Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-08-17

the Nirgiiiin delegation, ny lheF coH'Se ~ ~
| Baltimore Convention, have violated thelr
ulc,lrrs anal ~Irrillc,l the rights Of the South,
| and the Democratic Assassination OF the city OF
Richmond, cstrcminS this charge u'llounded, 10
"Kcsnlrc, That We hereby tender our Thinks
70 that delegation for their agency III the seIec'
,;ou If Lewis CuSS and WIN. o.. hnslcr as our
c,njiIa,cs in the Presidential clrrtlnn-rncll
whom We believe Ia hr true to orr party, true
TO the South, and trnc tn the Constitution anu
who more surely than any others wIIo could
have been chosen, will achieve Tor nS SIorl-
Gus victory. :. r,,n.
so That We believe Gen. EaSS, ~iEcaIlct |" thc
Administration Of thiS Government, vii S"cre''
" regard the rights Of the South, and lhc com
PROMISES of the Constitution, for nc has Sl'nwil
himself utterly opposed to the odiorlS doctrines
Of the Wilmot Proviso, by having written
against it, spoken against it, and votcd against
il: and because he has denied. in language the
most explicit and emphatic. the power OF Con
cress to prohibit slavery, either in the States or
Territories.
-. That we believe that Gen. CasS Is the lirm
and arowcd opponent Of any plan or doctrine
which IN any way interlrrcs with the rights OF
! citizens of any one State to possess and ENJOY
all their property in any territory which may
be acquired by the Union, as fully completely
and securely, IT, citizens oi any other State
SHALL c,,iuv theirs, and that this Association is
wholIv unable to perceive any difference be-
tween tn. doctrines embodied in the resolu'
tons of the Virginia Conventions, ana lhose
avowcd hy Gen. Cass in his Nicholson letter.
That waS the Interpretation put upon tie
Resolutions in June 1S+S, and by whom =
.ohn VI. Patton President Of the Convention.
". +. Richie, Secretary Of the Convention ard
nIs, Of that meeting. I. r. Watkins, j. y. Scd-
don, aud by ny old friend Z. &. Scott, now Of
Alabama.
call attention 10 the plraScology of tlIosr
specchcs. to show that the talented gentlemen
were not ignorant of CaSS views in relation To
the powers of Il Territorial Legislature. Mr..
Patton said. No man North Of Mason and Dix
on's line could he morc readily and safely trust
cd on the delicate question Of Southern rights
than Lewis C~asS-wlIUsr aynwalS were full and
colnp!c;c-to srtry pr,sct"r"l P"'Y'"S' ant no
tent sound, and coming mp 10 the Virginia
PLATFORM" Can any man rca'i the above SEN
fence, and not see that the imperfect phrase
ito every practical purpose and intent, ~aS
used to discriminate between the opinion Of
Gen. Cass, and An abstract question, and what
would Le his action practically:
What says Hon. J. 4. Scddon-"Takc Gen.
| Cass' Nicholson letter, and Mr.. S. boldly main
tanned, it comes up in principle 10 the Virginia
Platform. The Virginia Resolutions declare
| that Congress shall have no power, directly or
indirectly to Interfere with slavery in the Ter
ritorics-so dDex faxx' letter. When the pco-
pie act, they act by State Conventions, and not
by Legislatures, in an inchoHtr character
II g., ,,.t. rrc.' vi,,ys mn tins mimi ~
So, forth in his Nicholson letter. This point
in Mr.. Scddon's speech WIS evidently made
| that ne should not be committed 10 Gen. CaSS
opinion on this subject, and tn further show
that "tict. C'aSS, IN ~sWbstahce, ahd 10 HPI'c-
tirnI pmr1nSe. aud ihtents. ctms UP 10 tue "~r-
trines II he virginia Ees0t"tion&.'
What were the reasons assigned why we
should support General CasS: ale had al.
WAYS been willing to defend Southern rights ut
home and abroad. lie had opposed the odio'Is
doctrine Of the Wiiinot Prpvi$o. by having
written against it, spoken against il, and voted
against il; and because he had denied, IN lam
guagc the most emphatic, 'thc power Of Con-
grcss To prohibit slavery, either i'll the States
Or Territories" so has Mr.. DO"g"*.
