Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-01-30

spts from the very nature of our institutOnsaud its
intolerable abuse of power in the latter would
necessarily be followed by the universal arning of
all the slave States. The real difficulty does not
ie in snv sueh ground these, nor its remedy in
onvtbipp that can be done touching such aspects
oF the case In ike those great questions of the
rendition of fugitive slaves by the North and of the
foreign slave trade at the South, finally settled so
far as the Constitution and laws OF Congress can settle
them and il remains for the legal tribunals and the EX
ecptive authority TO enforce the laws in both respects
That during periods Of unusual excitement those laws
touching both subjects may be impertecty administered
is extremely probable; but that the North will openly
dey the mower of the nation and permanently refuse to
execute the fugitive slave law, and that the South will
act in similar manner with respect TO the foreign slave
trade il what no man is justified in asserting. admit
that the permanent continuance of the Union would be
mnossbe if the North or the South should deliberately
persist in such revolt against the Constitution and laws
if at the same time the Federal administration should be
too feeble or too tmd to coerce obedience But surely
no such revolt either North South, and such I'M
becility in the Federal Government usties the over
throw of our national Institutions can be alleged to eI
st If the minds OF were calm, or If their thoughts
would be directed steadily to the results that must io
low the dissolution of the Union il impossible OF
bccf that adeouate motives for such an act could be
found in the existing Of any of these questions
know il is alleged that the settled doctrines and de-
berae purposes of that great party IN the North when
was formerly called Abolitionist and is called Re
publican, amount 10 nOtuuB Ol anu
anaca crusade against the institution of slavery 1t
exists in fifteen States of this Unon that there is the
utmost probability that it will ultimately, perhaps speed
w. acquire controlling influence every Department
of the Federal Government and that the slave States
cannot consistently with honor, with prudence or with
safety continue members of Union controlled by sch
party or subject to a Government administered by
them To this let me saw first of all that, if every word
we're true and certain the WISE manly successful al
ternatiye would be- the dissolution OF the Union, but
the recovery of the country by force necessary from
those who shall have subverted its Constitution. Nor
can there be any doubt that the United South and the
minority of the North will be always and every intent
without arms or with arms powerful in the Union
than the united-much less the dyded-South can 10
out oh Nor does tappea to me 10 be loyal to the people
of the North who faithful to the Consnuton-eyeu OF
they were the smaller uumber-or the South TO withdra"
and leave them subject to domination as intoerabe TO
them as it could be offensive to Us. But this is an e1
treme statement responsive TO still more extreme sug
res ion The history of political parties IN this country
for many past is not credabe TO US and their pre-
sent posture is such that no one can iorete what SIN
Gle wear will bring forth II the whole North could act
i'm concert permanently they must have the permanent
control of the Federal Government and the wide con-
ycton of the North that the whole policy of the Gener
Government has been for some years dictated by the
slave States aud the whole policy of the slave States
dictated by the States has come very near to
casting the majority of every Northern State temporar
the kepuDlCAn RANKS. IL Nuuiu be bu hOuSt VI
the Federal power not less atrocous certainly to extend
than 70 curta slavery by the systematic OF it and
the North has believed that this done and the rise
and extension Of the Republican party Is the fruit OF
this conviction. Dsabuse the North of this deluson-
DO it fairly ruy-and the Republican party will shrink
at once to the comparatively Insignificant faction OF
radical Aboitiousts, upon whom it was originally
based On the other hand, the united South never
could fail to carry with it in all it's just demands, and
ia all its temperate utterances, sufficient number OF the
States Of the North to make the rights and Interests OF
the slave States perfectly iG the Union This
all the control any minority justly claim under free
constitution and this never lost under sucha consu
ton except by gross ms-management. If, therefore,
there foregone conclusion break up the confeder
acv the alleged tenor of the Republican party will an
,wer as a pretext but Kentucky breads no partyand
will use no such preteXt-but will make any party IN
power respect her rights. If on the other hand, there
true desire 10 pcrpetuae the lnlon-no one IS war
raued in saving that the Republican party cannot be
prevented from coming into power-or that even If
should come into power the nation would be both
competent and resolved to keep it in proper bounds or
arm and suppress il. grant that hardly greater evil
can Sen on the politics of the country than to treat
them by geographical lines array parties upon ques-
tons touching which the interests conyict0ng Of diff
ierent sections Ct the country supposed TO be entirely
antagOuisc The present posture OF the country Is the
fruit of this political treatment OF slavery, and the pres
ent condition OF the Representatives Of the people in the
lower mouse Ol congress, most Ouclalft Ol
the public health under that treatment.
