Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-09-30
The "Examinerr and senator Douglas.

snS etgai Nrss are cAaresd Jsr I. adrersl.eszs.h
The "Examiner, md senator Douglas.
Our neighbor of the Examiner in article in his is
sue of yesterday in reply TO an inerrogatory OF ours
week ago openly and boldly his purpose to sup
port Douglas for the Presidency in the event Of his
inaton nv the Charleston Convention. We confess to
some surprise at hi. declaration in view Of the anece
dent. of the E-aai-,r which has always, heretofore
been of tho sraltest of Southern Rights Journals
It's present Editor has been conspicuous for his ardent
championship Of the rights Of the South under all cir
oumstances and has been cassed among the most nex
lille and uveteate of the disciples Of Calhoun and the
South Carolina school, He has been devoted lover and
advocate Of 'abstrsctionsn-the very thing the Eram
er for some time past has been diculng and deriding
In other words the Erdmnsr, casting aside "abstrsc-
tons" as something utterly useless and worthless, !,
looking the slavery question in its practical
aspects and greatly disgrunted at the idea Of Its party
viewing the matter in any other light 1t admits that
Douglas opinions in regard to slavery in the Territories
involve "a papaby hresy, and declares
that "the Southern States can be brought TO
aorse the doctrines avowed by Judge Douglas in his
AL. n Harpers' Magazine" And yet strange TO saw
b al Doprl,s' sins upon his head-with his "uncon-
aaonaT sauatter Sovereignty, heresiss staring it in
the f,ce-the Examiner, in answer 10 the question
whether it will support Mr. Douglas in case he shall OBJ
tain the nomination Charleston says-"We reply I'M
equivocaly, can, and we will
We repeat that we acknowledge TO little surprise
~ finding the Eraviner-a protested State Rights and
Southern Rights journal Of the strictest s'ampwiinG
10 sustain for the Presidency man who is the urgent
and uncompromisng advocate Of "a pApaby unconstitr
,iopal beresyr and who maintains the ground tina,
Territorial Legislature may, by hostile legislation, eN
mel slavery from every foot of the territory Of
ubi h ms a fOOt-hOld
advocates Of Congressional prohibition such Seward
and the like the Examiner regards with intensest hor
ror as the sworn enemies Of the South pledged TO the
destruction OF every vestge Of Southern rights, so FAR
as the Territories concerned Yet the advocates of
Souater Sovcrcigny-a doctrine far more odious and
dangerous 10 the South according to Mr. Calhoun than
the Wilmot Proyso-our neighbor is willing take
i,is embrace and support for the highest Office
within the g of people The Territorial Legisla
lures which derive all their power and thet very exist
eucc from Congress may employ hostile legislation 10
cripple aud destroy slavery, and the men who uphold
ther right to do this may be looked upon friends by
the Southern people and elevated by them to the Prcs
dency bat Congress- the creator Of the Territorial lie
ssature cannot legislAte against slavery any respect
aud those who maintain that il branded
mics TO the South and denounced totally unworthy OF
the confidence aud support of Southern men for any
Office.
Such appears to be the position held by the Examiner
on this subject But occupy different altogeth-
er We maintain that if Congress has no power 10 PRO-
hbt slavery in the Terrtories then the Territorial Leg
is,atars which derive their power aud their existence
from Congress, have right whatever TO destroy
weaken slavery in the Territories by hoste legislation.
We 90 further aud say tina; if hoste legislation" is TO
be em oyed against slavery at ALL decidedly prefer
that Congress should exercise that power itself and not
Leo ~
Is 20 be excluded from the territory of the Union
prefer should be done in the face of day by direct
Congressional prohibition instead OF insidously and
suuakjnEy, by hostile legislation on the part OF
squatiers from every nation under the In other
words II the North determined press the South 10
the wall this question, we the attempt made
boldly in the face OF the whole country aud in the face
of The world, that may il fearessly and resist
il with ell tho argument at command But we do
the South 10 be slyy kicked of the Terrific
rcs by means OF Douglas hostie Legislation theory re-
duocd practice That would indeed he degradation
bitter endured Our open enemies we can at least
respect but for ones the shape Of proessed
friends, feel other than an emotion Of con-
tempt although we dread them far more.
The Examiner says it has never for a moment
thought or said that Ut. Douglas Is worse than Mr.
Seward" Well numbers Of Southern Democrats do think
So and bave boldly said so; and agree With them in
op,uioa. Aud thus believing Notwithstanding Stewards
Rochester speech, and all his other datribes against
s.vs should supporthim for the Presidency In pre-
fs Douglas; aud upon the ground that we prefer
open 20 secret enemy Besides false and as de-
testnble are The doctrines Of Stewards Rochester
speech they no. than the doctrines main
tanned ny many influential Southern Democrats In.
decd the "rrepressibe conflict" theory not original
With Seward With any other Northern man It had
birth the minds and hearts Of Southern Democrats
aud eward has only stolen their thunder. The ground
that there 'tepressble conflict" between the North
and the South, has been favore doctrine with South.
Democratic disuuonss for many years. Il doc.
trine amo. universally received in South Carolina to-
day. Il is a doctrine which, IL we mistake not even
the Richmond Enquirer during the last Presidential
canvass aud while under the editorial control of the eau.
Democratic candidate for Congress in the Peter.
burg district, ventilated" quite frequently and with
considerable guso. Seward therefore, IL only plagi,
rist rom Southern Democrats-the "irrepressibe con
fc theory which has made his Rochester speech 80 no
torous had lie origin with Southern Democrats, and
upon their heads be all the responsibility.
Tho EyrB,in,r cltsses sEwAED BORIS BELt, aud Car
grvnEs together and gays that It regards them all eos
Jr c0rs, than Douglas Il then asks No. II we woul,
support Seward for the Presidency 10 the event Of Doug
las not being nominated the Charleston Convention
orf We would support him against any Southern Demo
orat7 We reply that the Examiner considers SrwAEi
than Boris BELL or CRrrTESDEy; and Il sucl
Is The fact, have hesitation 10 declaring that ",
would support SEWARD thousand times sooner than
huy Democrat Northern or Southern, ia the land And
Ga any event. could support him with as much pro
psiety as the EramiHcr could Douglas
The Opposition.
The Baltimore Patriot, calm-thinking conservative
paper expresses tef thus Of tho duty Of the Opposition
IN tho nert Presidential election