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

MR.. DOUGLAS POSITION.
The last and most complete announcement 81,
Senator Douglas views on the slavery question:
has appeared in the September number of iiar-
per's Monthly Magazine.
In commenting on this production, we enter
upon task which We would gladly avoid, if
iutr permitted. We are net among that mum
Der who, for the last two years, have united in
deriving the Illinois Senator As for the per-
Sonal vitupcratiCn with which he has been
Piled although we have never known him in
;i:natcly enough 10 mail; the cXac: limits of its
injuSticc we have naturally regarded it nS the
result OF partisan rancOr 50 lar rs we have
come in personal contact with Senator Douglas
We have found him an amiable anl courteous
gentleman. and We have been pleased with al
outspoken canior on his part, which contrasts
most f,yorahly with the selfish and timid rcti-
cence of not lcw among his political con-
pc,ita-s.
But it is hot hy such impressions that we
Judge candidate for the Presidency. Ii is to
Mr.. Douglas public acts and publicly expressed
opinions that We look for 4 surer guide than
coo b. fo"ud ia tho i,nrertee. impressions of
partial personal acquaintanccship. In his ro-
Utica, character we have found one trait which!
we cannot fail TO admire. Mr.. Douglas speaks
out promptly lie does not lag behind to
watch the turn OF the political current before
venturns TO define his position. Nor have we
ever admired him more than when he met the
present Administration on the Lccomptou
question, at the very first hop Of the ball, with
an out>pokcn expression of dissent And so
long as Senator Douglas fought the battle
against al! odds, in favor Of popular Sovereignty,
properly 81 callcd--So long H. he stool OH the
solid platform which asserts the right of the
people Of a stat. to form their own cons;itu-
ton, by full and fair reference toa popular
vote. without force iraud, or federal dctaton-
nc cominanicd the heartfelt sympathy of the
present writer We then regarded him as the
champion OF the honor and best interests Of
the South as well IS Of the North--as restrict
ING his efforts to the maintenance OF great
principle Of State sovereignty, indispensable t"
the equality of dignity among all the members
Of the confedcracy.
Since then We have found Mr.. Douglas ven
il.;ns upon another field of discussion, on the
urri's Of which We are obliged 10 separate
from him. indeed 20 stand in uncomprom>iag
difference, on i point also invoking the 1ueS.
ton Of State equality and the catire slavery
,1,n, ,,l,tD - L..
Suned As explained with sufficient explicit
ness in his last publications, the position as
serted 10y Mr. Douglas now is, that the resi-.
dents Of :; territory may rishtiully and legally,
,!nou:h the action of Il territorial legislature
exclude tue introduction Of slave property into
4 territory, or ahro.atc the right 70 hold slaves
already introduced; and that neither the Con-
grcsS, the Executive or the Judiciary Of the
United States can rishtfully intervene TO pro-
tcct slave property from such hostile action Of
mere territorial authorities.
As We have already repeatedly urged upon
the attention of cur readers this doctrine i.
even more practically and effectively Subvcr-
sive of the constitutional rights Of slavehold-
erS than is the doctrine maintained by Mr. Sew
ard and his adherentS of the Black Republican
party. Mr.. Seward holds that Congress NAV
rightfully exclude slave property from the ter.
litories. Mr. Douglas contends tina, this power
resides in the local authorities Of each territory.
So far. then, as the great question Of prnci-
pic involved is concerned, there is no ina cria
.-.Y nd
ard Both deny the inalienablc right Of the
citizens Of each State to enjoy, on territory
common TO AL the States, every species OF pro-
pcr,y which any citizen may lawfully hold
! within the limits oil any one Of the States
Mr. Seward attributes the power to abrogatc
this right to great federal legislative body,
where the attcinl! would he met with the
strenuous opposition Ola full body of Southern
representatives, whose action and dclibcration
are constant subjects Of watchful attention
and jealous comment to the whole people of the
Onion. Mr. Douglas attributes the same power
70 isolated and obscure local authorities, a,nonr
whom the shareholders of the Union may be
altogether excluded csen from partial rcprcSen.
tation whose members and constituencies are
comparatively Irresponsible
Certainly, Mr., Douglas doctrine is equally
obnoxious in theory with that Of Mr.. Seward,
and much mere easily reduced to practical
adoption.
Even here, however. we are careful to avoid
all injustice to Mr.. Douglas. When he partially
announced his views on this question, during
the las, session Of Congress, we enormously
regarded them as the expression of new con-
ric,ion. Further enquiry satisfies US that the
distinguished Senator has, for the last nine