Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-06-17

FftlDA1 NuOttNINGs wv
We do not questionable power Oh Consios' "
fare nv legal attachments 70 protect any property
in tho rorr;tories We hold it to be the duty Of
c,ver,msnt to protect the property Of citizens
vherever it has authority.
The above language OF our contemporary, the
P;cbmond Examiner" embodying, as it does,
IN. true assertion of the whole ground Of prin.
c;n,e upon which the defenders of the consti,
,ution must rely for the defeat of squatter SOW
ereisnty innovations, is so concise, so simple,
so direct in its expression, as to merit the same
place in every conservative newspaper, which
we are happy to accord it in our issue OF to-
dav. 1t deserves to stand at the head of the
foremost column.
The entire article from which We extract
this paragraph may doubtless be regarded as
the authoritative exposition of the policy favor
ed by a portion Of the Democracy of Virginia,
as we'll as of the principle maintained by the
entire party throughout the State. We, there
fore. extract the whole article so far as it re-
lates Immediately to the existing agitation in
favor OF squatter sovereignty:
The gallant band Of conservative Northern
Democrats still present a stern and courageous
front to the aggressive and corrupt aSSailants OF
the rights of citizens and the Constitution of
the country. But they will be powerless in
this contest. unless they are sustained by the
united South. They must know that in their
difficult and %pcrilous struggle they will have
sc al tko,, ho,-n Iarn,ocsx
ccivcd from their Southern brethren. Above
all, they must he enabled TO present to their
Northern fcllow-citizcns, in truth, the evil in
~,iuenceS which a Black Republican triumph
will have upon the destiny Of the country, and
The inevitable severance Of at least a portion of
the Union, which it must produce. They must
be enabled to point to the Southern Democracy
not only rs n unit in speculative opposition to
the scheme Of anti-siavery agitators, but as q
unit in political tactics and in partisan organiza-
ton. They must be able to show the people
Of the North, to whom they appeal, that we
are the same Democracy under whose lead
their country has grown to its present grand
and magnificent proportions, and through
whose policy the equal rights Of all citizens
have been maintained. and the interests of in
dividuals and the community alike advanced.
What is Of primary Importance in accom-
plishing these objects is. that the Democracy
should adhere to its old and established politi.
cal creed; should rally under it's old principles
and policy, and not attempt to force upon any
portion Of the party new articles Of faith, or
new interpretations Of portions of creeds adopt
cd by Democratic Conventions.
Former Democratic Conventions have stead.
lily refused to enter into the exciting and tran
silent issues which have grown out Of an effort
20 accommodate principles and general policy
to the temporary acquisitions Of eXpediency or
the demand of sectional interests. At the last
Cincinnati Convention they expressly refused to
abandon their established policy, and refrained
from re-opening the wounds which sectional
controversies in Congress had inflicted upon
the party and the country. In refusing to go
farther than their predecessors had gone, they
preserved the harmony of the party and Sc
cured the country against the mischiefs of
Black Republican misrule.
ut may be said, however, that they lett an
important question, affecting the most vital Of
all subjects. unsettled. We alludc to the
power of Congress over slavery. We do not
think with those who assert this. The ques-
ton of power over slavery in the States they
did settle, so far as an expression Of opinion
(Which was all the power they had) could
With regard TO the power Of Congress over
the institution in the Territories, the party in
Congress and in Convention have left the ques-
last Presidential election the decision Of the
Supreme Court has adiudicatcd the whole
question Of power over the property in slaves
existing in the Territories Of the United States.
This decision, which is now the law for the
citizens Of all Territories, for all judicial tribt,-
nails therein, and for all legislative bodies, or
executive, or ministerial officers in such Terri
tories, recognizes the property in slaves as fully
rs in any other chattel, and gives to the slave
holder therein all the rights and remedies
which attach to the holder of any other pro-
perty whatever.
"Were We to attempt to interpOlate the DEM
ocratic creed by the introduction Of a new ar.
ticle on this subject, we should in our judg-
ment, do much practical mischief and fail to
establish an abstract truth. We should in all
probability sacrifice the harmony Of a political
organization, on which the most vital interests
of the South and the best hopes OF the Union
depend, and effect no useful purpose whatever.
We're WI to adopt the Interpretation of nou-in.
tcrvention, which confers on the Territorial
Legislature the jurisdiction over property, or
give to the people Of Territory the power of
prohibiting the introduction of property into it,
and attempt to insert it in our creed, we should
drive of nine.tcnths of the Southern Democra-
cy, and in our Judgment, encounter the insu-
obstacle Of the law of Congress. as
announced by the Supreme Court in Terri
tory where that law is the exclusive rule of
right and sole exposition Of legitimate authori.
ty. Were VIC to insist upon forcing on the
Democratic party the doctrine Of the duty and
power of Intervention by Congress for protec-
Of slave property in the territories, We
should abandon the old practice Of our party,
ourselves to the modification of defeat
in the Democratic Convention, and, if success
full, drive off the masses Of the North, paralize
our party in the free States, and yield the Pres
idency to the Black Republicans; and all this
would encounter for the purpose Of reviving
an issue which has been practically adjudica.
ted, and which has ceased TO be q living and
question.
1--WE do not question the power of Congress
to interfere by legal enactment to protect any
property in the territories. We hold it to be
the duty OF Government to protect the pro-
perry of citizens wherever it has authority
We are unwilling, however, to force an abstract
truth upon q body Of men whose alliance we
need, whose aid is essential to the maintenance
Of rights practically endangered, when we
know that such an effort may do much mis-.
chief, and when we are unable to see any good
to DO attained by it beyond the mere naked re-
of the truth. There are many truths
in which we believe, to which we cannot ask
OUT party to assent; many principles we cannot
it to adopt"
On the ground of principle, then, our CO.
temporary offers us his entire concurrence with
the views which it has been the constant task
Of the "Enquircr"-and especially for the last
twelve months-to r~eiterate under every form
Of expression and illustration which we could !
hnd adequate to the purpose. And on tho
ground of policy and expediency, we opine
that, under present and impending c;rcum. !