Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-07-01
voRnAIp WORSE

The Examiner" Of yesterday, opens a rum
ming Are against the Southern Democracy and
their allies at the North, who are now contend
ing for the re.assertion Of IN indisputable pr:n-
ciple of constitutional law. And whero does
our contemporary find his ammunition Where
but in the ~arsenals of latitudinaIianism and an
ti.slavery! Federalists and abolitionists have,
from the beginning, snubbed and derided the
State Rights Democracy as ABsrsAcrIosIsrs.-
Especially has the Virginia Democracy been
scoffed and sneered ut, as willing to die for
an abstraction. The great body Of the conscr-
vstive Democracy Of Virginia have worn the
title proudly and calmly. Truly construed, it
was at last the acknowledgment Of their unset
fish and heroic devotion to principle.
Indeed, such a badge Of honor did it become,
that a minority of our party in Virginia found
the great distractions ofMr. Madison insufficient
for the satisfaction Of their eagor desire to out
abstract abstraction itself As Mr.. Randolph
described it 1.-THE household gods Of Virginia
were not good enough for them; they must seek
the penates of another State"
Abstraction! 1t was the crowning feature
OF the plume Of pride in the caps Of this mi
nority. to DO recognised IS abstractionists par
ereelLenee.f And so it has been ever since. 4
very short time sgo-ths present member Of
Congress from the First District, was twitted
by Northern member with the epithet a6-
straetionst! He evidently regarded it as q
hattering acknowledgment Of his distinguished
merit.
And now We have the newspaper which
particularly pretends to represent This minority
Of the party in virginis-which it describes Is
Estate Rights Democracy ifit had an e.
elusive or special claim to that title-we see
this journal denouncing and execrating 'ab-
stractionism" and "abstractionists! 70, tell
it not in Gath! Publish it 10. in the streets
Of Askalon!"
What has brought this change over the
spirit Of their dream! Is it possible that
an envoy extraordinary has arrived to
persuade the Examiner" into tho de-
nuncistion of a6stractionas,-to denounce
the conservative Democracy As sbstractionists!
Who is hes Where is he? What is his name,
title. and degree? We arc anxious to pay our
respects to him-nay, to demonstrate with
him-to place in his hands our respectful pro-
test against the extraordinary instructions Of
which he Is the authoritative messenger. We
are always DESTROYS to extend courtesy to dis.
tinguished guests-especially to those who
come in high diplomatic character:
But is this doctrine Of State equality an
''empty abstraction" How does the "Exam:.
ner' attempt to prove it.
First, it asserts that by the failure 20 d.
mand Intervention for protection by Cong.ess
In California, the slaveholding STATES ws;e un
justly deprived of their rights ia that Terrific.
~. Yes, and our c0temp or.ry Right have
added that this was accomplished bv the mos.
extraordinary in~tervs..sioo to ds,roy, BY Con.
gress As well as ~ the Executive.
3ut is the 'nffiactioA Of the Constitution then
to be m.as = plea ag.aiust its maintenance now ,
Again: The "Flxaminer" contends that Kan.
sac ia lost to US by an Intervention to destroy,
BY three Ter titorial Governors, acting under
the author .ty and appointment of two Demo
cratic Pr Aidents.
Is not then, time for the Democratic par.
~ to remind Congress Of their duty II We
ha' 10 lost Kansas BY the unconstitutional in
'ervention of Democratic Presidents, is it not
high time that we should declare 1.-THE duty d
Congress to intervene against ssch hieh.hsnded
measures Of the Executive?
But says the Examiner" We have lest
California; we have lost Kansas, and what more
h there worth struggling for! I'VE still stand
prepared to do battle again in behalf Of the
doctrine Of Congressional protection, when, in
some snknoen region, We shall acquire terrific.
~ which may again give vitality to what ia
now . nero abstract truth"
o, valiant knight! Ready to do battle in
some unknotsn region when tho COWS com.
home" Why not in hnss. regions, which
We haze oeouirsdi We have lost California,
say you. And you contend that it is bottles.
to attempt to protect slavs owners in the Ter
ritory-.tiH tho Territaey-ef Kansas (wha
an admission
But admit that Ksnsss,a ~ we'll = CalifOrnis
Is lost They comprise together less thai
$4,000 square mileA Where 10 the might!
region stretching from Kansas to the Rock.
mountains! And, since you deny the 'isother
NAL theory" whore il the region stretching
from Canada to Mexico! There d moro tha,
100000 square miles! There is enough Il
carve out I've Kaasasss, and have Eve Califor
Mas to spassi
But mol Our eetsnper.sy prsfsrsto val