Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-06-05

( Sovereignty. Congressional prohibition, ard
F.; territorial so"creiSnty-such were the 1stinc-
! live watchwordS OF the two factions of the Re-
! publican party
, The Democratic party also WAS divided into
| two factions. Ono Of these reco .ni.cd rs Inc
proper policy the doctrine advocated by Mr..
Thayer, Of territorial sovereignty, denying that
its necessary effect would be to exclude slavery
from the Territories but asserting thatit would,
in every instance, Leave the question OF slavery
10 be settled by the requirements of soil and
climate. The representative man Of this lhcor:
was Stephen A. Donglas. The majority of tho
Democratic party, On the other hand, abso
lutely denied the power Of Territorial Co.
Ycrnmcnt 10 prohibit slavery; and recognized
the Imperative duty OF every department Of the
General Government to extend ample protcc-
tim, whenever necessary: in the Territories, 10
slare property equally with other property.
Who could be considered rs prc-eiancntly the
representative nan Of this theory. it is Few
useless to discuss.
Such was the position o! parties and the re-
quiremcnt Of public opinion, previous TO the
aS:cnhlagc of the respective National Conrcn.
tionS.
So far, the Democratic party has met such
requirement. No considerable number OF its
representatives have shown any willingness to
stavc of, escape, ignore, or siur over tie issue
now most prominent before the country. The
few men who went 10 Charleston with the
avowcd purpose Of ignoring the disputed ;!ucs
ton Of territorial government, soon foun( :hcir
position MOI only altogether nntenohlc, b.t ut
tcrly injurious to nc prospects CT ;heir iavo.
rite cane dates. They were ltcrs!ly Obliged
to obey INC mandate of the people and Of their
party, by assuming one or the other Of the po-
sitons Of principle and policy upon which the
party was divided. Tie consequence is that
the action OF the representatives Of the Demo-
cratic party has met that popular respect and
approval which will always lo accorded to open
and cNrGeSt action.
While the two existing parties were thus
divided :hilc the only national party YVES
thus driven even to partial distraction, ! mum
Der of scn.lcmcn assembled Mt Baltimore Cor
the avowed purpose OF organizing n new M
tional party The moment was not inoppor
tune. IF managed with courage and address,
this new organization might hare rrovrd lot
only permanent, but possibly successful.
II was only necessary that they should as
sumo bold and decided position on the great
question Of the '!ay-and then nominate some
mar oi leading popularity and commanding
ability. This would nave secured NJ once 4
formidable organization. They did Tcithcr.-
Too tnd to be prudent, and orcr anxious TO
weave net to catch fish Of every shape and
size, they chose to igHorc-not oac-but all
the political issues before the country--and, as
If 10 ensure defeat placed in nomination for
the Presidency Il fourth rate politician. who,
throughout all the feeble r"'or:r;y CT ;"!riy Or
'orly Years OF public life. spent in alternate
subscryiency 70 some tarcc or l9ur political or
ganizations, lIai never acquired the distinction
even OF partisan leader
Nn,im. could he rHpcc.ca !oT >G,:..i Il ;!o;n;-
nat:..:. n:a,e under such auspices, than the
slight notice and mild contempt wEicE, public
expression has i;lrcady awarded il.
The action OF the Republican Convention. At
Chicago was similarly, though not 50 utterly
unfortunate Timility and rashncss were the
most prominent features Of its deliberations.
Anti.siavcry doctrine, in its most ollt 1sivc
chase, ;:aS opculy asserted TO conntcrhal.
ance this. both the great representative men OF
the party were totally ignored, anu IN ilIi:c.
rate mndcrsirapper received the highest honors
Of the party Then, as if fearful nI having
gone too C:r in the attempt to dilute ul:raism
with olscurity, the Convention went to the cx-
trcme length Of casting aside all prctcnsion to
nationality, by the nomination OLA purely sec
tional ticket-both nominees heinz selected
from non.slareholding States.
The large ,nsss Of the Republican party is
naturally displcascd Tilcy have seen their
fa-orite leaders sacrificed solely because o!
their prominent Identification with the doc
trincs of their party. They had boosted loud
ly, too, of the nationality oI their party; had
claimed the sympathy and cooperation Of
large body Of non.savehollers at tic South,
had invited aud partially obtained the co.opcra-
ton of Southern men. And, 10! their re-
prcscntatiycs now informed the world that
their party Was not nationai-but purely ard
absolutely sectional.
Thus it is that spirit Of prevailing apathy
seems to have seized both branches of the Op.
position, while the manly action Of the Demo-
cratic delegates has succeeded in spite of party
dissenson, in awakening every faction Of their
party to renewed hope and animation. The
prospect is cheering. Let the delegates TO
Richmond and to Baltimore only unite in form
ing platform OF avowed principles; let them
meet the great question Of the da? face to face,
without evasion or cquirocatlon; then, let them
give US "a leader in the person OF some great,
honest man, positive in character, distinguish
cd in leadership, and the victory is sure. With
proper platGor,n and man worthy 10 stand
on IL, the DellloCTatiC parry VIII a6ai' w p'I nS
to triumph on the topEnost crest Of the tide
wave Of popular enthusiasm.
~--G0-
Richmond Academy oE Nnsic.
Wearc pleased to learn that, under ttlr aho"c
title. the musicians Of our city haze organized
society for the purpose Of giving concerts o!
classical music We have long regretted that
while almost every large city in the Union mad
:. -, .Lo ,,,o,rorol;. or tbo OI1 Domin.