Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-07-27
For TIE Enquirer.
JUDGE DOUGLAS AND THE DEMOCRATIC
DtD1'V

Messrs. Editors-It ia II curious enquiry, and may
hereafter puzzle The brain OF some a~ntiquary TO de
eide, Whistler sound Constitutional principles gained
or lost more By the failure cf the Executive idea o.
admitting Kansas into the Union. The same sort Of
enquirer may feel called upon 10 decide whether these
| same Constitutional principles gained or lost more be-
the exac, course persued by Judge Douglas in regary
10 the L%ecOmp'on Constitution.
Such Jonathan Old Bucks will, doubtless, find sound
witty Ocheltree 10 turn their grave trlfilng INTO rare
fun!
The question presented to the Democratic party,
whether that party shall ostracis- judge Douglas, and
throw him overheard. or regard him AZ u gallant
champion of its great principles, ia q living, breathing
and most important question; upon the correct soiu
ton of which may depend the success or the cefeat
of the party; and with the defeat or triumph OF that
party its principles must fall or stand.
Ii may seem q light matter TO SONS, who believe
the Democratic party can never be wrong upon any
question, and regard it as Papists do the Church OF
Observation-Disclosures 10 men who, while they are
Democrats, still claim 10 use their own brains, hnu
will not rush, ike the wild ass, biindly and reckless
in their career, il ia a question OF gravity.
To decide whether be has offended or moi. any duty
or round principle OF our party, let US enquire into
the matter
First and foremost, what are the rights and duties OF
a Senator of the United Ststee, as q member OF the
Democratic party ls it his duty simply TO register
the edicts of the President Of the u =, aud to provide
for the ways and means, by legal sanction, tor him to
have his own wRy7 Ia n Senator the mere unreason-
ing and blind tool of q partyl-the dumb and snulIess
exponent Of a National Convention Tor ls he the
trusted ambassador, and intelligent representative OF
a sovereign State, and bound by every obligation ct
duty, and the solemn sanction of a living oath. taken
before God and man, and registered in Heaven, 10 do all
in bis power to preserve the Constitution of his coun
try, and m~snfully to contend against aud defeat w
in his power it lies. every measure, no matter by
whom it may be proposed or advocated, that he non
estly believes is at war with that Constitution, or vlo'
lative Of any great principle OF the peoples rlghts =
If these are not hs rights and dutle', then IL he p
machine, an %sutomaton, n poor grovelihg rnounte-
bank and merry Andrew, who accepts OF degradation
willingly, and hunts for disgrace through choice.
Upon matters of policy, of an ordinary Character
where q party issue ia made up, and no great Marin
can result, no matter how the decision may De- ana
the violation of no principle OF honor or the Coiisii'u
ton is involved. party drill is we'll enough, aud may
be oil right but the Senator who needs any sinister
voice, and LAYS aside his reason, Independence and
personal Judgment. where q Constitutional principle
Ia involved. or great damage may result TO hi- cOun-
try, or his personal honor violated, ia %a"traitor knsve"
unworthy alike of his high place and the name of man.
If this is true. why should the Democratic party repu'
| diats Judge Douglssl We know OF no reason that
can be given to justify the party In 60 doing that does
not involve the assertion that he was bound TO yield q
base submission TO party drill, or contain an assault
upon HE personal honori
The former position who will dare to ,ake7 Who
can take the latter successfully Let any man, not
lltuStI I6ltItu ny ilIDsc Shl'IuS IoliJ 1'AO' '""N wv
base the soul and manacle !he free ihoughts OF man
VIZ care not whether his p%rrjudlces be pro or CON
! read the speech lately delivered u, Chicago, by Judge
Duuglas, ard point out one dishonest, unmanly, or un
sound principle, speaking as a Democrat, II he can
What ii Black Republicans were present. What u
many OF them did applaud him, and shall support him!
All that is in it is they do 30 in contradiction to the
past and present ayowed principles oil thslr party,
and we ehould rejoice q. it al a victory,to that extent, OF
sound Democratic principles-for he makes q direct
i1oua uifh tha RIpnk R.DuhliCau party uD0n every
single principle involved 10 the contest between them
and the Democratic party
Let us enumerate. The Black Republican party de
| nounces the Supreme Court OF the United States, and
makes war upon the decision 10 the bred Scott case.
Judge Douglas sustains that court aud approves and
advocates the bred Scott case.
They would legislate elevery out otevery territory,
make il all free soil, and apply the Wilmot Proviso TO
every in coming State. Judge Douglas lstiy opposes
them; would neither legisla,e slavery into nor out OF
a territory, and would not apply the Wilmot Proviso
TO an Incoming State, but leave the people Of il free
to adopt or reject the institution OF slavery.
They would batter down State rlghts; he advocates
them boldly and fully.
They would grant the negro citizenship; he repudi
stes that doctrine scornfully They var upon tbs white
race for the negro, and proclaim The perfect equality
of all the races Of men-he takes iasue with them and
ssys:
III sm utterly opposed to negro equality with white
men. | repeat. that this nation is a nation of white
people, q people composed OF European descendants,
4 people that have established this government for
themselves and their pos,erity, and | am in favor oil
preserving not only the purity of their blood, but the
purify of the government. from all mixed races and
smalg amatiuns. We have seen the effects of these
mixed races OF superior and interior races, this mix
ture of white men. and Indians, and negroes. We
have aeen il in Mexico, in Central America, and in
South America and 10 all the Spanish American States
Its result has been deterioration, demorsliTstion and
degradation below the capacity for self government
| an opposed 10 taking any steps that recognizes the
negro or Indian as the equal Of tbs white mar, to have
a voice in the execution and administration OF the
government. | would extend TO the negro and the
Indian, and Gil dependent races, every right, every
privilege and every immunity consistent Nth the safe
~ Of the uhits race, 6ut quality he never shouid hare,
either political or social, or in any 0tAer respect rhat
erer!"
Who could more fully oppose free soil, abolition
and sgrsrisn madness than does Judge Douglas p
We all know that mad theories and IRRESPONSIBLE no.
tions, at the North, have threatened our institutions
and this great Union. There are thousands of lem,
at the North that would make this nation an asylum
for all races Of men iii not tha Baboon and Kangaroo,