Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-06-12
For tie ENQUIRER
Ut tFG
The Presidential Question.

It appears to be universally conceded among
rpHcctine men, now that the great tribune oi
the People Henry A.. Wise, has forbidden tne
presentation Of his Presidential claims, tnat
the South must perform more than ordinary
n~atriotic service in the next Presidential cleo,
ttion. or else be content to acQulesce IN a line o'
noIicy which, ii is fixed, will erentuate in dis
! nnion. If we arc to regard the language OIL
| Republican presses as iorcshadowing. even m
! , Martial sense, the action Of the North in this
! given contingency, there is no reasonable donot
that any essay towards peaceabic SECESSION
would bring into operation cocrciTe measures
r. preycnt such a consummationr and hence II
! ;s nalpablc that 4 long, bloody, intestine war
! would ensne between the anti.slaTcTy and pro-
: slavery States. If the premises Gc true, men
! The first duty Of our section IS 10 resist, WIN
! unfaItcring zeal, the Inauguration OF any ana
cverr condition Of facts which can possibly
render It necessary for the South to have re-
course to such 4 resort
II * then, = matter Of the first Importance
10 see how she NAV avoid this evil. Her true
remedy will not be found in urging the preten'
sious Of men-for it might ;hen be complained,
with show Of Justice, that her movements were
based in personal hostility to Judge Douglas,
or q desire to ap!ropf late the influence, pat'o'-
agc and mower Of the chief maglstraCY IN the
direction Of strengthening her peculiar lnStl'
t%utions." To avoid such suspicious, an'l nj
once indicate her n~on-anNiety On these scores,
,npears 10 us her most rational attitude and
cicarest duty. It is Patc..t to every one that
there is TO serious difficulty to he encountered
in fulfilling these demands. We must find a
Northern man, whose conservatism, cNcmpli-
fed in past services, can satisfy the Aoutn thal
though no slavery nropaeandlS;, his 'ldellty 10
the Constitution rs the paramount law "l the
onion, cannot he questioned, and that ne I'M
rcscrvedly accepts the doctrine that decisions
Of the Supreme Court lire binding IN their OPP
Grafton as against the separate States, where
general political rights arc the questions OF adj
iudicaturc. 1t is really Ill, as far rs relates to
extra. political topics, about which we need rex
ourselves, and We apprchcnd that a gentleman
who responds to these requirements, anu one
who was unmiXcd with the candidacy 1t
Charleston, may be found ia DIR party ranks.
Who is il? We are bold 10 declare that "a
leb Gushing, Of Massachusetts, is that and tie
man. Pre.e'rincntly distinguished Tor his yer,
salile requirements; educated in slalcInanS!lp;
4 strong th.inkcr-eXpericnced III cXerIltoFial
serricc-sound OF every measure held IN com
mon BY the great Democratic party. North,
South, East and WcSt-honcst, sincere. irar-
less, and 4 man Of the .IacksOnian order Of
will-hc combines in his character all the elc-
mcnts requisite TO ensure L cOrrGat, vlgliaNt.
lust and firm administration 1T home. with a
vigorous, bold, truly American programme IN
the conduct of orr exterior relations.
This is really = solution of the problem our
party difficulties have originated. 1t Is to be
remembered by the South that anterior TO the
decision of the bred Scott case, Mr.. Gushing,
Attorney General of the United States under
the Pierce Administration. gave Il learned and
well argued ''opin;uu," which cnHnciated The
Identical doctrine declared by Chief Justice
Tanev. THIS, with his fearless cspousal Of The
tenet, rot even universally approved III the
Southern States until within 4 lew years past.
that slavery as it exists here Is right in al abb
stract sense. and the willing support nc &C.
corded Jcii:. Davis, first and last, Al Charleston,
arc proofs of his loyalty in these particulars
which most Intimately concern our people. ln
other respects, no ono is more orthodox. and il
the Richmond Convention will permit avuila.
bility, competency and acccplablcncSS to have
sway, the seeding interest-Indccd the whole
South-wouid either recommend ia Baltimore
the gIcat Massachusetts statesman, o. attend
there and sustain the suggestion Of his nonina-
ton. l..
Norfolk County.