Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-08-30

to prevent the introduction of slaves within her
limits, notwithstanding the laws OF the mother
country. Virginia and the other Colonies III
sisted ON the right of entire selfsovernmch' so
far as ..n,crml polity" was concerned Mr.
Do,.l,s Claims for the Territories OF the United
States an Independent right of seli-sovcrnnent
equally extensive
Next comes n reference TO Mr. Jeierson's
proposal. adopted by Congress in April lIS4
entitled "a plan for the temporary government
of the territory cclcd or to he cedcd by the in.
dividual States 10 the United States This
plan" or compact Mr.. Douglas describes as
guaranteeing to the territories, then called
estates" or 'acec .Iates," the entire right Of
local and internal self:govcrnmen:, uncontrolled
by Congressional legislation
Next, Mr.. Douglas insists that the clause of
the Constitution
New States may be admitted by the Con-
yrcsS into the Union;' and the further provi-
sion "Thc Congress shall have power to make
all laws necessary and proper for carrying into
execution all other powers" &c, were intended
To re-aSscrt the plan or compact oil 1871.
Next comes an argument to prove that the
foregoing views Of Mr.. Douglas are supported
by the decision Of the Supreme Court in the case
of bred Scott
Finally, an argument to prove that the com
promise measures of 1850, the Kansas Nebraska
act of 1854, the Cincinnati PLATFORM and Mr.
Buchanan's letter accepting the presidential
nomination, are IN perfect harmony with the
same views
The concluding paragraph, which purports
TO SUM l,p the result of the entire argument
We take the liberty 10 quote:
1.-The principle, under our political system, is
that etrry distinct l,oliticd community, t"ynl
10 tie Constitution omd tie I"io", is e"ti'tsd
u all tie rights prieil,ges, aud immaniti's gf
mlt:qorcrnmeDt in respect 10 TIER I"col con-
cer,.~ aad Mtsrna! polity, s"bjcct only 10 tie
Constitution ct tic tnitd states"
This is not only oracular-it begs the ques-
ton We deny that any mere territory OF the
United States, organised or unorganScd, can
be properly described distinct political com
munity." And, even apart from this queS-
ton of phraScology, We contend that the Ton
stitution Of the United States, to which Mr.
Douglas acknowledges the authorities Of the
territory to be subject, guarantees 10 every cit-
zen of the United States full protection i'll the
endowment, in the common territories of every
right Of person or Of property which he is en-
titled to enjoy in any of the States Subject
| TO the Constitution Of the United States, is
not an empty and meaningless phrase. By
itself it covers the whole ground OF protection
to persons and property
Intending, as he evidently did, TO re'aSscrt
the rositions assumed in the first part of his cs
say, Mr.. Douglas should have added 10 his con-
Gliding paragraph something to the following
ciicct:-"Each organised territory is - distinct
political community; and the Constitution OF
the United State in no case prccludcS local ter
riloria authorities from preventing the intro
duction or :Lol;shins the holding Of slaves in
any territory
This is thc doctrine Of Mr.. Douglas essay.
fully expressed. so far Us the practical interests
of the South are concerned, it is much worse doc
,rnc than that Of Mr.. Seward The Democracy
OF Virginia s,cadfastly refuse 10 yield TO either
Nevertheless. we do not hesitate 10 say that We
would prefer immediate ard unconditional sub
mission to Mr.. Douglas doctrine, to that policy
of tiinc.scrving compromise, which would
result in the same thing and which adds du-
Ilcity of Interpretation TO abjcct submission,
by lid admitting the Constitutional rights Of
the So'!th, and then contclnp;uou>ly derding
them As dead doctrines and barren abstrac-
tons" No man in Virginia can be found bold
enough, now, toadyocatc Mr.. Douglas doctrine
through the press or Oh the hu>tlng>. No. The
faction which we have TO contravcnc darcs not
recommend to the Democracy Of Virginia an
| open remuneration of their Constitutional rights
! This voice which whispers DISCRIMINATION in
our midst, only suggests that We shall iyn"re
our rights; that we shall stoop TO the posture
of conquered people, and still maintain the
empty semblancc Of political consideration, by
| clinging to the skirts of Free Soi!i>rn Iccby
protesting an agreement To disagree with die.
| tatcs which it, nevertheless, imposes upon our
obedience.
I Let Mr.. Douglas last essay he published 10
the people of the South, and not one Southern
State will consent to yield him single vote at
Charleston. The only danger now is thai,