Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-09-28
The Canvas in Virginia,


before us, we hope soon to SEE all division dis
appear, all discorl hushed, harmony restored,
and brethren of the Democracy dwelling to-
gether in peace.
Discreet and prudent men in the ranks OF
Mr. Douglas friends are undertaking tue good
work of harmony, and from them we look to
q glorious union The accomplishment Of this
union will be 'good days work, for the
men who may effect it
And why should not the Douglas ticket be
withdrawn? Isl principle that prevents its
withdrawal? Certainly not The aYowals OF
the Norfolk speech have dwarfed into insig-
nificance all questions of slavery in the Terri
tories. That speech rendered it imposS-
BILE for any States Rights Democrat to
vote for Stephen A. Douglas However
much any man may deprccate disunion
the right Of a State in the last resort
to Judge OF the infractions of the Constitution,
cannot be denied by any Tirginia States Right
Democrat This right OF judgment can be
questioned by no power on earth ; and the rem
edy of secession, which State in its sovereign
wisdom may adopt cannot be controverted by
any man who holds the faith Of ms. Mr..
Douglas Norfolk speech assaed the principles
Of the Resolutions Of '9s and rendered him ms
obnoxious to States Rights Democrats rs any
Federalist in the land can be.
No man can vote for Stephen ~ Douglas ai:
ter the Norfolk speech, and claim fellowship
with State Rights Democrats lie may deter
mine TO abandon the faith Of his fathers and,
captvatcd by the syren song Of Union, become
Fedcralist and if So in future he must abide
with his new found friends
But why should Democrats in Virginia be
willing to aid John Bell What public SER
vice has he rendered, that they should aid him
by dividing their own party: What principle
has he ever avowed that Douglas Democrats
should give him aid and comfort by continuing
to uphold their ticket:
Is it the bugaboo Of Disunion that induces
Douglas Democrats to help Bell to carry the
State RI SO, look to his record, his declara-
tions his dsunion sentiments. Mr.. Bell while
in Congress, used the following language
"The question is whether mutual trust and
confidence shall continue to animate and en-
courage mutual efforts in promoting and multi.
plying common benefits; or whether mutual
hatred and disrust shall step in to check al
progress to distract and confound all joint en-
deavors for the common welfare; in fine, to en-
tail upon the country oil the evils Of endless
dlscord. That is the question. AND WHEN
YOU PRESENT THAT ISSUE TO Me. |
SAY GIVE Me SEPARATION; GIVE NE
DISUNION; GIVE Me ANYTHING IN
PREFERENCE 10 A UNION SUSTAINED
ONLY BY POWER, By CONSTITUTION
AL AND LEGAL TIES, WITHOUT RE
CIPROCAL TRUST AND CONFIDENCE.
If OUR FUTURE CAREER Is TO BE ONE
OF ETERNAL DISCORD, OF ANGRY
| ELIMINATION AND REORGANIZATION,
GIVE Me RATHER SEPARATION WITH
ALL IT'S CONSEQUENCES. If am to be
at peace, let it be peace in reality; and if am
to be at war, let me know it at once, that |
may put my house in order and be ready to
meet the consequences. "-I4Ep. 10 (""y
Globe, 1st .Sess 3lst Cong., Ydge llol.
). Again:
"When the North shall, by any deliberate
act, deprive the South Of any fair, and just, and
equal participation in the benefits Of the
Union-if, for example, the Territory lhansasJ
now proposed to be admitted into the Union
as State, had not been subject 10 an inter-
dict of slavery for thirty years-if it were a
Territory such rs that lying West of Arkansas,
BY climate adapted to slave labor, and by pop
ulation already slave Territory; and if on ap-
plcation of such Territory for admission into
the Union as slave State, the powerful North
without any Of the feelings and sentiments
growing out Of the repeal Of the Missouri Com.
promise in regard to Kansas, should delibe-
ratey announce to the South, you shall have
no more slave States that 'could 4!9ord pre-
tert uith which the South might, Wih some
reason, and ,oiM assurance Of the apprOrat 9f
the ciulized acorl1, and efpoSterity, SEEK TO
DISSOLVE THE UNION [IApp. lst Sess.
a5M Congress, page 1872
John Bells record on the slavery question
we know to be as offensive and rcpusnant to
Douglas Democrats as it can be TO Breckln-
ridge luen. His advocacy of abolition petit
tions-in the twenty-fourth Congress-ls a
dauning fact in his history, which, with Doug
His vote with Adams, Sladc K Co., TO stave OFT
q vote upon Mr. Pinkney's resolution that
"Congrcss possesses no constitutional power
to interfere in any way with slavery
in any OF the States in this Conlcde'
racy," and, falling to prevent vote, his
dsgraccful dodge, when the vote was taken,
are facts of public history, which will prevent
many Douglas men from occupying u ncu
trail position between Breckenridge and Bell.
His vote in the 25th Congress against sus
pending the rules in order To adopt rcsolu'
ton that abolition petitions h. laid on the tn
bic without debate, makes i; the duty of eve
ry Virginia Democrat to pause before so voting
as indirectly to aid man So dangerous 10 tho
institution OF slavery.
We have already published the extraordina
~ debate on Slades resolution in the 23tt
Congress, and John Bells Infamous betrayal o.
the South at that carly day Of his political life
No Virginia Democrat who loves the institu
tions of his State, would, Tor any cause Of dig
sension in the Democratic organization, be jus
titled in pursuing course, the effect Of whlcl
will be to give aid and comfort TO John Bell.
1t is not necessary for us to repeat the ex
pose of John Bells course upon the Anterior
resolutions, or his alliance with Adams, Slad
& Co., in their war upon slavery these ar
facts in the history Of the country, Ignorance
of which can be plead by no man; nor in tbt
future controversies that will agtate the
South, will any man be able TO deIend
course Of conduct which resulted, even lnal
roctly, in the material aid to one who had pro'eo
himself so false to the trust contided TO h'tn'
His course upon the Clayton Compromise was
all that the most defiant abolltionlst coulo
desre-for it was identical in sentiment anc
or,9I