Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-04-13

General HamIlton's Letter Inn Fa-
:. vor of Judge Douglas.
| General Hamilton, one of the members OF
Congress from Texas, has lately written a
letter to Mr.. Fouke, of Illinois, in which
he declares strongly in favor Of Judge Doug
las as his choice for the Presidency. We
give the following extract:
The Questions which are to enter into the
contest, are, CT should be, those which. d.
vide tie Democratic and Republican parties,
and not those which now SO unhappily es-
TRANCE the members of the Democracy, North
and South. Tte great Distinguishing fea-
lures of the two parties are broadly marked
and cannot be mistaken. Whatever inter-
nal dissensions we may have among oursel-
yes, or whatever questions of minor impor-
lance we may chance to differ in opinion up
en-; surely there car be but one thought one
feeling, ard enc aim as to the one great is
sue before u.s.
This issue, in my judgment, is not invol-
we'd in any of the recent questions growing
out of our Territorial relations, upon which
Democrats have differed
These diferenees-which have been mag
ni6ed greatly beyond their real Importance;
resulting from the various constructions of
the Nebraska Kansas act, and the conflict of
opinion as to the source and extent of the
power to legislate for the people of Terri
tory, have been, and are to-day, the only
breakefs ahead of our bark Of hope in the
great political voyage of 1860. ae.
am well aware that many true and
earnest-but think over Jealous Demo-
Gratis in the South feel disinclined to favor
any effort at Cancellation upon these DUES
tons perhaps are determined that none
shall be effected, unless by the unqualified
acknowledgment by the Charleston Conven-
ton OF the correctness Of their views. That
this cannot happen, all must admit. What
then can be done? Obviously, but one or
two courses left. These extreme views must
be yielded up, or the Convention prove
failure. Suppose the latter should be the
alternative, what are then our prospects p
We are in that case probably committed to
the changes of a sweepstaEe race, With Sec
tional candidates., and with certainty of
either defeat in the electoral college, Or, at
best, the peer privilege of prolorging the
contest in the House of Representatives,
with scarcely hope Of success
[ have never appreciated either. tire carse
or character Of the warfare SO unsparingly
waged in some quarters by Lecompton a.
gainst anti Lecompton Democrats. Nor
have been able to perceive how the insti-
tuition Of slavery is to be fostered, protected
and defended By the adoption and enforce
ment of the views Of those who clamor for
Congressional protection for it in the Terri
tories There is not only nothing practical
in the measure at this time, but in my judg-
ment it rs. one of those propositions that
never can nave practical application to an
existing state of affairs in any portion of the
Territories now belonging to this govern
ment.
l feel confident that the settlement Of
these questions-1st, of the power of a Ter
ritoral government to deal with the matter
OF slavery: and, I'd, of the power and. duty
of Congress to protect slavery in the Terri
tories, however they may be settled and &C
ted upon, can never maize either slave or
non-slave State.
But there are other questions growing out
of the institution of slavery with which we
will have to deal, and which are of such
grave Importance that we should husband
all our strength to meet them, rather than
waste it by childish chickering's u pom sub
jects artfully kept before us by cool and
enemy.
It is worthy of remark. that just at this
time but little, if anything, is being said by
the Black Republican presses and leaders as
TO the poaoer Of Congress to deal with the
question of slavery in the Territories. Let
it not be supposed, however, that the
question will sleep if they shall attain the
control of Che government in the coming e.
lection. It will be pressed energetically,
and with determination t. enforce il prac-
tically. But this is not all. There is still
another question, just perceptible upon tie
verge of the political horizon, of still great
err magnitude.
We are told by the Republican party that
they do not intend to attack the institution
of slavery in the States, so long as they (the
States are protected by the Constitution
This is very we'll But what will be their
course if they shall further increase the re-
lative number of free States (Which will