Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-11-18
How Agitation nm. been Keep, Alive.


The Memphis Enquirer, replying to article of the
Appeal of the city, in regard to the responsibility
Of Douglas and the Democracy fer the present agitation
gives the following pertinent "reminiscences, from its
Southern point of view:
at is certainly that the Enquirer did charge that
Douglas and the Democracy chargcable with full
share of responsibility for the late outbreak at Harpers
Ferry, and we not only believe it, but hold ourselves
bound to prove it. We presume it will be conceded but
for the agitation of the Slavery question, Browns at
tempt at raising instruction among the slaves
would have been made. If the question of Slavery had
catered into politics. the which we have
lately been called upon TO record never would have been
enacted. IL this be il follows necessary
quence that those who placed that issue upon the
try responsible for the results which have followed
their action however little they NAV have orescen them
Now what the fact In S4O tor the first time peuding
The Presidential election of that year the Democratic
bers of Congress issued circular the people of the Sou
hern States urging them for Martin Van Buren,
General Harrison Abotionist. Ii was made
the main issue in that At the South little else
discussed. The people told from every stump
that Gen Harrison entertained views hostile to slavery
aud that his election would endanger their property As
necessary consequence the friends of Gen. Harrison
reproduced these speeches by the newspaper paragraphs
Of similar import at the North. If this issue To be
made against him in section, they argued that it
right and proper for them appeal the opposite sen
ment in the other They did So and that made
Abolitioniss in the space of few short months
than all the Garrsons and GddiQgs the continent
could have made in fifty years. Here the beginning
of those painful divisions which have existed
with the exception Of brief interval between the
North and the South The feeling then excited
growing and swelling until $3.50. In the memorable Con-
greSs of $3.50, it had reached point which alarmed
the boldcSt
Fortunately for the Republic there were giants in
those days. and Clay and Webster and Cass aided by
band of patriots below them in the majority of intellect
out below them in the ervor OF their patriotism came
the of the country and saved from the prob
able horrors of anarchy and civil In the elections
of 1851 the people ratified the compromise they had
made and in 1859 when the conventions of the great
parties which divided the nation assembled make their
nominations both adopted the compromise article
of faith aud both declared that IL should BE- perpetual
The wisdom of this course became apparent. In
the Presidential election which followed the abolition
vote had dwindled down to number small TO eN-
cite no other feeling than contempt la the Congresson
Al elections of 1883 the results followed Mems
minds were satisfied that the danger over. From
one broad ocean to the other all peace But in 1854
the ippcaFs pet candidate for the Presidency backed
anu sustained 10y almost the entire Democratic party
II TO reopen the ooi-gacs which had been closed and
awaken again strife that patriots had fondy hoped
would never again disturb the land In that wear the IA
nous Kansas Nebraska bill, with clause repeating
he Missouri restriction passed. Abolition sprung
into new and more vigorous life and boldly struggled for
the mastery OF the Government. Can the Democracy OF
Mr.. Douglas escape responsibility for thsg They
had pledged themselves not dsJub the compromise Of
$780, and they did disturb II. Their own records con-
victed them Of falsehood, and when Northern dema
sogues went among the people and had those records
when they appealed to them and said, NOu can
not rely Southern honor adhere it, pledges, YOU
see that whenever they obtain enough of Northern
votes to accomplish their purposes, they do hesitate
"a trampe upon their sacred pledges; YOU see thew
have done this thing in the very teeth party platform
adopted by them two years, and only years ago -
What was the necessary results An almost universal
shout rased-"wel we have the power and We will
take the regulation of this question into hands
The scenes enacted in Kansas tended to excite still
further this feeling of hostility. Violence murder and
nnmsaka6le fraud are poor pcacemakers. In this both
parties undoubtedly participated but those who prepared
TIE theatre sAp1o escaf i9erTfnnsj Was Trained TO
blood on the fields of Kansas and were many of the
dcspcradocs be had gathered around him"
There is no doubt that the demagogism and folly Of
the socaled national Democracy have brought upon the
country nearly all the political ills under which it is now
IaOoring And yet the Southern people, who are so
deeply and peculiarly interested in nouagtatiou on the
subject OF slavery the main supporters OF the reckless
Democracy.