Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-01-01

| If
i, Philadelphia OIL Monday night last
,:rrER FROM HON. LEWIS CAsS.
WASHINGTON, December Doth, 1857
a.,,,euen: NV public duties will prevent me tIou
;,u,t,y the numerous assemoiage WHICH ot e.. n
arn;n will inset in your city TO endorse INC nret an
1 nuaI massage of james Buchanan VINO ID 'le iioi
entitled to the kind consideration OF renusy isnn '
uoastipg as no was transferred oy the American Peo
ps from that faithful State which oh1S
thar to the Presidency OF this great Cohieoeia.ioI
ia il your declared object TO endorse tna'
No., M ina message which recommends tins speedf
| i,n;..i,n of Kansas as State under CousIu",'
formed in pursuance OF lawful auinornS. n a,nS
,"r f,r remembering ms among those 10 Dc unten
nnan ,his occasion; sui though cannot 90 ~''h
vpn ve, ,hal regard your proc. ed'nss WIN o.
;n,srsst and with the frm conviction ,het inc W.
come paudit We'll DONE thou eoi ana i hx ,h
s.ssmb'sd thousands aud vii. be b1rue TO the reno!
ast nsr,s of ibs Republic and fad lis response ~ me
bssrts of the Amsiican Democracy suGn Jug
ment of approval is due to your eninen' ie'.oH GU
a NOT sss for his past services and bis present pc
s,on than for his efforts to MAINTAIN al ihs .''e !e
,ns principles of selt government WINE hs Poi'cy
has been condemned, his motives nave ooe'i OH
ed. but he may we'll appeal in bis 1ustinca,on ~ me
efficient services OF long life now drawing ant
and which offers him no reward he would accePs al
the expirs,iou of his Constitutional term Oh ONCE
hnt tbs confidence and gratitude OF his country aua
the appreciation Of his own conscience
It is good for the American people 10 come toge
Their in times of doubt and difficulty. our is'hers
djd an in the more trying scenes through winch meg
assad and NAV our sons do go likewise should those
svil days come upon them, from which no people can
he wholly exempt. These great coHvocauons OF the
intelligence and patriotism OF the country are tne 'r
bunals to Judge public men and measures; anu W ap
nrove or condemn as circumstances may Jusity; ana
their Judgment is rendered the more enectua oy hn
noS;nu numbers by free discussion aud oy the nature
of their proceedings. The admission OF Kansas into
the Union upon the principles advocated 10 the mes
age is one Of those great questions which appear al
os M the reason and the patriotism OF our country
men, and may we'll challenge your delloeralon ano
action The addition of another member TO our Con
fsd.racy is an event full Of hope, fulhiment OF tue
promises of the past, and pleoge ot thh gories o'
,hs fntnre. And it is likewise peaceable and efec
tns remedy for evils to which our system OF govern
msnt ia exposed. Az long as Territorial organlza
tion exists the country 1t embraces Will ieel the eec
of ex,erpal influence on important questions ana et
tor,s IN control them will be continually made what
asr ,sr;ls NAV be in the way of the Interference
Sucb now il the condition Of Kaneas, and no just and
nstroto man can contemplate that condition without
ssrious apprehension. BY the mercy OF God, rather
than by our own WISDOM or Io,oeata poe, VIC TO-
inns far .scapsd that last sectional
when IL comes may bring with it the destruction ot
this fair fabric Of political freedom But we have a
security against this DANGER II We can consent 10
abandon this fearful controversy and ADOPT II ana
that Ia the admission Of Kansas into the Union under
Cons,;,nt;on formed in pursuance Of lawful autho.
rity as prominently put forward in the message fsss
law for the conversion Of the Territory into state,
and you say at to the DANGEROUS ana connctlpg
elements "Peace, BIZ STILL" The storm VIII De husn-
ed. the institutions of the country, whether domestic
mr. notcal. will be regulated by the people OF the
country, and but few brief months will pass away
before neace and quiet will be restored ana tns
alarming contest remembered only tor the lesson Oh
forbearance it would nculcate. Lhs precisely d i"1
view taken of the subject by the President ana
trust gentlemen, do not doubt indeed that me same
yi,w will BIZ taken by the patriotic citIens 10 % as
sembled within sight Of the Hall OF independence 10
deliberate upon the condition OF inc country, and 10
mass Judgment upon the course Of the Chief Magis-
trate.
am, gentlemen. with great respect,
Your obedient servant.
LEWIS CASS.
To GEORGE Pitt, Esq, and Others Committee.
LETTER FROM THE HON. HOWELL COBB.
WAsHlsaroS CRY, Dec. 26, 1857.
