The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-19
AN UNJUST ACCUSATION AGAINST TIE EN-
QULRER."
[FrOm the Richmond EnqOIrer.I
[Br REQuEsr.l

GFrom the Richmond Enqulrerl
[Br REQUEST
From the Washington +" Union Of recent date We
copy the following paragraphs
In eonnexion with this preposterous attempt of the
Chicago Times 70 reconcile Judge Douglas squatersoy-
eelgnty doctrines with the decision Of the Supreme Court
IN the Dred Scott case cannot help referring to late
article of the Richmond Enquirer which we interpret
as ndited ironically, Judge Douglass declarations at
Freeport The Enquirer sympathizes with Gov. Wise
and Hon Mr. Millson of Virginia. in the poor opinion
those gentlemen known To entertain Of the Kansas.
Nebraska bill For year more the Enquirer has
been disposed very freely to crtcise that BILL only
furnishing protection to shareholders in the Terrific
res but as laying them under positive disadvantages
therein through the operation of the Badger clause
The Enquirer regards the declarations Of Judge
Douglas at Freeport confession by the author of the
bill himself of all that it has been saying in complaint
OF the defects Of the Kansas Nebraska act Abiding To
these defects 1t charges that members of Congress have
no right to shift the responsibility from their own
shoulders TO that of their territorial delegates pro
wiling positive legislation for the protection OF rights in
the Territories which the constitution acknowledges but
which the Kansas Nebraska act does not secure IL
therefore calls with great deal OF apparent confidence
but achy concealed sarcasm, upon Judge Douglas and
Congress to intervene to protect slavery in the Terrific
es from the evils of such unfriendly legislation on
the part of the territorial legislatures Judge Douglas
contesses is not provided against by his Nebraska
Kansas bill In other words the Enquirer seems To de-
fend Judge Dougls in his Feepot speech by assilinc
the alleged defects of his Nebraska Kansas bill
most excellent device The "Union" finds il i'm
possible to meet direct and frank exposition Senator
Douglass position, which scatters to the wind its
efforts to convict him of 'tsquatter sovereignty" and
" anti bred Scott decsonsm - finds 1t impossible to
drive southern democrats into fratracial conflict with
the northern statesman who surpasses all his compees
the thorough vndication of southern rights and now
seeks to produce the impression that the division really
exists independent of its efforts towards the accom-
plishmen Our hearty endorsement of Senator Douglass
position Is interpreted sheer, ''sarcasm," to DO
construed ironically" Tho democracy of Illinois are
to be persuaded that the Richmond Enquirer is play
ing treacherous part This species of Misrepresentation
is submit, the most reprehensibc that could be
sorted to- for the bad purpose Of fomentng dscod
in the democratic party.
We reluctant to request courtesy even act
Of simple justice, at the hands OF newspaper which pre-
m the election of black republican to the United States
Senate. Nevertheless, we do request the Union to
reproduce this article, emphatic denial OF the in
sdious position which that paper has chosen to attribute
to We hold now, have from the beginning Of
the contest in Illinois, that Senator Douglas is doing
than any other northern for the vndication Of
the constitutional rights of the South. We prefer him.
not only before black republican candidate but before
any other democrat for the position of senator from Hi
nois We fully endorse his position with regard to tho
nsuciency OF existing federal Legislation for the protec
ton of the constitutional rights of the South and ap
prcciae very highly his able efforts impress this truth
on the minds of the people That this protection is in
sufficient the Union" viii not venture to deny. 1t
neither denies the fact that the Nebraska act affords
positive protection to slavery in the Territories, the
equally undenabe fact that the Badger amendment did
operate to deprive slavery in the Territories of preex
ing protective laws.
The attempt fix the responsibility of these defects
on Senator Douglas is the 'Unions effort not ours
The Nebraska act achieved two great objects lst The
denial by Congress of its power TO abolish slavery in
the Territories I'd. The acknowledgment of the right
of the people of Territory about to become State TO
abolish to recognise the institution of slavery through
the agency Of State constitution This was done
the Recommendation of Senator Douglas 1t was at the
iprpg for tn hia atinn
further Southern senator's instead of coming forward to
require positive legislation for the protection of slave
property in the Territories urged the repeal of exist
ing laws for such protection They feared the result Of
direct trial of strength before Congress- and sought
compromise. 1t southern who chose to leave
the point undecided by congressional enactment
to whether the territorial legislature could prohibit sa
very 1t is doubtful whether of them did not
favor the construction of the Nebraska which
knowedged such territorial authority. We remember
but instance in which this construction at tho
time openly controveted the floor of the Senate by
southern man. That senatorto his honor, DO it
! spoken--was James M. Mason, of Virginia
While southern thus employed in urging the
repeal Of laws protecting slavery in the Territories
| tainy northern would have found it than
useless to attempt tho passage Of protective laws
Thus it is undcnabe that while Senator Douglas the
originator of the Kansas act deserves the chief credit
for the benefits it has conferred he is at the me
the least responsible among its supporters for the defects
which it imbodies One of these defects has since been
partially corrected by the bred Scott decision Senator
Douglas has not hestated Immediately to endorse that
decision And he boldly points out the fact that
the defect not yet totally corrected He refuses, in
open and manly spirit to lu the friends of constitutional
rights into false security. His explanations point out
the undcnabe fact that something must be done
before a southern find entire security for his
property in common Territories
What southern man Is doing more than this for the
sake of the constitutional rights OF the South How
many doing much And yet this the against
whom the Onion is daily endeavoring to strengthen
the hands of black republicansm. liz Judge Douglas
false the constitutional rights Of the South has the
sUnion" ceased to be democratic newspaper The
voice of large number of the democratic press from
Maine TO Texas from Pennsylvania to California already
asserts the latter alternative.
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i MEm nETu1Il u 4 uIrE ERInfr I,EccEIQ