The question of slavery in the Territories practically
developed as that question in the Of Kansas,
has proIaLy had greater influence thsn any other both
upon the present condition OF pCtca! parties and in
bringing the public mind it, present agtated state
The issue which the question 10 its abstract form and
in the Democratic party has been brought this that
on one side the people of the South very generally be-
eye and claim that the Supreme court has decided that
cry STAKEHOLDER has the constitutional right to take slaves
into every TERRITORY ueiIEe. Congress tne peo
pie OF the Territory have any power 10 prevent this IN
other words every Territory is by the Constitution
OF the United States slave Territory. On the other
side the Democratic party of tie North very generally
and decidedly repudiae these statements untrue aud
these claims onsf0us and assert for the people OF
each Territory constitutional power to determine and
regulate for themselves the question of slavery In the
meantime the Republican party perhaps unanimously,
assert that Congress has complete power TO exclude sa
from all the Territories and desire this power to be
exercised in every case it has been in several Almost
the entire horh is therefore directly ayrqIed against both
the fact and the right of what the greater part OF the South
asserts is the law OF the land under the decision Of the
Supreme Court In the South ITSELF however, there
is a farther and singular development Of opin-
ion. II has been attempted in Kentucky and other
Southern States make it part OF the political creed
OF the Opposition 70 demand CT Congress slave code
for the Territories while in the region nonnter
venton by Congress- except in extremity II at all has
appeared to be the doctrine of the Democratic party
The result is that the entire North repudates and under
existing circumstances Will continue to repudate the
idea that the Federal Constitution or the Supreme Court
makes all the national Territories slave while almost the
entire South believes and cim- that all the national Terri
tories slave by that Constitution. The dispute is en-
larged not settled not transferred This is most
caamitOus result Of attempting to turn over questions
pre-emupnty political 10 tribunals wholly Judicial as If
public men were warranted in suppoSlng that great ma
HIGHEST q uOlitlCl excitement believed
any in the uiabily Judges than they did in the
ufalbiy of Senator'S Kings, or POpes. Even if the de-
cision of the Supreme Court had been so clear that no
man could doubt what decided and so cogent that
cold gansay its justice as begee ha parties 10 the
particular cause lhen heard il would have been mira
Gle If the decision had settled any political question Its
main effect was obliged to be-et the depson be what
it might-to eHasp0rate ell parties and to render any
peaceful adjustment OF any aspect OF the slave question:
far more difficult than before, In truth the Constitution
al right which the South suppOSeS she has secured
be OF no practical value even if it universally
ceded For if she remains in the Union, she cannot car.
~ on the foreign slave trade and unless she do that
she cannot protably send slaves enough ntG any terri
tory poSsesuCr masters enough with those she may
SEND to prevent their emancipation the terrific
~ becomes State. The experiment in Kansas is sure
" decisive If the other hand any portion OF the
South will deem it su!cient reason secede that
slaves NAV be imported from Africa and slave terri
tories formed either halfthe slave States will not secede
for that reason-or if all secede and oolfeeFaoy of all
tho slave states formed that conederacy cannot be
pected TO allow the African slave trade to be renewed
with regard to slavery in the territories and the power of
the General Government the subject, there
could be any subject concerning which wise just mode
rate and forbearing conduct was more imperayey de-
manded-none with regard 10 which tie opposing
iaerests Of the two great divisions Of the
nation ought to be treated with more scrupu-
lous fairness If ever such temper and such spirit
shall return to the counsels of the Republic the tempo
rary and disputed power of Congress the subject
cannot fail to be exerted in manner satisfactory
opposing claimants But so long parties, side
or h nher sock hY eYerY means assert extreme claims