Was there ever such Il coincidence between
two statesmen rs between t'aSs and Douglas?
lntn lflltl lnS lHI !. " = -pONI ' 'N''
}y Che interest of Tie South in every act, word
| aud vote, whilst in Congress, with the dlllcr'
! cnrc that Douglas fought the A:bolltlnnIsts IN
| the House and in the Senate too, whilst CasS
only fought them in the Senate. Both willing
to extend or repeal the Missouri Compromise
line rs the South and the safety of the Union
/ might require. Both for the annexation hi
| Texas to the Union, which, gave the South All
| cln,,irc Of territory, all OF which IS well adapt
! ed to slave labor. Both for the Compromise
measures of lSJU--botli for tic Nchraska-
| Kansas bill in 1854. Both returning home to
meet all iniuriatell free State, Tree soil conStl-
tuency, were both engaged III Il hand to haha
! fight ut home with the AholltIoniStS ana Hiack
| Republicans; with this difference that CaSS was
beaten by them, and lost his seat III the nj
ted States Senate, and was Justly called 70 the
Cabinet; whilst the Little Giant whipped
the Black Republicans and A:bOlltlonlStS, saved
| his seat IN the Senate, and ROW that gratitude
| which. WAS extended TO General CaSS when de-
fcatcl. is not to be awarded to Stephen y.
Douglas. the victorious champion al oar cause,
| but the Democratic party is scaled upon To light
| against and put down the man who alone has
/ wcatlercd the storm in the great Northwest.
! and that too lpon IN abstract opinion which
| was waived in our support Of Gen. lass; ami now
am told, because refuse TO assist in The It,
| feat Of Mr.. Douglas, that am leading the par
~ from the long accustomed road i'll which
tLcv and have 50 often Travelled before. No,
gentlemen, it is YOU who are leading the party
out of the old beaten track, and intend TO get
non back if | can. The press Of Virginia, Pre-
Sidential aspirants, politicians, wlre-workerS
and whippcrs.iII, have produced the present
mischievous state of things. The people now
sec it, and know il, and are determined TO en-
cage in no warfare on Stephen \. Douglas that
Lincoln may be elected, and thereby give tue
diisunton ists at the South n pretc*t ITO precip.
;tatc the cotton States into revolution" and
! dissolve this glorious Uh'cn.
There has not been one single objection I"
Judge Douglas which shouil cause \ Demo.
crat 10 withhold his support from him, not one.
The one now most DANGEROUSLY urged against
him is that Of unfricndly legislation by Terri.
torial Legislatures where they are opposed to
slavery. low dejtnre NJ him on this p"int
in the Richmond Enquirer OF October lSt'
1858. is so overwhelming, powerful anu com
plctc, that ] adopt il ms Il part 81 my defence
against your charge "i inconsistency "l my
present position.
Here j.: What YOU said III that editorial in an-
swer to ymnr correspondent, "Eirgini"s:"
.vIRGISlUS."
III. with extreme regrc, That We find "urSrl' Sea '"mprlls'i
J., ,l;n.r from "rir.inius,' whose communication APPEARS
to-day.
.rrnr a. tp .Iud.e Douglas that We have before pointed on'.
| W. publish with The communication from "'irgini"' an
extract from the "Ililartclplfa Press.
I'm Judge Douglas answer to Sr. Lincoln SECOND !i"rs'
,lon. he i. stating an existing fnc,, aud not enui:rin,h"g a
princir!r or laying DOWN . policy. His answers, 'ihatin
INV ouInIuu the people Of Il Territory can, hy lawful means.
exclude slavery from their limits prior 10 The inrinnt!"n o!
a State Constitution and then he proceeds 10 point W
% 80, m. -x,,u,ion NAV be made under existing legislation,
and SAYS: at matters not What way the Supreme Court
may hereafter rlrc;le ns 10 the abstract question: whether
.,itulior,. the people have the lawful means 10 Introduce IL
or exclude II ~ they please, FOR the reason thht slavery
cannot exist a Law or nn hour anywhere, unless Supported
Ly loral pnllcr regulations Judge Douglas position u
not that the Constitution does not IL theory carry siaVrry
Into nm. Territories, but that the nature "f the Institutions
.nclI THAT Il cannG, exist Il Hay or an hoir amf"herr' t'
les, supported by local police regulations. me Cons'itu'
= ~ T., ,t.ory ,u,hnri7r tNiTriJiU.' la carry HIS slaves