The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-14
MOST PERTINENT AND SIGNIFICANT ARTICLE.

A MOST PERTINENT AND SIGNIFICANT ARTICLE.
We observe an article in the Richmond Enquirer
SO very pertinent to the attitude Of politics at this
moment that copy lengthy extract from it into
our editorial columns:
But while counseling unity and harmony Virgniais
not unmindnl of the great questions that get unsettled
with regard to slavery in the Territories Virginia
that though the constitution recognises and the Supreme
Court sustans her right 10 carry slaves into territory
yet she also remembers what Judge Douglas pontedy
brought 10 light in Illinois, that this right may be
deTed null and void by the noacton OF the territorial
legislature While Virginia recognises power that
compel territorial Legislature To enact those laws
slry protect the constitutional rights of Shareholders
yet she does hold that Congress has the right, and is in
duty bound to protect slavery in the Territories until the
people Of Territory, when the of forming State
government may decide the question finally for the future
State.
..This question is one above the platforms of parties
and must he and decided constutonally in favor
Of protection unconstuonally against it, 1t eHaot
aud no Be compromised if the Cincinnati platform
does not provide for this question it must be made to
meet this issue.
This question of protection to slavery the Terrific
res will have to be met and the South will demand her
constitutional rights these rights recognised in the
constitution asserted in the Kansas Nebraska BILL admit
ted by the Cincinnati platform and have been sanctioned
and adjudcated by the Supreme Court and with this
array authority, the South win demand the legislation
necessary render valid the rights amply recognised
10y the party the country the Congress- the supreme
Court, and the constitution.
1.-The right to reclaim fugitive slaves given by the
constitution the Northern States refused TO legslate for
the practical enforcement of this constitutional right and
Congress compelled TO provide the legislation
to the usefulness of this provision SO it with
regard slavery in the Territories There is power
territorial legislature TO do its constitutional
duty and Congress must supply the legislation withheld
by the derelct territory
intervention for protection is fundamental principle
with the South and wiser better remark fell
from Gov, Wise than tss following extract from his Hi
nos letter
Protection in the territories and eerynhs to all
rights of person and of property, in accordance with the
rights Of the States and of the constitution and laws of
the Union. Here, theI may be found Virginia decla
ration with regard to slavery in the Territories. To this
she is constuonally entitled. She asks as cH
take no less "
designed to express and not to conceal ideas, that
the position of Judge Douglas the points suggest
ed by the Enquirer perfectly well ascertained.
If he has been emphatic in announcing his position
on any question it has been in denouncing any inter-
vention by Congress in territorial affairs whether for
the purpose of protecting slave property or other
purpose whatever. At Freeport, he asserted the
right of the territorial Legislature to exclude slavery
to be "pettcf and complete under the Nebraska Kan
braska Kansas bill ON that principle" throughout the
State of Illinois in 1855. And when afterwards, Mr.
Lincoln put the question categorcay to him. whether
in case territorial Legislature should attempt to
else the power of excluding slavery, he would advo
cate an interference by Congress for the purpose
Of protecting the institution, he answered emphati-
cally that he would not, but that he stood forever
upon the principle of non-interyention by Con-
gress in the affairs of the territories.
1t is possible, however, that Mr.. Douglas did not
mean what he said, or that he did not say what he
is reported to have said. 1t is eminently proper,
therefore, that there should be clear understanding
of his position this subject by the whole coun-
try and hence we say that the article of the
Enquirer is most pertinent and important. The En-
qurer evidently discredits the idea that Judge Doug
Las holds the opinions this subject which we have
attributed TO him, otherwise we should judge from
the foregoing article that its editor who has been
copying for some time the pranks Of the hero of
Donnybrook Fair was endeavoring to pick quarrel
with the Little Giant"
At all events the Enquirer is entitled to aresponse
from Judge Douglas his organs aud we shall await
with interest the response which the Philadelphia
Press and the Chicago Times win give to lis inyoca-
tons. With the Enquirer eve pause for reply"
THE INDIAN WAR IN WASHINGTON TERRITORY
CLOSED.
The public win be gratifed at the perusal of the
a1vcaa chialv official which we npbIisb tl;O ,oorr