Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-08-21
For tile En0xir5
Bell and the Ffimot Proyfso.


MessrS Editors II do not touch the sub
ject indicated in the caption because in your
discussion with the Richmond "Whig" on John
Bells record you have failed in any degree to
convict him Of the sin of Wilmot Proyisoism,
but because in the course of nv researches
have discovered proof that even the editor Of
the Wing must accept as conclusive In his
elaborate speech OH the Pacific Rail Road bill
delivered IN the Senate Of the United States OF
February 18th, 1853, (App. Congressional
Globe vol 90, p. e26.) Mr.. Bell, whilst ncJcn.
tally discussing the power Of Congress IN the
Territories, uses the following significant and
emphatic expression-"O po,cer is soreryiqn
dad plenary in tic Territories" If it were
possible then for any candid nan to Geny the
inference drawn from his admission of the DOW
cr 0l Congress to abolish slavery in the Dis.
| trict OF Columbia, that hc conceded it the same
power IN tho territories, this brief but pointed
declaration, (cited word for word, with reference
to chapter and verse; removes every doubt
With this broad and unqualified concession OF
power from Mr.. Bell, what is 10 restrain the
dominant North from carrying ou, ills svowcd
policy Of utter and total exclusion of the South
and her institutions from all participation in
the common territory Of the Union: They
will hardly be as condsiderate of our feelings in
dealing with the South as John Bell was OF
| theirs with regard to slavery in the District;
and John Bell, us President, could do no,h;ng
TO arrest their progress in erecting con.rcSsiou.
al barriers TO our admission into every terrific.
ry we now own or may hereafter acquire.
II is interesting, now that We know the 20
sition OF John Bell upon the question. the all
| important question Of the power OF Congress
in the Territories, 10 take Il glance 1T all tie
Presidential tickets from the same stand point;
and present them TO the contemplation OF
your readers, with the b!iefeSt possible state
ment OF their respective positions
The BLACK Republican ticket is committed
to the doctrine, that Congress possesses the
power, and that it is its duty to cxcl;;tic s!arc.
ry from the Territories
The douglas ticket denies tho power and
the duty of Congress in the premises, but as.
serts an inherent right of sclfgovernment in
the people Of each organized Territory, through
and by the exercise of which they may ard can
lawfully exclude slavery, or admit it, as their
own local wants and convenience may dictate
and this without regard TO what tho Supreme
Court has decided, or may hereafter decide,
touching the question.
The "Breckinridge ticket plants Itself upon
Judge Taneys exposition of the Constitution
1t admits the exclusive authority and iurisdic-
ton OF Congress in the Territories, hut asserts
that the 1'o,ser is coupled wiA the daty OF ey.
tending equal protection to the persons and the
property Of citizens Of NIL the States without
any right Of discrimination.
The constitutional Union Ticket conceGcs
absolute, unlimited sovereignty and penary
power TO Congress over every subject OF legis-
lation and administration in the public terrific.
rles. It comedies everything that hostile ina
jorlty wants. to justify and to lcgazc its unjust
and insulting policy of excluding the South and
her slave property from those territories. Mr.
Bell may have voted against forty Oregon bills,
and yet If his opposition was based on no as
serton Of equal constitutional rights in his
section emitting it to demand that the territory
should be left open to all If his opposition
was based on the mere inexpedency of eyer
cising 4 conceded power, and not upon the de-
niat Of the power itself, his opposition, as that
oI any other man on like grounds, could avail
nothing. And so, without exactly mourning
the full infamy Of a betrayal, Bell and all his
associates who think like him in the South, by
denying the shelter of the Constitution 10 the
cauSe nf tho South, crroea hnr nnknd ond do.
lenceless to the mild judgment and tender
|
tile sectional majority. Let Iirginians ponder
well, then before they take step which by
dividing the strength Of the Democracy may
gire the State to such ticket. Let Southern
men Of all shades Of party distinction, but who
agree upon the common ground Of Southern
equality Of persons and oi property under the
Constitution, discover, if they can, in what par.
ticular, with reference to the territorial lucs.
ton, Bell is at all preferable TO Lincon-bcJorc
they contribute to the final overthrow and ir-
recoverable destruction Of the only party which
has the disposition to uphold their rights in the
halls Of federal legislation. Let Douglas mcn
consider whether il were honorable, much less
consistent for them 10 aid directly or indirectly
those who have not only reviled and denounced
their great leader and his prominent doctrine
touching territorial matters with all the vitu-
pcrativc cpithcts OF 4 peculiarly rich voCabu.
larry of abuse, but whose theory Of Sovereign
and plenary" jurisdiction in Congress. is tho
very opposite of that with which their dis.
tinguished iavoritc for the Presidency is pccu,
iarly identified Let Breckenridge men consi-
der, whilst pressing with ardor what they coz.
I ccivc to be, and what they alone have the high
est judicial authority for asserting TO be, the
only true theory, that, in practical workiUs.
there is not L shadow ola Shade of difference
between the position Of Bell and TINT o! lir-
coin, and tina, it were rendering but poor SER
vice to the South to lose the State Of Virginia
through unnecessary strife, ard impractrablc
| counsels in our own party.
Looking, then, 10 Charlottesville and "a
Staunton. exclam from the bottom Of my
heart "The union Of the Democracy for the
sake of the Union KING WILLIAM.
Three Days Later from Europe.
ST. JouH's, Aug lS.-'fhc steamship elias
gov, from Glasgow, with dates To Wednesday.
! iIn Slll inSinut nn Srd Eann Rncn last ninEI