Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-06-01
Mr.. Russell,s Letter.

As EN- act OF justice 10 the accomplished
Chairman Of the Virginia delegation to
Charleston, and as a matter Of general interest,
we devotc q large space 10 the letter Of Charles
W. Russell, Esq, Of Wheeling. 1t is needless
TO. us to make any comments, as 80 have
again and again, fully discussed al the mat
ters embraced in the explanation. We are
satisfied that Mr.. Russell is mistaken in sup
posing that "tho Tennessee Resolutions will
be satisfactory to the Southern delegates, and
we regret that he did not seize the occasion to
recommend the incorporation into the platform
st Baltimore Of the territorial resolutions re-
Gently adopted by the almost unanimous vote
OF the Democratic Senator'S from tho South,
North and West, and, therefore, TO be regarded
as truly expressing the conservative opinions
OF the Democratic party o! The Goniederacy.
To the Democracy Of the Marion Electoral
District OF Fir.inia.
Fr--ow CITIZENS: Houored l.? your appointment,
attended, us Que ui your delegates, the rccens scs-
sion o: the Democratic National Convention NJ
Charleston, and it will be necessary 70 represent Eon
again in the Same assembly nj Baltimore. Ia The
interval YOU nlay desire 20 take some action and IN
order that yuI may be able - :"rIn = l"ore. iadg-
meir, rs 70 The past and :i:urc. j. : deemed advisa-
bic ::ia; YOU should receive t!ari iac Il candle! state
rner,, such Is | am about 10 o:trr. II :Eerc should
appear N i. an air q. e9o.iSEi, let II DC excused is M
aYoidable, unless | wou!d asSU!I. % express the
vicws Of others with whom there is no opportunity
Tor constellation.
4. q friend O! our distinguished Senator, Mr..
Hunter, l vent TO lie Convention intending TO give
him y fir md earnest support, bat also Intending, II
he should rot be found acceptable. To make Il second
choice by the exercise oc \ di>pass;onatc Judgment.
In the event Of his Nomination., 1t MAS my opinion
tia, the "platiorm'' Of the party adopted At Cincin-
natl in 1856 would require no alteration. II another
shoull be nominated, il appeared 70 !uc probable
shp: nm addition 10 it might DC pFar:-. In no con-
,ingcncy ;hat l could then iorcsce. did | suppose i
would be prudent for tho South 10 Insist NJ C!!arles-
ton upon declaring TINT C"nsrest ":s'iT' 10 pass any
Nv reasons 70. prcicrrinc Mr. Hunter need no. be
staird 70 YOU. for you had the >anse preference. The
grounds O; my opinions rcia'i"S 70 tic platform vii!
presently Grrcar.
Vixen the convention assembled, however, AZ un-
to.escen difficulty presented itself. It soon became
apparent there WAS serious darge. Of the disruption
OF the convention, will: circumstances which would
sect, ona,ize its fragments, and thus increase the en-
isiiu. tendencies towards L dissolution oI the Union.
10 avert this danger, II possible, without IN unwar-
.an,ablc sacrifice OF principle, was IN imperative
duty, ard, with that view, 1t became eNpc'l:cnS 10
modify Tie course which would otherwise have been
jud;cious.
Ire os:ensihle points Of controversy between
some q; the Northern and some oi the Southern del
CtL.SS ..Nc become !alltItilI 20 llc IEUiIc. He W
mer maintained, as not inconsistent will, the De:ao-
cratic doctrine, that Il Territorial Legislature has con-
stitatioru! power 10 prohibit slavery or i" impair its
guarantees. The latter insisted tia: tie party should
pledge itself 10 the duty Of lro:ec;in: slavery in the
Territories, even by Congressional Legislation, i!thui
should ever become necessary. Neither party TO the
dispute was prepared 20 stand upon tina: middle
ground which was :inaG!y occupied 10y the delegation
OF Virginia.
