Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-14
A DELUSIvE CALM.

political horizon so fraught with national danger
as the apparent stiffness which seems to pervadc
the policy of the so-caled Republican party al
this time To any one who has watched the de-
velopment. the first organization and Subse
quent progress Of that party, it is evident that
every period Of seeming inactinn, not less than
every open movement is the result of L con-
sistcnt and premeditatci plan of operations.
arranged by aStute and far-sishtcd men, not ior
the purpose of any mere local or temporary tri-
umphs, but calculated for the concentration Of
all Federal power in the hands of an anti-slavc-
ry party, and with the ultimate view Of extin'
gushing the institution Of slavery in the States,
as we'll as in the Territories.
The great step by which it is calculated to
accelerate the consummatiou Of this policy. is
the early elevation Of an Aboi!ionist 10 tho
Presidential chrir Nothing less than the eX-
elusive control of the immense Executive pat
ronagc of the Federal government is desired, in
order to consolidate Northern organization and
push forward the work of corruption and lie
moralization at the South. That We have trail
tors in our midst, the ready and willing tools
Of such employment. no sane man can doubt.
The first obstacle which presents itself /"
the election Of all Aboltionist candidate tor the
Presidency, is the present sectional oiganiza-
ton Of the party. \ quasi national organiza-
ton is the first great dcsidcratnm OF the Black
Republican party. The more astute leaders OF
that party have already gone very far to secure
this object. In some States, they have operated
temporary separation from the more avowcd
of ultra Abolitionists They have ostenta-
tiously assumed in Congress the apparent at
titudc ofignoring their previous dogma. mo new
slave States shall be admitted into the Union. :
Not unfrequcntly they have preached discour'
ses on the necessity Of maintaining slavery in
the States unimpaired by Federal encroach'
ment, at the same time touching but lightly
and by indircction on the question of the en-
tension of slavery. Anti-slavcry clamor has
been made to subside to an undcrtone, and men
who two years since were the loudest camor-
ers, are now confining themselves to an effort
to usurp the Democratic platform of popular
sovercgnty-to throw the Democratic party,
if possible, into an apparent nesation Of this
fundamental principle, and on this issue, as
; we'll as on the old distinctions of national par
ties, and on the issue OF financial economy, 10
combine all the elements Of the opposition
North and South Ii is Il sagacious cacua
ton. the consummaton Of which can involve
no risk whatever to the Abolition party. since
they will command a clear majority of the conf
bined opposition. and, after the achievement Of
triumph can control the entire policy of the
coalition. The probable progress o; such 4
policy, which will certainly he pursued with
ont deviation, and with or without Black
Republican President. as we'll the proper means
for its contravention. we propose to make the
subiec, of consideration in future editorial ar
ticle.
We have now said enough to demonstrate
the absolute necessity Of energy, union. mode
ration, promptness, tact and frmness. on the
part of the Democratic party. When the mo-
ment of actual contest arrives. it will be dan
gerous in the extreme 1t is time-fully time
that effective and practical steps were being
taken with view to the next Presidential
election The list Of probable candidates
should be freely canvasscd. with view to
availability as well as to entire soundnesS OF
principle, and the party should at once dis
countenancc every attempt at departure from
those doctrines of State Rights and strict con-
stitutional construction, which now form its
only basis of temporary triumph, as they al
WAYS must furnish the only guarantee Of per
manent success.