Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-03-06

led and denied, in some northern States. This
should be guarded against. and the platform he
made uncquivocal and unambiguous. The time
when the people Of q Territory shall decide the
question Of slavery should he definitely settled
to he phen fer the 6rst time Mey .farm Il !S!ote
Constitution Surely this the Northern pco.
pie will yield for peace and harmony itgivcs
fair notice to pro-sIavery and anti-slarwy men
it takes advantage nf nonc--it prevents all
fraud-it necessitalcs no forcc-it is pcaccabc,
aud it confines tho question to that people only
who are interested in it,
The rights oi each and every citizen. with
his property Of every kind and description,
should be so plainly and fully acknowledged
"th1, the way.faring man, though fool. can
not CIR thcrcin;" and the Federal protection
necessary to preserve these rights should be
so clearly laid down that "he who rms may
read and perfectly comprehend. BY tins
the equal rights of all the States will be pre-
served intac, from misconccption, the pro.
tic parent of dlscord and discussion, as well as
from, actual injury Wcmay he told that s'i''h
.II explanation Of the platform will be in viola
ton of that non.irterftrence by Congress
with slavery in States and Territory, or in the
District Of Colunibia,' laid down in the plat:
form. We answer that the platform was in
tended to m.un something, and that, having
becn ruriously construed and interpreted,
il is incumbent on tho Convention OF great
party that no ambiguity Of expression should
n;S,ify the principles upon which the country
is called 10 rote-thut in the platform OF the
Democratic party there should not be one doc
.rinc !or the initiated, and another for the un-
initiated; one faith to be believed and another to
be taught.
Honesty is the best policy for parties as vel
as individuals, and if gu! voice can be potential
with the delegates to tha, Convention, we
would urge upon ;hcm 10 settle distinctly and
definitely the :in rtt,. the question oil slavery
or no slaverv shall he decided by the people OF
:, Territory, ana, tina. during the Territorial
cxistcnrc me protection oi ;!le rights u:
!rcn ant property By al the depart
::snls ui the Federal Government Executive,
Judicial! and Legislative. should be einphatl-
calv asserted Such platform, rotIs the North
Of 10 right. and witlholdS from thn South no
yrivilccc--!t makes the territories neither free
against the South nor slave against tne North
but icavc; them cannon 20 the institutions
ot both North and South. 10 become lecnifdr
10 such kind U. labor as nature and natures
l:u,i intended for them. Suck platform re-
moves the agitation of slavery from political
:oatc.tS, and confinng j. 10 the territories, 10
calizcs il where it justly ard properly belongs.
and restores harmony and peace % the country.
:suci. platform thc South Will propose. and
If the delegates from Republican States cannot
adopt tiff It is defeated by the votes OF States
which will be against the candidates nomina'
ted, whatever platform may be adopted, we be-
licrc defeat to be inevitable. The Democratic
party at the South cannot maintain IFS ascen-
,lency wien the people are informed that minori-
.i>s in Rc,nblican States have forced ucon tie
party : platform Of principles destructive OF
the Constitutional rights and the institution Of
slavery. The platform will become by-wnrd
and rcproacil, the candidate meri; anu receive
, contempt, and the psrty he branded As 4 cheat
and dcccivcr irr an outraged and indignant
people Let right and justice be dnne-let
sound and adju.iica:ed principles form the
-, ,,1 ipp h.
prevented and the Northern people, con-
scrvativc Wings and National Democrats,
will rally 10 the platform. and support the can.
Lidatcs vino hold out the prospect Of ccSsa-
ton Of the slavery agitation Our preference
as to tho candidate is fully known We but
speak the voice Of Virginia when declaring for
Henri \. Wise, but we equally proclaim the
"iews OF the Virginia Democracy for platform
ahou. which there can DC TO longer two con-
Siructions-a Northern and Southern.
The EIrgina Democracy desire the nominI-
lion oil Henry a. Wise above any other man,
hecal:Se he was the faithful son. who, by al
most supcr.human ciIortS. saved the party in
1856 from destruction by Sam; because her
principles are his principles, in the adSocacy ol
which ne has ever been inrcmos; but Henry
A. Wise nr,d the Virginia Democracy both
want peace and harmony restored TO the c"uh-
try the agitation Of slavery-io cease, and that
noble spirit Of unSeliiSh devotion to principle,
which las ever characterized the public lie ol
Henry A. Wise, and the political history Of the
Virgin. Democracy. are not now incapable OF
any sacrifice which promises peace To the
country and pern,aneucy - tine Union
\ platform, ii such principles IS we have in
ficstrt, ans: nbou. which there can bc no un-
certainty, is the proper and best policy for
the Charleston Convention. II, upon such
platform. some other statesman than Henry \.
Mise should lac the candidate. and 4 dark hour.
with gloomy prospects, should arise in any
Ir'rllan Of the Confederacy. = call upon Henry
T. Wise will he answered in the same manner,
md with like effect as in the days Of Sam and
the dark lantern.
in yesterdays paper the name Of the writer
Of thc letter 10 Mr. Nc(iehcc. of the House.
should have been ''W'm. " Watkins" instead
"E "Wiilam H. of Charlotte county. Mr.
ilnboden will. we trust, he more particular
hereafter in selecting subjects Tor his hnm'l'cs
or conversions tn the why party. No "nc
who is acquainted with the sterling virtues "i
the veteran. VIM. W. Watkins, nj Charlotte
believed that he could have sent such "lnes-
sage to the Wing Convention, from near 1.-The
grave of Randolph Of Roanoke. as Mr. limbo
Ten 80 dramatically and jubi'anty presented IT.
:. Grea, National Picture.
We are happy to learn that, in few day"
there will be exhibited in Richmond. "Inc
Nomc ot Washington after the War. painted
By Rossitcr and Mignot, The picture is most
I md tlp tnnSf