Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-07-19

ments of the Government could exert their all-
thority in the States, they could with more
certainty and force exercise it in the Terrific
rieS where there was no authority in the local
Legislature, unless a derivativc one from Con-
grcsS under the Constitution.
But the Northern people set up the new
doctrine that slavery was an evil and sin, that
il was inherently diabollcal and ought TO bc
abolished wherever it existed, and its introduc-
ton ought not to bc tolerated anywhere; this
view, and every conceivable view of kindred
character, they pressed upon the country in
season and out of season, until the whole coun-
try was annoyed and harassed beyond measure
No proposition was advanced, or could be sug.
! gested, that this one idea Of theirs was not
pressed with excitement and acrmony, until
the Union itself was threatened, if their views
were not sustained. The Southern people in
weighed against this policy. They maintained
! that they claimed nothing but what had always
; heretofore been acknowledged to be their right
They proclaimed that they asked for nothing
new. They only desired to be let alone The
aggressive policy of passing laws within the
States, TO counteract and render null the laws
Of Congress and the DEGREES of the Courts Of
the United States, they condemned rs unjust-
fable and a violation of good faith. Under
these circumstances the political parties OF the
country were called upon to show their hands,
TO say whether it was their policy 10 execute
the mandates Of the Constitution, or to permit
this doctrine of intervention against slavery
and the rights Of Shareholders to prevail. They
were called upon to say whether this iuccSsant
agitation of questions which had for their OBJ
ject the destruction Of slave property in the
States and the prevention Of its extension into
7 the Territories should continue. The whole
object Of the South was TO stand upon the rights
guaranteed by the Constitution, TO claim moth.
ing more, 10 submit to nothing less. They
maintained their right to protection in oppoSi-
ton to destruction. The Democratic party
South invoked their Northern brethren 10 unite
with them in proclaiming that this effort at de-
strucllon should he stopped. that this incc>Sant
agitation of propositions having such motives,
and objects should cease. Th, is matter Of
history notorious TO all
The South said: There is party at the
North who have threatened the destruction OF
the Union, unless the views they entertain
shall be carried out-unleSS slavery is annihila-
ted absolutely and Internationally. And who
are willing TO destroy the Union, rather than
the STAKEHOLDER shall have any protection for his
property in the Territories" To this the reply
was uade-"if our constitutional rights are
ignored and our expostulatlons disregarded, we,
too, will dissolve the Union and pull down the
fair fabric under which we have hitherto lived
contented and happy" With this state Of
circumstances and these bitter feelings existing,
the Democratic party at Cincinnati, in spirit
Of harmony and concord, agreed that it was
I r-"r-. .', ....~i. -o;.-.;~ i.--n dncr-:l 81
should be stopped, and they noby stepped for
ward, against the prcjudices and feelings Of a
large mass Of the Northern people, and adopted
the resolution, that a certain portion Of the De-
mocratic press is now quoting:
"Resolved That the Democratic party will
resist all attempts at reneninq, in Congress or
out Of it. the agitation OF the slavery question,
under whatever shape or color the attempt may
be made
New, what is the meaning Of the word e re.
ae1ing." To commence again the same sort
of attempts to abolish OF destroy slavery, or
prevent its protection. And every man, North
and South, understood full well that this was
the full and only meaning Of the resolution
Ii was a manful declaration Of adherence to
principles which had been acknowledged and
established by every department Of the Govern
ment, from the adoption Of the Constitution TO
the adoption of the resolution. 1t was II de.
claration that the Democratic party, at least,
would not countcnancc the principles which
had been proclaimed by the Abolitonis,s, the
Black Republicans, and every other party who
sympathlzed and co.eagucd with then ltwas
the only party who ever dared to face the
music and give aid and comfort to the South,
even by words
And now, Southern men, with these facts be.
fore them, admitting the rights of the South,
admitting that the principle of protection OF
Southern property is undenabe, and ought to
be maintained when necessary, are iri;tering
away the only resolution that We have btca
able to obtain even from our friends, und pro-
claiming actually that the Democratic party at
Cincinnati formally Ignored the slavery qucS-
ton, and the agitation OF any subject connect
cl with it under whatever shape or color the
attcmpt may be made" and contcnding that
those who favor any action towards protection
are abstractionists. Arc the people prepared
for doctrine like this: Are the men who al.
vocatc such construction of the resolution
willing to sacrifice every right and interest
heretofore held sacred by the South? Is the
election of any particular individual TO the
Presidency worth Il sacrifice OF every right 10
our property: We shall advocate the principle
that the South has the right to protection in
the States. in the Territories, every where
protection guaranteed by the Constitution, here
toforc maintained and acted upon by Congress,
fcarlessly proclaimed by the Supreme Court
and heretofore defended by the Executive, even
by the use of the military power Of the nation.
And the man who cannot boldly stand up as a
candidate avowing his rights and our rights
ought not to receive the vote of any man North
or South. For if he would compromise South.
ern rights, believed to be just, in order to OBJ
tain Northern support he would in the same
manner and for the same reason throw over
board Northern interests when necessary to
ensure Southern votes
We are happy to see that while some Of our
own friends are desertng U.S. while some OF our