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

NS
on the Northern front of our banner and
EQUAL PROTECTION" depicted on the Southern
reserve?
Thus it is that the Examiner" however
averse to a platform-recognition OF the bred
Scott decision, will be obliged, ultimately, to
coincide in the policy of the Southern Democra-
CIV and their State Rights allies of the North.
Senator Douglas is NJ halfway man. lie
has honestly and boldly taken his position on
the squattcr sovereignty basis, which he will
use all his efforts to place in the Democratic
platform. If this can be done, then it is evil
dent that Mr.. Douglas must be the Presidential
nominee. Under these circumstances, no other
man could contest presidency with him. His
warm friends and admirers, animated, to q
great extent, by attachment to his fortunes,
have thus another induccment to push this
new doctrine, apart from the binding pledge
which he and they have already given to Sc
cure its endorsement by the party.
There is nj doubt, whatever, that a resolu-
ton will be offered at Charleston, embodying
in one form or another another, the following
assertion:
THAT THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN PARTY
DENY THE RIGHT AND DUTY OF TuE CONGRESS OR
TIE EXECUTIVE OF THE UNITED STATES, UNDER
ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TO TAXI ACTION FOR TIE
PROTECTION OF SLAVE PROPERTY Or SLAVE PER-
SONS IN TIE TERRITORIES OF TIE UNION
If our c~otemporary shall hold a seat in the
Charleston Convention, when this resolution is
offered, he will then find it impossible to avoid
this issue. He will be obliged to vote with the
conservative Democracy. His NO will be re-
corded inevitably; and that 80 will furnish as
impressive an assertion Of the doctrine, THAT
1T is THE RIGHT AND DUTY OF THE GENERAL
GOVERNMENT, AND or EVERY DEPARTMENT THERE
OF, IN CASE or NREp, TO EXTEND FULL AND
ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO EVERY DESCRIPTION
OF PERSONS AND PROPERTY N TIE COMMON
TERRITORIES, as if he should vote for 4 reSolu-
ton embodying the very words.
If our cotemporary shall take the ground
which he now takes, that he would also vote
against any such resolution, for equal protcc-
ton. he can have such refusal only on one
ground which would be at all tolerable 10 the
conservative Democracy. That ground is apt
" illustrated by a very ancient anecdote.-
When a disciple of one of the Greek pliloso-
pliers proposed to write an eulogy OH the Prov
css of Hercules, the sage replied that the Prov
ess of the hero-god was already so sacred and
well attcsted among gods and men, that to eu-
logic it would be to question it.
1t was for a similar reason that tho Demo.
cratic party for a long time omitted to assertin
their party platforms the doctrine Of the right
Of every State to maintain the institution Of
slavery. And for the same reason, the party
has hitherto omitted to insert in its platforms a
formal recognition Of the right and duty Of the
Federal Government to protect persons and
property in the territories.
In short the compromise by which the 'Ex-
anliuer' now proposes to ignore the slavery
question in the territories, is as impossible as
its adoption, if possible, would be disastrous.
We regret extremely that a Democratic organ
in Virginia should tender any such compro-
mise, especially at this time. 1t can have no
other practical tendency but that OF dividing
the Democracy and Of Strengthening the hands
Of squattcr sovereignty advocacy.
Besides, we are sick Of compromises. In
evitably and invariably they result in loss to
the South, in distraction to the Democratic par
ty, in weakness and disaster and a n~egation Of
principles, which obliges us after the event Of
every election to indulge in interminable con-
troversies as to the true meaning of the Demo-
cratic platform. The compromise Of ls50-the
Badger compromise of the Nebraska bill the
attempt made at Cincinnati to compromit our
position by throwing the whole vote of New
York into the hands Of the "softs"-the Eng
lish compromisc-takc them altogether or sep
arately, and they have produced nothing but
loss and disaster, dissension and distraction.
We appeal to the great body Of tho conscrva-
tive Democracy of Virginia to present an I'M
broken front in opposition to this new PROPOSE
ton for compromise. 1t proposes nothing less
than an abandonment Of the only ground Of
principle upon which we can stand for the
maintenance Of equal rights under the Consti-
tuition, and. as we have shown, the compromise
is as impossible as it would be inexpcdient.
And we tell the conservative Democracy 81
the State that they must rouse their own ener-
sies and do their own work. Without this,
We must lapse into the old vicious system Of
subsection to Congressional caucus, which An
drew jackson once crushed by direct appeal to
popular decision, but towards which, during
the last few years, VIC have again been rapidly
tending, in consequence Of the apathy Of the
people. We appeal to the mass of the con-
sentative Democracy to organize at once. Let
the true men in every county ind in every pre-.
cinct meet together at nce-let them CORES.
pond with each other throughout the State
Let US organize at once, and take prompt mea-
sures to secure a proper representation of the
sentiment of the State at Observation-Disclosures
our delegates to insist on the adoption of n
platform irrespective of the aspirations of any
man or Of any faction, and, after the platform
is laid, and not until then, let the Charleston
Convention select its candidates in the persons
of men who can stand square on a platform of
acknowledged principles. Above all, let US
take care that our platform shall not be shaved
down to suit the candidate, but that the candi'
date shall be selected to suit the platform.
Indeed, if the Examiners anticipations are
we'll founded, we have nothing but defeat to an
ticipate in 1860. If the assertion Of 'squatter
sovereignty" will operate las we think it would)
to "drive off nine tcnths Of the Southern Dc
mocracy," and If the assertion of the doctrine
Of equal protection will operate (Which we de-
nv to "drive off the masses Of the North" we
mnst be defeated. For it will be impossible to
keep this question out Of the Charleston Con.