Gentemen-I regret that 1t will not be in my pow.
or to be present at your proposed meeting Oh onusy
next II would give me sincere pleasure 10 unite
With YOU in endorsing the message OF the PRESIDENT
and especially that part OF IT recommending the
speedy admission of Kansas "a stare, unoer Coh'
stfntion formed in pursuance of lawful authority
You have rightly construed the message The policy
of the Administration in regard to Kansas s the egl'
innate result of the principles upon which Mr. Buchan
an was elected In recognizing the legaty OF te Le
compton Convention, and recommending 'he auulis'
son of Kansas as State, into the Union. In conformi'
~ 10 the action of that Convention the President mas
given 10 the country the assurance OF his wss and
fixed purpose to carry out IN good tailn tne Grea'
principle incorporated into the Kansas OIL Oh aio"
in- the people of Kansas to decide the question: OF
slavery for themselves and in their own way he has
carefully sbstaned from the exercise OF any influence
either directly or indirectly, to make Kansas a free
or slave State his whole policy has been charac'
terized with an earnest desire TO leave the people
thereof perfectly free to form their own domestic
institutons in their own way" You unset to respond
to and endorse this policy, and 10 40 doing you only
reiterate the principles OF the Democratic party as
contained in the Nebraska Kansas bill, afirmsd in
the Cincinnati platform, and everywhere mainta'neo
by the Democracy OF the Union'
Kansas has been the fruitful source OF exciting Is
sues Political parties and public men have tallen
in the contest. They were found unequal to the oc'
cs.on, and have passed away to make room ior
otber organic ations aud other men. The Democrat
10 party alone has stood firm and unharned amidst
the general wreck. The reason s as simple as 1t Ia
suggestive. In the frat hour OF the contest we an
nounced the principles upon which our parry stoou'
aud adherng to them IN every Phase Oh 'nn ques,
tiOn onr progress has been steady as our ultimate
triumph was certain. The disturbing cause was 'oe
| question of slavery In Kansas. Apart from th's'
there MAS no difficulty and no excitement Inc Prin'
cipe adopted BY the Democratic party Was 10 lei Inc
people of Ksnsas decide it for themselves and IN
their own way. This course was 20 mtni!estly just
and right that it commanded the coDhdence OF the
country and Mr.. Buchanan was elected to the Presl
deucy to carry il ont in good faith. Among the many
| Issues made by tho opposition was the qeed,lon-
show is the will of the majority in Kansas 10 be as
certainedf" The position OF the Democratic party
has been from the beginning that the people OF Kan
sas must make known their will in the mode ana man.
ner prescribed by law. How else could 1t be ascer
tsnedi The argument irresistible, and the oppo.
siton ysnly struggled to excite the public mind of
the COZ ntry against principle go clear, and indeed
40 essential to the very existence OF government
The Democratic party recognized the legality OF the
Territorial Legislature in Kansas The opposition
declared against II the ground that II violated
''the win of the majority" The issue was made be-
fore the country and the people decided in the eiec
ton OF Mr.. Buchanan in favor OF tue Democrauc
party and the law. At every stage OF inc hansas
question this issue has arrived and just as often as II
has bean presented, has the Democratic party taken
ito position on the side of the law. Upon ths rock
II ha, placed ITSELF aud all the sto ms OF Black kepuo
lIcanisln have failed to prevail against It.
The Abolitionsts Of Kauaas endeavored to justify
their rebellion by false appeal to great principe
which they vany sought to prostitute to their upno
purposes. Their contempt for the Will OF the MAORI
~ was only equalled by their disregard OF the law
With all their professions on this sue1ect, they no"
nressnted of the real will of the majority
in accordance with the provisions OF law No settle
ment of the question is acceptable to them unless u i
made in defiance Of law, and att6e cost OF anarch)
and bloodshed. The preteIt has been spurned wnet
resorted TO by them, and it certainly derives no adoi
,;onsi srength from the fact that it has found new
advocates and defenders
The Territorial Legislature OF Kansas thus recog
nised by the Democratic party submitted 10 toe Peo
pie the question, shall there be Convention TO torr
State Constitution The people at the polls decided
that such Convention should be Called In conform
ity to their decision the Legislature called the Con
veuop, and the delegates were elected IN accordance
with the provisious of law-the opposition declaring
at each STEP that "the will of the nsjority was dsre
vsrded," aud the Democratic party adhering firml,
to it's frs mpregnable position of standing by ths
law. The Lecompton Convention has adopted Con
a,,nton and submitted to vote Of the people The
slavery clause The opposition renew the old olamor
about !" the will of the majority" which is again re
sponded to by the Democratic party, by holding W
the Constitution and the law. Whatever there may
have been in this prete1t heretofore the action OF the