Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-07-12
How to Prevent tho Necessity for Congressional
Intervention


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How to Prevent tho Necessity for congression.i
Intervention.
The immediate result OF the policy either Of
"squattcr sovereignty" or Of ''lorkcd tongucd
compromise, will be 20 force the necessity Of
Congressional Intervention, at once, on the at
tention Of Congress itself.
Let it once be proclaimed, that no rational
party in the Union darcS inScribe the Constiiu-
ton doctrine of intervention for protection
on lis banner, and Immediately the machinery
of emigrant aid societies will be set in motion;
immediately 4 host Of Sharps rifle sqnatterN
will pour into every organized Territory; i'm
mcdiately will they obtain control OF every
Territorial Legislature; and proceed at once To
repeal every existing act Of Territorial lesi>la-
ton for the protection of slavery and TO thc
cnaction of that species Of unequal taxation
and "unfricndly legislation" which Senator
Douglas has already proclaimed, Inay be made
available for anti.slavery purposes.
/ In such case, the matter must be brought 10
Southern Senator's and Representatives who
have not yct forgotten that they represent sovc-
reign States entitled to equal rights in this
I Confcdcracy will be obliged TO demand. in the
name OF their constituencies that Congressional
I intervention for protection to which they are
entitled. Without united national party III
the Union to back their demand, it will be
scorncd and rejected by the majority in Con-
cress. Then we will have all the strife and
turmoil of AGITATION, such as has never yet
threatened the safety Of the lrion.
Such will be the inevitable result of the
adop,ion of the subm;sSioni>t' policy-thc
very result which its advocates now pretend TO
,lepr,catc.
On the other hand, the Democratic party is
now in position which, under an honest avow'
al of principles and an uncompromising adhc
renee TO the doctrines Of the Constitution,
will enable it, without further legislation b.
Congress, to provide for the entire protection
of all the equal rights Of persons and property
throughout the territories of the Union.
Let it once be made known, unmstakably
and intll>putably, that the only national part,
in the Union is united and determined with al
its strength and by resort to every Constl,n
tional expedicnt TO secure the ample and cqua
protection Of every species Of persons and pro
pcrty in the territories; then the people in the
territories and the representatives In their loca
Lcgis,ures will know indeed that q strong ant
oycrrulinr power is at hand to correct thel
usurpations of commission or oil olnlSslon.-
Under this conviction there can be no doup
that the people of each territory will find thei
ONLY safety in guarded and faithful adherchc
to the dictates of the Constitution None VII
venture to lay themselves liable to super'o
reprchcnsion and correction, by the enactmcn
Of "uncqual taxation or ''uniricndly leslsla
ton" And all vii, hasten TO anticipate Con
gressional action by providing through the
own local legislatures ample and equal protec
ton to all the persons and property IN tlie'
, midst.
Indeed, the only means by which the Demo
cratic party can prevent the necessity I'll ''''
. crcssiona Intervention. is by asserting at ono
= and without couivocaiion, the true ConSiitu
t;onal doctrine that Congress must and shall
in every case of necessity, employ its own Ill
mediate powers for the full protection oil tn
equal rights of citizens OF all the states OIL VI
soil of their common territory.