Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-06-10

heare IN favor OF the election Of Gov Wise
~ inc Presidency in 1860. because he is en-.
Io"ea ny nature with the qualities Of head and
rsfu!rite to cNtricatc the Republic from
'i'c oiiicn!tlcS III! dangers by which il las be.
come encompassei. With intellect certainly
" .''' h'ShcSt order. combined with much ey.
perience and acknowledged practical admins
iIttive talent; crdGed with the devoted love Of
country essential 10 exalted patriotism. crave
ana scrupulous IN the discharge Of official du.
T., and intrepid though calm IN periI-;f there
lee statesman living who could calm tho
surgcs "l angry sertiona! contention. he is the
man
The Federal Government is falling rapidly
into contempt. None fear it, and precious few
scem 10 losc it. Since President Washington
bcs'roie his war horse aud suppressed the re.
bclon in Pennsylvania, the Constitutional su.
premIcy Of the Federal Government has not
been similarly yindicated-and diSuc,udc has
sadly obso!eted it, functions. Yet our Prosi.
dents so!emnly swear 10 see that the laws be
faithfully executed The Constitution is para
mount Law In matters ol doubt, the Supreme
Court Is tse only interpreter. But that sacred
uibuna! itself Is openly dcriicd 10y preachers
and State Legislatures have not only repudia,ed
lis authoritative opinions. but brazcnly nui.
lied dITerS acts Of Congress passed in conIor'ni.
ty with .tS decisions Thus the Constitution
Is RAPIDLY becoming what Washington and
others SAID of the old Articles Of Confederation
"a rope ol sand, on - chain with sun
dry links broken weak and Inefficient. We
have heard the Federal Government denounced
as II dlapdatcd tub. with hoops loose and
slaves spread apart" And, indeed il Vermont
and Massachusetts may, in the name of Libcr-
tv-"PerSonal Liberty of the Dsyro--volatc
the Constitution. We ough, not To be surprised
II Alabama and Mississippi should avail them
selves OF the same license 10 save their Per.
>onal Property and VIC shall speedily be in
the anarcliical condition Of the Mexican States.
What wcnccd IS Chief Magistrate with the
eye Of az eagle and the heart Of lon--and
Gov. Wise is the man. lie could defend the
Constitution and save the Union. He would
nau.uratc the reign Of ''evcn and exact JUS
ticc without REGARD To- section; and he would
see that all We're projected in the exercise Of
their rights. and in the possession Of their
property We have seen him bear the re.
prcachc' of his own section for hls advocacy
Of the rights Of the people 10 ratiiv or reject
their State ConStitut:on>-and those who
ccnsurel now applaud. But he would be
the infamous hcrcsy Of Mob law" in the
Territories, rs well as the ianatical Higher
law in the States. And he would uphold tic
CONSTITUTIONAL SOVEREIGNTY of the Federal Go
vernmcnt, rcbuking any attempt Of "Squattcrs'
10 disiranrhise or prescribe other cmisrants IN
the common domain or 10 deprive them Of
property. whether slaves or Yankee clocks
He would protect every description Of property
in the TcrritorlcS--hut in sovereign States,
admitted AZ such into the Union. the General
Government would have no powcr-and he
would have no diSposi,ion-to intervene. The
State Of Kansas might abolish slavery, and
New Jersey might re-cStablish it-and no au-
thori;y would exist To interfere with either.
Gov Wise is precisely the man. W one
can accuse him Of having originated; any mea-
sure merely for popularity n Of hesita,ins to
sustain i just. or To crpos- an unjust one. for
fear of consequences. lie y, besides. the only
Southern Democrat rio c.;n be ,lecied. Noin-
mate him, and there viii be 4 stampeie III the
Black Republican party. The Ea'oa "N %
sdrcd.