Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-07-13
Address of d. q. Igoge. ESQ.

yet BEEN Elled by the Stat. Executive Committed
ADDRESS OF d. e. Ho@e, Esq.
In this mornings Enquirer" We publish
the address OF MIR. D. H. Hoge, one of the
delegates to Charleston and Baltimore from the
Ta eth Electoral District. Differing essential
", as we do, from the sentiments expressed by
Mr. Hoge, We yet deem it due to his position
that every opportunity should be offered h'm
Tor a public explanation of . course OF action
ior which he is necessarily responsible before
his constituents.
We do not deem it necessary, at this time,
to reuly at length to the argument which this
address cnbodicS, and which seems to comprc.
bend the following positions: LIST. That the
nomination Of Breckenridge and Lane is a dis.
union movement. "a. That one chief motive
Of su:h movement is the future re-opening OF
the African slave trade. Sd. That Stephen A.
Douglas is committed to the doctrine of pro.
lection, by the General Government, to persons
and property in the territories. 4th. That the
union of the Southern States in favor Of the
Breckenridge ticket will throw the election into
the House of Representatives, where the cleo.
ton Of Lincoln will be unavoidable.
As to the first two points, We are at q loss
to discover the grounds upon which Mr.. Hoge
bases his opinion. As Union men and uncom-
promising opponents OF the re.openinS of the
African slave trade, We have hoisted the anne
Of Breckenridge and Lane at the masthead OF
the Enquirer" Certainly both these candi,
dates arc pledged 10y public ~svowalS, by the pc,
liuc:i records Of their lives, to the same doctrine
which &c advocate in both instances, in prin-
ciple and in policy. II Mr.. Hoge believes
that they urc engaged in Il reasonable intrigue
altogether contradictory Of their past records
and present avuwal>, he can find q char &C
much more serious than either OF those he has
chosen 70 urge against our candidates. If
John c. breckenridge Or Joseph Lane is either
ad:Surion:St or au advocate of the re. opcning
!hc African Slave trade, then he is also some.
t!.irg :ar worse than either, an utterly unprin.
c:p!ed mea seeking high Office OF political
s,ast by .-2ans Of the deliberate preparation
Of wilni f:!schooi. The conviction Of any
mar On s,,.;h Z .hSrcc xc,li ~""I ~ -,
is too grave to be made or entertained, on the
mere ground Of very slight surmisc upon
w:,ich it seems to be based by Mr.. lloge.
The other two principal arguments OF Mr..
Hree are not even matters of opinion. They
are matters Of plain fact, anG Mr.. i!oge is en-
timely mistaken as to the state q facts. 49,
By 4 reruSal Of Mr.. Douglas ~liarper's Mag.
azine .~riicic, it viii bc sec,, that he boldly as
scr;s the rightiul power Of each Territorial Le-
o'"'a:"r" 70 prohibit the cXis:tucc of slavery
in !" Territory, and then goes on to deny both
the rightful and actual power OF any depart
mcrt Of The General Observation-Disclosures,
Legislative or Judlciai-to restrict or contra.
vene SUCH territorial action.
Dir. Hogc is equally mistaken wish regard TO
liic 4til point OF his argument. Ii is not true
that un election by the present House Of Rep
rcssn; .tiYcs can possibly result in the election
Of Lincoln. In case OF such election the vote
mus! he taken by States, the delegation from
each State being entitled to but Gne vote, and
q :-..jority Of States is requircd 10 elect. There
are only fifteen delegations which can each
cast a Black Republican majority probably
not more than fourteen. There is but one dele
CATION, a majority Of whose members would be
favorable to the election of John Bell. Thus
even ii the forces of Lincoln and Bell could be
u.,ited, it would be impossible to elect either.
Surprising, then, one of Slr. Hoge's assump-
tons to be tl~uc-supposing that Mr.. Breckin-
ridge cannot obtain an electoral vote at the
North-it will then be necessary for Mr.. Doug
las to carry thirty-two Northern electoral votes
to prevent the election Of Lincoln by the peo-
pie or 10y the House of Representatives.
Indeed, there is but one contingency which
could possibly prevent the election of a Demo-
cratic President, provided Mr.. Douglas should
obtain the requisite ,hirty-two votes. That
contingency is the casting a majority of the
Southern electoral cote for Bell and Everett.
Let US suppose that by a division of the
Democratic party, through the agency of two
electoral tickets, pluralitles should cast for Bell
and Everett the votes Of Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky
and Arkansas Bell and Everett would thus re.
Give 3 clear majority of the Southern electoral
vote. Suppose that Mr.. Breckenridge should
carry not only the remaining Soutiern vote,
but that also Of Oregon and California. Sup.
pos that Mr.. Douglas should carry n vote at
the North equal even to that OF tho States
OF New York aud Pennsylvania. under such
circumstances the electoral vote would stand
tbs:
Lincoln. Iii
DrV.... nf
IrecAinFiCSc.. 63
bpuSiNS To-
The election would then be thrown into the
II N,Se nf RrnrnSrnintiunc n.lich Lcd.- .I.oulL