Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-08-28

dress. In such Il contest no man could doub
| the result, and for such contest no true pat
riot had any heart But Continued Mr.. Breck
inridge) it was said that the Democratic part,
was also u sectional party; that it wishes t
make the strong arm OF the Government extent
slavery. That was not true The Democratic
party rested its claims to national support up
on national principles; it stands upon the prin
ciples Of the Kansas Nebraska bill and the Gin
cinnati platform. 1t asserts that the Fedora
Government has no power to establish or abol
ish slavery. 1t asserts the principle Of non
to the people Of the States and Territories, un
der the forms Of the Constitution, the right to
regulate the subject at their own discretion
The Democratic party could therefore no more
make use Of the strong arm Of the Federal Gov
ernment to extend slavery than it can propose
to make use of it to prohibit slavery"
Immediately after the publication of the
above extract, Mr.. Breckinridge having been
Intercepted by Mr.. Miles in regard to its &C
curacy, wrote as follows in reply, under date Of
the 2lst October, 1855:
"You have reported HE correctly, and
thank you for il. As you know, my remarks
were reported in neagre and imperfect man
ner; still, even as reported, there is nothing tc
warrant the attack. Hands of tire whole sub
ect BY the Federal Government (eXcept fol
one or two protective purposes mentioned in the
Constitution the equal rights Of all sections
in the common territory, and the absolute pow.
er of each new State to settle the question in
its constitution; these are my doctrines and
those of our platform, and, what is more, OF
the Constitution. TO claim that the Demo.
cratic party, in its Federal relations, is an Or
ganization to extend slavery, is TO advaace i
doctrine which is constitutiopally untrue, and,
in its logical consequences, ruinous TO the
South"
| 1t will thus be seen that Ar. Breckenridge,
in his Tippccanoe speech, was not called spe'
ci6cslly to treat on that form Of the Terrific.
rial question:" which relates to the protection
OF slavery, as distinguished from its establish
lnent or prohibition. Denying the power OIL
the General Government either to establish OF
abolish slavery in the Territories, he doubtless
left in allegiance any expression OF opinion IN
regard to the manner in which the inhabitants
OF Territory, during their territorial condition,
could regulate this subject in their own way,
''under the forms Of the Constitution )" though
it cannot he doubted that his private opinion
was coincident with that avowed by Ar. Buc-
hanan, when, alludng to the differences that
early obtained on this subject among the ad-
herenls of popular sovereignty, he stated, in
his inaugural address, that she bad been of the
opinion that the people could definitely decide
the question Of slavery only in proceeding to
form State Constitution. The intermediate
status Of the question was one on which Dem.
ocrats were permitted 10 differ in 1856, and II
is well known that down to very recent day,
Mr.. Breckenridge was willing still longer to
practice the same federation. 10 this extent,
and no further, wc presume, he may be said to
have given his countenance to the dogma OF
popular sovereignty, US cherished by the North
ern Democracy.