Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-03-16
The RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
rURsDAY MORNING, MARCH Is, 1855
nv RITCHIR g. DUNNAvANT.

THE kICHMOND EN4UlhEhs
BY RITCHIE g. DUNNAVANT.
TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 16, 1885
PRESCRIPTION AND INDULGENCE.
The Washington "Union" has lately adopted a
course of warfare with regard to the Lecompton
question: which, We regret to say, We are obliged 10
regard with disapproval. Not only does that paper
presume to stigmatze "traitors" and "apostates"
those Democrats who have dissented from the views
of the Administration on the present aspect Of Kan
sas AFFAIRS not only tried and trusted leaders Of
Democracy classed with "Arnod' and "Judas;" not
only are they denounced as leagued in "felowship''
with Hale and Sewsrd;its not enough that The" Union
should vituperate anti.Lecompton Democrats ss
abolition renegades, however consistent may have
been their previous adherence to the rights of the
South, and even when they regard the endorsement
OF the Lecompton Constitution as nimica to South.
ern interests. But the Union" goes step farther
and extends the utmost degree Of federation and
indulgence to Black RepublicaHism itself, provided
only it be coupled with an endorsement of the Le
compton Constitution The position stultifes the
other both positions equally rreconcileable with
principle and with policy.
The same number Of the "Union" which contains the
following philippc, publishes with complimentary al
usions the late speech of Mr.. John Van Buren,.
Under the caption-"The Apostates-Ther task
and their wages" we are greeted with the following
language:
whatever may be the individual intentions or pro
tesations Of the Democrats who have recently aposta
zed the great question: not only of parties bu
he nd 4
of opinion In either Of the two political parties of the
country In regard to their real position As the Demo
cratic party these apostates with it of it; be-
cause they lead the onslaught Of the Aboonsts against
its policy and Ito men. The Democracy who receiv
Ing their malignant and violent blows have option bu
to fight them enemies. As To the Black Republican
party they to have little hesitation in recognising
the true position Of these men They openly boast o
them colaborers In the vast scheme of aggression
which they have marked out to themselves as task
"The converts not merely recognised as conbor
grssson, but aborcrs entitled to their wages They
are to enjoy fitting rewards of party in the liberia
dspensatons Of their allies. Mr. Douglas is to be
reelected to the Senate of the United States from Illinois
by Black-Repubcan votes Mr. Wise is to receive the
support Of the Tribune for any office he may henceior
aspire to in Virginia, and possibly the Union Mr.. Wal
ker Ii TO be remembered when Senator Seward has
eeeded In recon.tructng the Supreme Court. when
President Seward sets about framing Black Republican
Cabinet of Advisers.
"The rewards of merit are proverbially uncertain
tardy and meagrc 1t with the wage, of lnquiy
Arnold paid the uttermost and gave receipt Ia
full" Judas received the thirty pieces Of silver
In the same column, is very laudatory article on
John Van Buren's Tammany speech. Not only are
we informed in congratulatory strain that Mr. Van
Buren, has been "enlightened by foreign travel and
intercourse, warmed into renewed energies and devo
ton to the great cause which he has much power to
advance, and been generously and cordially greeted by
his old friends and many new ones;" but the Union
is willing to publish Mr. Van Buren's speech itself
to "et Mr.. Van Buren, speak for himself" mildly sb
staining from any endorsement or denunciation ol
"all his positions"
And yet Mr.. Van Buren's positions, go far az the
great principles involved concerned, are diametr
cay opposite to those recognised by the Democratic
party and endorsed by the President. Mr.. Van Blu.
rem not only denies in toto the doctrine of the bred
Scott decision. but he bases his advocacy Of the
prompt admission of Kansas on Black Republican
policy, as insulting to Southern men as any platform
which could be devised by Greeley himself viz that
Kansas should be promptly admitted, in order to pre-
vent Southern immigration which threatens "tc
make her permanently slave State" We quote lhs
language Of the speech:
But it constitutes earthly objection to the adrns
sion Of Kansas the contrary by admitting Kansas
into the Union you put her in condition where she car
all tLs evil, stop fraud aud make herself free
State and those from the free States who refuse
this opportunity to admit Kansas with this population and
this disposition to make the State free, and who would
keep her out slave State she TO- until the popu
laon is thrown there to make her permanently slave
State will have to answer to their constituents for the
suit they have thus produced. IAppause And gentle
men, it may then become important, il the relations
men do not change to prove how Kansas become slave
Territory aud slave State
IL
which the "Unlon" deals out so unspsringy to Loyal
Democrats, applied to such unblushing advocates o
abolition fsnaticism Mr.. John Van Burep; nor do
recognise that gentleman's ultimate co Incidence
with the Administration in recommending the prompt
admission Of Kansas, as sufficiently meritorous to
redeem bis Black Republican heresies. Indeed we
regard it as injurious 10 the interests Of the Admins
tration to which the Enquirer has yielded cordial
and consistent support, that the Presidents views
should be msrspresented by such pretended advo-
cate as John Van Buren,.
And we again protest against the foul injustice and
gross impoicy involved in the abuse heaped on such
Democrats as Senator Douglas and Governor Wise,
because of their difference from the Administration
on an isolated question of expediency. The misera.
BILE attempt to cass these gentlemen partisans OF
Hale and Greeley, is equally reprehensble with the
attempt to couple James Buchanau's name with that
of John Van Buren,, or James Gordon Bennett.
We are we'll assured that these structures of the
Union" are neither dictated nor encouraged by the
President. The "Union" is not an official organ
Nor do We believe that it's present meets the
sanction Of any considerable body Of Democrats in
Congress- At all events, the great mass of the De-
moorstic party, in every instance in which, by pri
mary assemblies or otherwise, they have been called
to express their opinion, have steadily sbslained
from erecting the Lecompton issue into party test.
Especially is the "Union" at issue with the position
assumed by the Democracy of Virginia. Even the
Democratic delegation in the Legislature which did
not hesitate to endorse the President by an almost
unanimous vote, has persistently refused in three
different caucuses, even to take the vote resolu
tions offered for the purpose Of formally prescribing
ti.Leoompton Democrats.
The position Of the Enquirer" on this question
entities us to urge the present protest, in which We
are sustained by the Democracy Of the State. How.
ever cordially the majority of Virginia Democrats
approve and endorse the Presidents position, they
will neither fraternize with Van Buren, and Bennett
nor will they hunt down with insulting opprobrium
either, the masses or the leaders OF that portion Of
their own psrtissns who may honestly differ from
them on single temporary issue.
The New York Courier and Enquirer thus defends
the "solid men" of New York, who signed the call
for the great demonstration the 4th instant in be-
half of the speedy admission of Kansas from the
envenomed assaults of the Tribune:
VIrurERATIon.-We do not believe that the Tri.
bupe promotes the interest Of the advocates
by coupling the names OF such men as Henry Grin
nell, Mathew Morgan, Charles Augustus Davis.
William WhitIock, Jr., James Lee, Stewart Brown,
and Moses Taylor with an attempt to Justify lying
and swipdllpg,' or by applying epthets so coarse as
those in which it INDUCED yesterday to ctsens who
merit and enjoy the confidence of this community
We differ widely from these gentlemen in regard to