Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-10-19
"vIRGlEIUS."


We again publish " VrgiRius'" structures upon
Judge Douglas, and 10 reply would merely
say, 1--WE are Of the same opinion still" If
the ireasoniDg of "Virgnius," whom we greatly
respect and esteem. failed to convince US of
our error, it is hardly to be expected that an
extract made by the Black Republican Wen.
delrs organ from the Kan,as Herald of Freedom"
would have any effect upon our stubborn mind. We
are content to rest the discussion upon authority,
thus: "Virgnius" supported and sustained by the
Black Republican Wendel's newspaper, the Washing.
ington Union" which denounces Judge Douglas az
traitor, while repel the denunciaon, and fnd our.
selves sustained by "The States," the Norfolk Gar
gus" the Georgia "Constitutionalist," the New Or
leans "Dets," &C., &c, and Messrs. Orr Stephens,
Smith and Jefferson Davis.
Nor does reason and argument sustain "Virginus." !"
WELDING very "besom of destruction" his effort
against Judge Douglas demoishes with one fell
swoop the most reliable and consistent of Southern
statesmen. "Virginus'' Gays: THE man who admits,
therefore that slavery cannot exist without local le
gslaon denies the validity of the decision of the Su
preme Court in the Dred Scott case and uners trea.
son." jefferson Davis has lately held this very doc
Davis ci treason, and will not venture to charge 1t
upon hin.
we uuhesitatingly affirm that "slsvery cannot ezist
wi,houtpoce Legislation" slavery may be Introduced
under the Constitution and by virtue of the Dred
Scott dscsion but "introduction" ia not "e1stence
something more is necessary; the Legislative histo.
ry Of every Southern State demonstrates this fact
How long would slavery or society exist In the South
wi,bou, slave penal codel In Virginia the man
who hdrbors runaway slave Ia punished much more
severly than be who pastures "estray the
man who ateals slave lie punished more severely
than he who steals ten times his value tor grand lar
cerny CT any amount Of value is punished by couhne
ment "n the Penitenary not les. than one nor more
than ivs years'-but be who steals slave shall be
confined in the Penitentisry not lees than two nor
more than ten years." lawyer of f"Virgnius' de.
served reputation must that the oldest ssve States
are unwilling to trust slavery to mere constitutional
sanctions or guarantees, whether State or federsl.
And how is slavery ITO erist' 10 Territory which
Furnishes the stealing of negro as snply grand lar.
ceny'-wboh refuses 10 punish the msu who harbors
and corceals runaway c'aves or who entces negroes
awsyi These sre the "police regulations" so neces.
ssry tie ezsenee Of slavery but not at all necessary
to it's Introduction. Judge Douglas nowhere denies
the rgt: 20 introduce sisves but merely ass-rts the
absence o: suy power TO compel Leaislsu.e TO er-
ectthe rsrnedes that insure the existence OF slavery
"Virginius' must 60 back TO the Badger" smsnd-
ment "Prorided, that nothing herein contained shall
be construed TO revive or pnt in force any law
gulation which mey have existed prior to the act Of
9th March, 1920, either protecting establishing, pro-
hlbiting or abolishug sIavery"-for the difficulty
that now besets slavery in the territories. The Dred
Scott decisions established right to introduce
ry, but The Badger amendment forbida Congress TO
"revive o, put in force" the regulations that
oessary TO perpetuate the institution. Congress con-
not no grant the regulations demanded for the per
petuation Of slavery and the regulations recognized
BY the Dred Scott decision cannot be enacted nop BY
Cossres,; aud the Territorial Legislature cannot be
cosrced to enact those regulations. So slavery in the