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

lIc pTlllClplcS vi lnal GCClSlOn SIClil u y INK PAT
of the creed OF the party. But tor disturbing in
IuenecS which may be transient. but which render
the present I'M unfavornblc time for the calm adjust
ment Of any sectional dispute, 1t is probable tha'
nearly all Democrats could agree upon that question
without hesitation.
In the bred Scott case, 10 which | have rcieffee'
the Supreme Court (busidcs holding that q negro
cannot be = citizen VI the United Statcsl ProhonnGc"
that Congress has no constitutional power 10 PROM
Bit Slavery in the Territories. In delivering lic "P!nS
ion Of the Court to that c.lec:, the venerable Ii!s'
Justice added "!And if Congress itsell cThhos 90
this-if it is beyond The powers GohiettS" ot u
| Federal Governmental will be adni'ted, we pre-
| sunlc, that it could not authorize n territorial gov
ernn,cnt TO exercise them" This inference IS such
~ loric,tl necessity that the Court could well presume
the assent of all who would ~acquiescc in the actual
decision that Congress does not possess the powered
! prohibition.
Z II ali had acquicsced. il might have been wise 10
let our constitutional rights reposc upon the %aatl!orI-
" Of the Supreme Court, without attempting to add
the appreciation Of d political party. But II would
be wrong under any circumstances 10 lend the weisn'
of II powerful party, with our concurrence 10 primer
pies opposed 10 that decision. Whenever IL became
necessary TO vote upon the question 0. ndnitiIhE'he
principles Of the decision into our PLATFORM, rs part
Of the constitutional law Of the land, our antF was
plain 20 that extent. ~
The mere denial Of power TO Congress or To = Ter
ri,or;ul Legislature is no INFUSION Of the policy Of
:'non-in,ervcntion,' but rather an extension "i us
effect with the addition OF 4 constitutional support
II comedies with the habitual tendency OF Dc'nocra-
tic doctrine TO restrain the Interference Of Govern
ment viii, private Interests. When Il question
which the Cincinnati platform lett open for ltdicII!
decision had been decided BY the Supreme III bl;ii;'l,
to close that question in the platform also coa!d not
be fairly treated rs Il departure from the position
upon which We lad all agreed to stand. And II tue
truth can be established III the public mind tlat u
Territorial Legislature cannot impair private rights, II
will tend to prevent these internal touds mud external
conspirac;cs which arc TOO likely to disturb the Set'le-
mrn. of new Territories.
But the Southern delegates Mt Charleston co''ld not
be united upon i simple neeation OF the power 10
By instructions to insist upon IL resolution affirming
the duty TO protect the property Of shareholders in
the Territories protection being understood l" EN-
brace the passage oil laws by Congress, when ncces,,
Sary. for that purpose. That question, Therefore, H'o
TO be determined BY The Convention.
The general duty Of governments TO- p!oiecl pfl-
vatc property u.aiast the invnSiouS OF rlolencc or
fraud is undcnialle. That negro slaves carried from
the States arc Eeld by & IKE tenurn ana tnat ihs
ri,bt 10 their service is entitled 10 ! like protection
i'm the Territories US other property, may be deduced
from the 6ccision OF tho Supreme Court. The duty
of affurdEng legal protection TO private properly III u
Territory is appropriate 10 judicial and executive OH
GERS pad to the Territorial government; but, since
thar is the creature Of Con!rcS>. The latter should,
in proper cases, supply its .eIects and correct lis
xbuscs. Thus tbs duty Of Congress may DC shown
to rest upon justice and constitutional right.
But something. is due to the past and II We con-
slider our peculiar and complex system "f governments
and the variety Of relations which nay he affected
by the action Of Congress upon such = subject MS
slavery in the Territories, We must ld!nlt that INC
abstract right of 4 citizen to be protected III the CHI
ior,nent Of his property n Il future time and upon Il
contingent necessity, is not enough ~ this Jay 70 de-
mpns;ruie the wisdom OF %plcd.ins our party TO a PnrI-
ticular interference with the local affairs 81 4 Terri
tory, by Congress. Few Southern men. | be!ieTe,
contemplate the immediate intervention ot Congress
IN the manner proposed, or even It's future interVcil-
ton, exec. for the correction OF palpable abuses.
Gases requiring such action may never arise, or, VI
all events, not when those who accept our platform
will be in power. II one should happen, 1t may b.
with such circumstances that the whole South will
pronounce interference 70 be useless, or that the
North itself will call upon Congress to afford Il rene.
dy tor 4 iagrant wrong. In ordinary cases, u ~"ui1
urobably lie pcrnicious, or. at least, useless I" enact
suci, regulations tor al unwilling population and
the people, if willing to enforce them, would supply
them. We must all DC reluctant nccdleSsly 10
ubridce the Tree action OF The people Or government
Of any Territory ; and it is not rxpcdicnt. upon an
offensive suspicion, 10 establish Ii perpetual menace
Of interference. 1t inav be dangerous Tor us 10 sum
ulaie the activity oi Congress. ut ali events, slch Il
claim 20 protection can Fever be o. any avail Unless
il he freely conceded rs r:.iG. by u great portion OF
the North. Until then, it may be Wise TO reason put
no. 70 quarrel with our Northern teiiow-clllzehs OH
this subject, if we arc unp-ep"red TO sever orr COLI
neation with them. .,
By breaking nj the Democratic party upon such
Nh issue, VIC would impair the security oi more es-
sentinl rights connected with or peculiar institutions.
