Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-09-27
From the Troy (Ala) Advertiser
Hon Eli s. Shorter on the Charleston Convention
EvrAuLA, August %. 1859.

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From the Troy lAla.) ADVERTISED.
Hoa. Eli s. Shorter on the Charleston Convention.
ErrArLA, August %. lsj9
Dear Sir:--Enclosed hand you two editorial
extracts from papers published in New lamp
shire, which prove that there arc some true and
reliable Democrats yet living even in New Eng
land. lou will sec that the editors Of both Of
these papers boldly advocate the power and duty
Of Congress toprotect slavery in the territories.
Both are bitterly opposed 10 Douglas. Let the
South respectfully, but earnestly demand Of
the Charleston Convention the endorsement Of
the principle of Congressional protection in the
territories, and believe that the an;iDouglaS
Democrats of the North will b. found voting
with Us. The Douglas Democracy VIII, of
course, oppose il. But have great faith in the
wisdom and patriotism of the Democratic par
~, and by no means have deSpaired Of sue
cess in the next Presidential election. the
past history Of that party is inSeparably blend
cd with tue progress and glory OF our country.
The Democracy have fought many battles and
won man. victories in defence Of the con>ttl-
;ional rights Of all the States. II has ever been
the firm friend Of the South ard tho constan,
foe of the ,bolit;onis;S. 1t has manifested It's
friendship Tor Us. not alone in lis platform Of
principles, bat by substantial acts OF icgiSla-
ton. To THAI party are we indebted Tor the
acquisition and admission into the Union Of the
States OF louisiana Florida Arkansas, MiSsou-
ri. and Texas 1t repealed the Missouri Com
promise Inc, and passed tie Fugitive Slave
Law. Ii has never given laid and comfort" TO
the enemy when we were engaged in Il foreign
war, but iroin the days OF Jefferson down 10
the present time, whether o.! land or upon the
sea. il has always
stood by our COUNTRY glory fAs,:
AID nailed her eo!ors TO i'se nas;.
Such a party can hardly be induced in ihc ia
turc, at the bidding OF any man, 10 act so III
consistently with its past history, as to deny
10 the South the recognition Of a clear conStltu
tional right; one declared to be such by the
Supreme Court Of the United States can
never believe i, until the deed is accomplished.
We have had traitors IN orr ranks before tins,
who sought 10 mar the harmony or destroy the
organization Of the party But the party sur
yivcd the treason, while the traitors have sunk
into mcri,cd obScur;ty. Douglas is great man
in many senses Of the word; .rca; in talents,
in oratorv. in ambition. and IN treason 10 the
South and his Old party which has Showered
lis honors upon him. Blu; he will find that the
State Rights Democratic Party is far greater
than himself He stands hot 4 shadow Of q
chance for the nomination at Charleston. |
would rs soon expect TO see that Convention
nominate Seward, liale or Giddin.s as Douglas.
would vote for one Of them as soon rs would
vote for him.
| believe that we shall bc able 10 nominate 4
candidate for the Presidency and agree upon a
platform satisfactory Ia the South. Bur # We
should be disappointed in these our just eXpcc-
tations, then, in my judgment, the time will
have arrived for The Southern Democracy 20
fold up its old consccrated banners. and, in
memory Of their past services, bury them with
all the honorS Of war. in the SANE tomb where
the broken standards Of that ancient enemy
the Wing l,Grty--now rcpoSc. Still, shall
cherish the hope that the action OF the Con
ycntion will be such as not to impose that ne
ccSSitv upon US. \ serious division among the
Southern people in the next Presidential cam
paign. vii! be disastrous indeed, ard should, if
possible. he avoided. 1t would resu!! in the
election Of 4 Black Republican to the Prc>i-
dcncy, and then the demon of revolution will
wave his bloody banner over the land. and the
best government that ever was established on
earth vii! fail. rs j; ought To fall when It fails
to extend equal rights and protection 10 The
citizens OF al the states III the Union. | Gn.
however, no diSrnionist ?'cr se. tell YOU
frankly tia. If | had the power, ! would pre-
serve the Union o: these States As it was made
hv the Constitution, so long aS the sun shines
or the water runs. But the South mast have
Justice in the Mon. or she mist destroy the
Mon "Fai jnStiid r5i,m .''Gt.
There is another subject in connection with
the Charleston Convention on which | desire
to add few words regret to notice 4 diSpo
Sitoa manifested by some o. oar friends 20 en-
barrass the Convention with the question ofrc-
opening the African slave trade. That sub
ice, is full Of danger to our section. ain I'M
cor,roini,ngly opposed 10 dividing the South
Oh that issue now Its agitation will do us
more harm than il will DO the North. No po-
litical party can ever be organized in the Union
that will have the power to repeal the laws
against the foreign slave trade. During the
Thirty fourth Congress, as you will doubtless
remember, resolution passed the House Of
Representatives declaring that it was ''incXpc
dent, unwisc, and contrary to the settled poll
cy Of the United States TO repeal those laws
There were only eight votes against the resolu-
ton. Among those eight were Hon. Percy
Walker and myself from Aiahana. vo-
ted againS, it because was opposed to
the agitation "i the question by Congress,
ard because regarded the in.roiuc-
ton OF more slave labor ia the South
from Africa or elsewhere, as question
Of policy icr each State to determine for itself
Alabama. nor any other Southern State, had
not at tha; time expressed all opinion on the
subject, and conceived that her representa-
tivcs in Congress had no authority or saving
what would or would not he her settled
al, T,,.,, Y S,.,
demanded the repeal of those laws |, was
generally supposed Throughout; the South
that Texas desired the rc-opcnim. OF the
trade bit the recent election o. Houston
for Governor over Runnels, settles that queS-
ton 50 far as Texas, for the present. is con
ccrned. Two yclrS..a.o l.unnclS bca: Hons
ton for the same office by upwards Of ten thou
sand majority. Now, it appears. that Houston
has defeated him by over five thousand. One
Of the principal issues between them was the
re opening OF the African slave trade. Run
nelS favored the measure, aud Houston opposed
it, Reagan also took the strongest ground
against the rc-opening, and lie. too is rc-ciectcd
to Congress from Texas. Hence, some OF our
politicians would do well 10 PAUSE and reflect
upon ,h;S result in Texas before asking the
Charleston Convention or Congress TO do what
no Southern state has yet demanded. II any
OF or people are ambitious TO educate lew
vii" Nricans. they can doubtless obtain them
from Yankee ships from the coast Of Florida.
Acccp; my congratulations over your trium-
plant election to the Legislature.
Truly Your friend. ELL :. SHORTER.
A. ". SlAISE, Esq
TIE MEMORY or CAiH"v,, MALiGXEp.-Wc