Tue passions displayed i'll tie controversy were
The most alarming cnises OF apprehension; What
ever motives may now be attributed 20 individuals,
il n.us: have become painfully evident, even 10 North
crn members, that the anti-Slarerr agitation :t :he
North has, throughout the Southern country, IN
Htned the just Resentment Of n hro:c and higI-.pir-
tied people Until they can brook no further !rorOca-
ZION. Un the other hand, many Northern lnen, con-
sc!ous Of having made mcritorious sacrifices 70 pr:nci-
rle. cnaitd, perhaps, by CONFLICTS and political mis-
fortunes 1T home, and feeling u natural sympathy with
the aspirations OF lhe!: Dan section, recoilcd, IN AIT
ger, from demands which they deemed I'm precedent
ed and uuiust. Other considerations irritated The
passions on both sides.
Cpvn mutual challenge, they engaged in n eon;ro-
verey IN the suhjcc. Of the platform before attempt
ing q nonina,iou; thus ovcrruiiHS the prudent conn
sel. wEich would have withdrawn one calisc OF irri
tstiop frog! tia; discussion. II the candidate had
been frs: chosen, i; : probable that there would
have been less difficulty in SATISFYING. doubts
about the meaning OF tho Cincinnati platform; Tor
they might have been si!rIccd, tnct solved by tic
character 81 tie candidate. ! hay. np, been ai!e TO
perceive that they were founded upon ah,: icm! an-
biguiIy in the platform.
I; il INV belief that Mr.. lIrErEM would have G"c.,
nominated il We had first proceeded 10 make u
nomination. His wcll-known principles might have
satisfied the sonth; his wisdom MD moderation
nigh; have couicntcd the North. But among the
Southern delegates, some were required by their
instructions. and others we're !inpelied by their con-
Tictions 10 demand action upon the platform: before
making 81 nomination. The Northern delegations
generally coucurrred in The same policy. That point
bad 10 be Welded.
!: then oecaulc necessary to settle the questions at
ISSUE Without reference 20 the known prime! pies Of u
chosen Candidate, but with ;ac;t reference to the
supposed Opinions, characters and chances of all pro-
babic candidates. in OR relation 20 tho subject it
was, above all, essential to keep in view Tic rights Of
Virginia, the harmony Of Tie Democratic party and
tho integrity OF the Union.
You need not now be ;o!d .: ~ devotion t. the
rights, welfare rnd honor q; INV native Stale, nor of
my sincere attachment to the rnio.,. Ia: we're law
ful to ne passionate ard riS! IN he Conduct q: az
fairs affecting The happiness Of millions. :my .unra!-
ses, in some events w!ic.! E~ap?e"cd, r!:-i: Save
Carried Ire TOO fur toward one cN:roiiG. EH:, with
the aid OF others. I may iavc been able 20 o,,scrr:
the appropriate duties OF : very diiEcG!t siHStivn.-
Or that ! an not SGro.
BY the Cincinnati platform the Democratic part,
at the instance OF rho South, committed i;sci! :" The
doo,.iue OF mon intervention Tic Virginia dc!c-
CATION in the Cincinnati Convention prono>cdio lie
committee OF Resolutions To assert tho riEiit TO legs
latiye Tor the protection Of property il the Territories.
Bat; the platforms was reported without S'lca = cia''se.
II WAS adopted in that form unanimously. It's COLI
spitEous aui peculiar principle was non-intcr!crenec
oy Congress with slavery in the Territories. Will.
:aat understanding Is Was accepted b. the party and
the Country.
1t so!n'nea I'D itself 10 the people Of the South, Of
the United States and Of the Territories. because it
was designed 20 restrain Congress from prohibiting
slavery, ~ t~raaqn!!isa the Union by withdrawing Il
dangerous controversy IRON, Cur Federal politics, and
10 confer on the people o; the Territories M enlarged
freedom and Z noble ;rus;.
Bat i: Was aS a policy, a"d not As u constitutional
Obligation. that Hon-'ntcrve.li;on was presented
in the Cincinnati platform. There was then a d.
rer-ity OF opinion rs 10 the constitutional newer Of
Congress or 4 territorial legislature over the s,,l,;rc,
The platform, Was silrn. in relation 10 the precise on
cent OF power which q territorial gov2rnrncr,, m;sh:
exercise. By approving the Kansas Nebraska net,
Il recognised a general authority over the rish,Ini
subjrct, Of legislation, I" subject 70 the Constitution"
But the etssc: Of the latter limitation was lets tor judi
cisl decision.
Upon mat point, therefore, Democrats have been