Virginia has been robbed OF property to the value OF
| millions with the connivauce OF ncighbo-lng States.
Her citizens have been murdered ard other States
have given refuge 20 the inurdcrcrs. Sho l. Sill eX-
posed 70 continued depredation, aggression and III
sui: whenever her sister States OF the North are con-
trol,ed by the party which there opposes the Demo
crucy. The complete and permanent dominion oil
tina: adversary would practically aunul almost every
right of the South, except the ultimate night OF OPP
pressed States. Indeed, whether the Cnionis 20 con
iinuc with NIL tie present CAUSES o: irrita.Ion, or Is
to tc riven aSsunder by ialal disSens!ors about sa'
very, Virginia is TOO vitality Interested IN these qnes-
tiols to treat them IL mere themes Tor Po!eIn'cui ans
QUESTION or prc;c%ts for niraiess quarrcis.
II is OF great practical moment 20 Lcr that the
Union shall be maintained according. 10 the Co;!s::tu-
ton. that the agitation upon the subject Of slavery
| shall cease, and that the party which alone III MI tlit
North, is just 70 her, shall be PRESCRIBED III its lnteg,
rity and placed in power, not only in the Federal
government but III the States. Il IS less l!nnortan;
10 her, or 10 any frontier State CT the South, that i
purity shall instantly inscribe on paper Il principle,
however sound, which may never be practically
available. Politicians in other localities sheltered by
the border States can moro safely push speculative
diSplItatiua 20 u violent extreme.
s; the urgent instance % tle extreme South. and
will. the general concurrence OF the southern dele
gai:ous, however, u schenIc was presented At Lharics-
ton which affirmed the duty Of the Federal Govern,
mcnt 10 protect property in the Territories; its general
language deriving i specific import from the attending
circumstances. 1t was easily i"reSeen that such Il
proposition would DC rejected, and that 4 crisis would
probably CnSue. 1t WAS not wise, in my judgment,
ior the South 10 make such . demand. But, always
voting with cRndor, asserting 70 the abstract pTinet-
pie, and believing that the moral influence Of tic
opinion ci Virginia ought TO be cast in its favor and
not against II: %detcrriug, on u question Of sectional
policy, TO what then seeulcd the general sense OF the
South: hoping that the unanimous affirmation OF the
Southern States would so far content certain dcieHL-
lions rs to prevent them from seeding: aud desiring
that, on all such questions, Virginia should act with
her Southern sisters Us .ar rs practicable: ! deemed
it proper to support such II platform in good faith.
IL was rejected by = majority OF the Conrcnuol.-
In lis stead. the Cincinnati platform was ratified
without addition on tic subject OF slavery, cxccp:
that Il resolution was unanimously passed, dcnounc,
ing all such legislation OF The States ~ is designed
to clnharrass the recovery OF 1ugllivcs.
Thercupon, several Southern delegations With
drew from ihe Convention. Some delegates
were constrained 10 10 - hy unfortunate in
siructiun:. Some, by honest, though impru-
dent declarations, had incurred - similar ne
ccssitv. Bat We aaw others withdraw wiz" APP
reared as free 10 rculaiN as ourselves. We cordially
sympa,hizrd with their ardent dvvo;ion to the rights
and honor OF tie South; 50 cordially, indeed, til;'; IN
the excitement OF the occasion, some Of us felt ! ma
iural impnSc to follow their example.
But. ii The Southern Delegations had 'cuIaIncd
c%i,irr, @: neuriy entire, in tie Convention. We would
iavc preserved the Integrity and nationality OF the
Democratic purity III form and substance, without
peril 10 aMy important Interest OF the South. Ey
incans Of the "two-thirds rule which: the just aEd
generous Democracy Of the North a;;ll respect, we
could have prevented the nomination OF any
obno xious candidate. With an acceptable candidate,
the Cincinnati platform, the new resolution relating
to fugitivcs and the bred Scot: decision, the South
could not reasonably apprehend ANY actnal infringe
ment of its rights, except from the enemies OF the
Democracy. To break w the Convention under
such circumstances merely because We had not Yet
obtained u further and peculiar concession, did not
seem to us upon reelection 10 be advisable.
But the secession Of eight States exposed us 10
new perplcxities. II the Virginia delegation had
then withdrawn. others would have accompanied Us
and the Democratic party would have been destroy
ed. Two ncw sectional parties would have suddenly
sprung into the field, ticrccly enraged against each
other, appealing Tor support to the passions Of their
respective sections and rcdoubliug the violence OF
those animosi,ics which already eidangcrthe Union.
Ict, il We had remained IN Ike Convention without
SOME extraordinary means OF defence, we would
have given our sanction to proceedings which might
haze become, or might lane seemed 70 De, the Grbi-
t-ary DEGREES OF one section alone. The Convention
/ - tl-.L- IL. ..--l.nu.urn Z .n.;.h.nEtn NM Il