestions which divide Black Republicanism and De-
,nocracy should have permitted himself TO risk his
future his party and the hopes OF the country on al
issue such that which led him off from bis old as
sociated.
In the conies, he is wagiug however in Illinois, we
cannot withhold our earnest aud anxious bopes Of bis
pucces-. For Douglas, the man. We have no sympa-
u thy. For Douglas making the isau-e he makes with
his com petos, striking hard for the soverrgniy OF
the States the involahy of the judicial Office, the
bred Sott decision the real principles of the kauesi
Nebraska bill, ss ali understand it-despltt
bis errors, do earnestly invoke the union Of al
y. true men, to whom the voice OF Southern Democrat
i can 60 for the security OF hs election.
: We know what We hazard in saying this. We may
}, be mi.underslood-we may be abused by those who
= do not understand us-but We have long ago ceased
TO be controlled by fears OF such resulrs-and have al
: unaterable preference for such sentiments a. those
i the speecl al Springfield, over such as Back Repu6li
. cansm uters through lie mouth piece Mr.. Lincoln
aud yet hops from the general lone OF the forine
that th.rs In store for the Democracy that harmony
= which is victory i'll itself.
!. The New Orleans ID elta'' has the Weldon to for