Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-07-27


that Senator Douglas 10 hghtng his back TO the
head of the Illinois Democracy OH high southern and
Democratic grounds He adopts the Drcd Scott deci
bis platform and There be none better
than that lucid and noble vndicaton by the Supreme
Court OF Southern doctrines and rights But that doci
sion has put the South on the counerniarch from past
compromises and concessions, which were almost fatal
and before the Presidential nomination OF 1850 she will
have resumed the old line of Constitutional and State
Rights defence and without reference to the aspirations
! of schcmng politicians. Will any Northern Democrat
then suit herr Are there to be Southern Pres
dents and Slave Staes! These the questions
which Charleston Convention of lsG0 should be
Qured to decide definitely Il Chare',on Ners.
The Richmond Enquirer" We think, has mistaken
Mr.. Douglas views in an essential particular. We
understand that distinguished gentleman TO accept the
Dred Scott decision, rather hs principles of that
decision so far es the legal and political status of the
negro is concerned, but unwilling to carry thess
principles out to their legal aud logical results in the
Territories. Ii, the court says this is govern
ment OF white men, and the negro has political
rights whatever in the Federal Territory, Them of
course, propsrty interest in the person Of the negro
is entitled to exactly the same protection ss other
property.
The Republicans. who hold that the negro has the
same natural rights white men, logical and con-
sistent in refusing to protect this called slave pro
perty; but Democrat, who denies to the negro any
legal or political existence in the Territories and
claims that white men alone constitute the political
community, departs from the fundamental principles
OF Democracy when he refuses to protect slave
property. This s 80 obvious that surprised 10
see Judge Douglas, or any other intelligent Demo
crat, cnging to what they call popular sovereignty
after the rendering of the Dred Scott decision vi
course the people of Territory, when they frame
their Stats Constitution, may adopt or exclude ''slave
ry;" but while they Territory, if they tail to
protect property invested in the person, industrial
capacity OF the negro, they grossly violate equal
rights, and therefore are not authorized to consider
themselves Democrats. The whole question is re
solved into this simple right or m right to protection
for slave property in the federal terrores and hs the
Z pput INIT. fhli in
The position Of the President, as defined in the 81
lmsn letter. is clear and unmistakabe rs s that of
the Republicans, and Mr. Douglas effort to dodge it,
to accept neither to endorse the Dred Scott decision
and popular sovereignty at the time, must end
in failure. There is absolutely ground TO occupy.
aud he must, therefore, sand with the President or
surrender to Lincoln II, however, he is able to grasp
the great truth that lies before him, to ise above the
msts and demagoguery OF the Kansas Nebraska bill,
and boldly grapp1 with the great anti slavery de
lusion VI the day. he can 80 demOsh his Republican
sssailants that scarcely man will be left 10 tell the
story Of their overthrow. The people are all pro sa
very that is, all white men o course desire to keep
the negro where God has placed him, in subordinate
social position; but those Of the North hate this ne
gro and do not wish TO come in contact with him in
the territories. The Republicans coutound THE with
hostility to slavery" and, left unexplained may de-
feat the Democracy in 1861 as well "a the Denocra
cy of Illinois In 1883. Let Senator Douglas and his
friends meet the question its merits. Let them &C.
cept the Dred Scott decision and apply to the terri
tories, aud then show the people that climate and IN
dusria adaptation govern the question, aud therefore
pegroes, never 10 Moreover will 90 where white men
can labor. ITO this complexion ii must come at last,
and the sooner the better TOR judge Douglas himself
well as the Democracy Ner York Day Book.
We reproduce in full the foregoing extract from the
New York Day Book" for the double purpose OF
expressing our earnest qualification at the expression
o! conservative doctrine which it embodies and OF
to have fallen with regard TO the views OF Senator
Douglas on the laws which govern our territorial pol
icy.
The policy skeched out by the "Day Book" for
the adoption OF the Democratic party, furnishes us
the true chart by which TO fix the permanent ascen-
dency of the party and TO dssipae entirely the cap
i,sl for agitation the slavery question, which ha-
20 long furnished the stock in trade of dishonest poll
;,csns Of all sections anu parties. Properly to un
iersiand Ii. scope end bearing OF ths policy We
refer to the past course OF sentiment and OF ie
gisla,on, which has developed the existing etate oil
things; and especially 10 the Kansas Nebraska act.
The abolition party has enlarged the number OF lie
4dherents, only by modifying coDcesling the rsdi
cal purposes which it first published to the world
Most of US can easily remember when men of this
mediate Congressional action for interference with
The rights Of slsve property in the States The agi
tstion OF the question OF the abolition OF slavery IN
the District of Columbia, was the means employed
by which to keep up contention on the floor of Con
gress Al first employed only an avowed means of
striking down slavery in the S.ates, this question a.
last allowed up the frs. intention; abolition leaders
we're obliged by their own followers 10 forbeGr the
assertion of Congressional authority over Statea and
to fall back upon the abolition Of slavery in the Dis
,rct Of Columbia and its prohibition in all the terri
tories The obnoxious act of Congress for the sboli.
tou of the slave trade in the District Of Columbia,
subversive ss it was of constitutional principle has,
| to great extent recoed upon its framers Regard
ing this definite arrangement, and one well adapt
ed to secure Of itsef the future practical prohibition
of slavery in the District the Of the anti.
slavery party have refused TO persist in further aga
| ton of the matter.
Thus the avowed policy of the abolition party has
been at laet narrowed down to attempt 10 exclude
slavery from the Territories. 1t is ardently TO be
hoped that they may finally be driven from this lss'
stand. point. This accomplished, no considerable
political party will again be enabled to organize for
svowed antslavery purposes; and the slavery ques
ton will cease to be an active element of Federal
politics.
The Nebraska act was intended to effect thid, by
removing the discussion Of slavery from the Hoor o
Congress. The test of experience was not necessary
to demonstrate that the plan was inadequate to its
object.
This measure has 6Ied forever, we trust, three i'm
portant points of principle and policy:
| lst That slavery shall hereafter be excluded from
no Territory by an act of Federal legislation
Cd. That the people of Territory entitled to ap
ply for admission State, shall form Consultation
and subject only to the Constitutional limitation i'm
posed on the people Of every sovereign State, assem-
bled for similar purpose.
3D. That for the better inculcaton OF the theory
and practice of popular government, Congress will
hereafter permit the people OF each Territory, while
Territory, to legsste for themselves, and thus to
decide for themselves every question of domestic
policy provided only that such decision shall not be
permitted TO conflict with the equal rights OF citizens
of the United States on common territory.
The first two of these points are undoubtedly enun.
ciated with sufficient dis.nctnsss by the Kansas
Nebraska act. But it admits of grave doubt whether
that measure has properly oehueo 'ue tu''u Po'i''
Indeed, it has been urged, with much pausbiiity,
that the Nebraska act purpors TO extend to Terri
torial Legislature power beyond the competency OF
Congress itsef-that of prohibiting or aoolshing
slavery in Territory. At all events, the language
Of the act on this point is ambiguous; insomuch that 1t
would undoubtedly have created serious division oil
sentiment among conservative men, except for the
timely iptsrposition of the Dred Scott decisou.-
Aud even now it operates to complcate the problem
Of Territorial adjustmsnt-especlaiiy "nen 'aken IN
connection with the Badger amendment-tha' proViso
which was concocted, proposed and enacted oy South
sru Senators, and which affords Inc ony l'sa"ce !"