Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-07-08
ANOTHER QUESTION ANSWERED.

I'VE know our ncighbor hates 10 answer gac>
tion>, hut we mus, ask it Il. will rejoice with ,lr'
exceedingly joy. should Douglas be the nominee Of t.'
Charleston Convention:'-. Echmoad Erdmf"''.
We answer that we have three objections t'
Mr.. Douglas nomination
lst. We believe that the nomination S justly
due to the Southern States, which received tho
compliment, for the last time, some fifteen years
ago.
2nd. We believe that wc can find Southern
man who, if nominated, could command more
electoral votes than could Mr. Douglas.
3rd. We are at direct issue with Mr.. Doug
las, on the subject of his lately announced
views as to the powers and duties of the Gene
raj Government, in connection with tie terri
tories Of the Union.
Mr.. Douglas however, we will do him the
justice to say, has taken his position unequiyo-
cally, like an earnest man, and one animated
by moral courage and devoted to what he pro-
fcSscS to regard as constitutional principle.
We do not hesitate to describe this principle
as unSound, as unconstitutional and oppose to
the wcl.rccognizcd doctrines OF the Dcmocr:l-
tic party.
But il the issue is to be bctwccn Mr. Dou@:a-
and some man who occupies the position Of
the Richmond Examiner" some man who ad
vocateS the policy Of permitting L dupliciiy OF
interpretatiOn-;n Interpretation with fork
cd tongue" saying one thing at the North and
con;radiciing it at the South, To be applied 10
the Democratic platforms; some n!an who de
nounccs leading provisions Of tine Constitution
ol the United States, and 4 doctrine which
runs through every article Of the Constitution
aS Il barren abstraction. Il doni dpctrihC. 10
be taun,cd, not honorcd, with the mockcry Of
"posthumcuS honor>;" some man who ackEow-
lcdgcS the truth Of 4 great principle, and then
refuses TO inscrbc It on the banner Of his par
tv; some Inan who tenders such 4 "compro-
mist as this on the slavery question; some
man who thus proposes to initiate system ri
anarchy in our Territories and 10 perpctnatc
subject Of dispute in the Democratic party. III
case, too, where such pcrpetuaion Of the
dispute will amount TO nothing more nor less
than 4 final surrender Of the doctrine Of equal
protection and entire submission to "squat,cr
sovereignty; some man who regards the DE-.
mocratic party as already a conquered party,
and the Southern people conquered people.
and, in the name Of their w,"iN..r, appeals 10
them TO abstain from formal recognition and
endorsement Of the Drcd Scott decision; If the
issue shall be between Mr. Douglas, on Ii,
platform Of unsound but honestly avowcd and
plainly defined principle. and some man stan
ing on the Examiners" compromise platform
of total abnegation of all principle. good or
bad, then, VIC say We would infinitely prefer
the nomination Of Mr.. Douglas, and the icuo
minous defeat of his rival
We will at least know where 10 find Mr.
Douglas; and the extent Of injury to be apprc-
headed from his nomination Is already patent.
But who can tell TO what lengths the ncmina-
ton OF no principle candidate will lead US:
Who can tell what other doctrines Of the con.
>titution he will hereafter dcnouncc and disrc-
gard as barren distractions: Who can tell wim,
he VIII next advocate -; -''-.-- .'-.;. ';"o.
We tell our co;cmporary that We shall ''rc-
ioicc with exceeding great JOY TO see any
presidential a>pirant who shall dare assume
the Examiners position, not only defeated,
hut Denounced and lcrrlcd, hisScl and sconcd
L. the whole Democratic party.