Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-03-09
The Charleston piatforI,a.

The Charleston Platform.
In previous number we have shown the
uad policy Of retaining the Cincinnati Platform
in its present ambiguous and cquivocal express
SiuuS. 1t cannot be too often reiterated, that
the courageous wisdom" OF an open and bold
declaration Of adjndica,ed principles is better
policy than the false, reptile prudence {" u
double. faced platform. The tcmporisng nean-
ness of double constructions will detract from,
rather than add to, the strength of the party.
| There can hr M doubt as to the meaning Of
the Black Republican party. However much
we may ,lct>St their abominablc hcreSics hon
csty compelS us to say, they have boldly pro-
claimed their purposes. Let the Democratic
party initiate the tactics Of the enemy; and as
they blatantly vaunt their unconstitutional re-
evolutionary, ''irrcpressiLlc conflict" let 'iS,
with equal boidncSS, proclaim the true princi-
Plies of the Constitution as adjudicatcl 10y The
Supreme Court
The great Irish orator, Grattan, has said
there arc two species of iccelicrs-lrvclcrS of
principles and Jewellers Of iliStitntonS-thc for
ner make the way for the latter; the latter Is
| the death and the former the disease, and both
together form III political lie the progress Of sin
and dissolution" What was true of the British
government is equally true Of all popular 30
vcrnmcn,S. When principles are undermined
their SnpcrStructure, institutions, must be sub.
vertcG. 1t the Southern States submit to the
lcyrllng down Of the great principle which
guarantees protection to slavery in tic Terri
tories. they will have withdrawn one oi the
foundation stones which NOW support the pro.
lection of slavery in the States.
Time may intervene between the fall Of
slavery in the Territories and the assault upon
the institution in the States; but COME ii will
in the progress of fanatcis,n. which, unchecked
by resistance, gains new strength from every
conquest.
The ''tiscaSc' Implanted OH the institution i'll
the Territories, will work its death i'll tho
States, and the people who, for the empty
triumpl OF political party, talnely submit I"
the cvelling of principles with regard to the
Territories will ignoaninoHsly consent to the
levclling of institutions in the States. Strong
and powerful remedies must cUunteract the
disease at thc outset, anu no contemplate bniuS
''of choice between evils, Of selection be-
tween Squa'ter Sovereignty and Frec.S"I'r',
will effect TO eradicate Il disease which destroys
such vital parts as constitutional principles. -
Far better apply the knife at the nntSet, an'!
cut away tic diseased portion, even 1T the risk
Of life itself than stupidity To wait until the
whole frame is = rotten lnaSs Of corruption.
We arc opposed to lcvetling of every kind
principles as well us institutions. The Cincln-
natl ;,latlorn, with the Dred Scott decision,
and the aludicatcd principles therein laid
down, with a fixed time Tor tie decision Of thu
question Of slavery by tl!e people Of Terrific
re- will recommend itself hy lis honest and
unulistakcabe avowals to many, very many,
moderate anti-savcry men, who love peace and
harmony far more than lrce-soil or free ne
srocs; and. by settling forever the agitalIng
uucstiei, will attract thousands 0lvucS which
uo ambiguity nr epuivuration viii ever gain.
Since prominent and leading statesmen i;asc,
upon the !iccr Of the Senate, publicly avnwc'l
.'''>''
"''''"' ~
practice deception upon The unrciicctlnS and
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o.''''s' '''u ~.
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""i '"e -,o' ''l.'" -, O.,
'"i''' '' ''ee2'',
As 20 c''S's''e '''e ''o'."e''' '"''' r.'pO''
:'''''' t'"'''''.s - ''''' W. 49, -,
! power u ""'', "'S ''"''' - '"e
rltoFy' i'cl t''c Ne'"'''""' ''', "''' ''''' :
act oi oou"'e ''e'c''e '"'' '>r''o''
n'l' No''" ''''. N'"''',
Charleston fiator'h "'.'''''5 '"''' o"''
tli;lt c'''i 40 "fo''s !" ''''''' "
but p'a'''' a"J''o'c''eu p '!"|''
SANCTIONED hy thc supreme |''i''' az" ''' . S'''
ta'"ed by the @Fa'''' c''''"S Ut WV F''i''@ W
peace all" harmony
Inc present i i '''''t" "' >''>t''''' "'"','
emp's no man lr"'" It's ''''''s T ,"e
ever pure Ills c''ar'o''' Vi '>'''''" "'' i'',S,'
lle ''",''''''."" - |''' '''"' -, : ,a,:.n
! GUS ana cq''Toc'' r'"'''' W. ""'
inl st''i'''i'H " t'e S'''t t''o'''' '" 80,
the oo"tH' or "'S'o!'''s " Wv
only chart that ensures SAFE i''Sssse '.'" t'''
Syiia and Charlou's ) "'.''''' ~ u" i'.,'' '
r''ctcrS "i aGJud''a'ep s'''''''i''"' 's 10 '
errinS guidance tic D'hoc'a''c party "'"St
steer the ship uF Stale, or ialai ana obstructive