Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-10-11
SPRING lows. Henrico CO Oct 3, 1889


committee on behalf of the Democratic ciuz us of Lou
isa, you have invited me TO psruke Of Democratic
festival Louisa Courthouse, The 9th day OF tie
present month, has been received. Highly gratifying
To me would be the personal interchange Of fellowship
with the Democratic citizens 0i L"pisa ~ that uccasI2n
constrained by circumstances which II is net0lss
To partculaze, 10 drDy myself SO great pleasure
shall be with them, nevertheless IN heart and ~ SEN
tmen, and beg of them, lncus,ve OF yourselves asa
portion Of them to accept my sincees thanks Tor The
kindness expressed in their nritaton
The eplil Of virulence and luminosity you menionG IS
having been extended TO me by political opponents have
indeed very often experienced from the tees OF Demo
cratic principles. In my youth, il was leveed against
both my advancement and my very existence, anr per-
hsps there has been man as humble and unmpoHaht
myself, who has encountered more OF lis fierce aud
vindictive exerlion Under all its violence, howrver
nave been than compensated by the generous KIND
ness of the Democracy, the PEOPLE PROPER o my na.
tive State, whom has be. my pdr 10 honor AID
and who took by the hand whilst yela siHp
ling, aud have continued through life tiny liberal 0ene
factors For il is most true that whatever OF patronage
either professionally politically have known, has
come from the body of the people, or i'on their
representatives. never from classes Or privileged mono
poes whose iavors could never to court and
TO whose ia vors have been therefore stranger. IL
the people, directly and personally owe all that should
warm and attach grateful heart In social and PoI'
cal relations, am bound TO them by still higher ana
more solemn obligations; for, in all institutions, social
or POLITICAL founded IN reason and Justice, and not h'
offspring Of chance, corruption Or violence, VINO sSEe
the people be, the rghuui PnssessoTs oil
1upreme authority? For whose benefit aud security Other
than those of the people, (he greatest number should
Government ever be instituted administered or even
submitted 10; Where, but with this greatest number,
can that benefit or security be wisely entrusted or 50
faithfully pro eced? Interest or the hope OF advantage
is the great spring Of human action and whenever Va
vested with power, will exert I'seil IN PoP"r"h 70 VIC
power possessed II would seem then irrational ana no.
verse 10 human experience suppose tina, power vesso
in the Few, in CLASSES or in MoNoroL!Es WIZ hot Ne
cessar bp pxeried Tor their especial dvaniage ana o
for The benefit OF others different from themselves oO'
whilst the enemies OF Democracy vrnur" n"t"pen'y 70
dlsown the rights and The happiness Of The many as he
Just and legitimate ends OF social and p'iiilca IhsVu
lions they will persist in the establishment OF chai
and monapoliPs, endowed with privileges whch o''o"e
the citizen in his natural character, ana p1euP
from responsibilities which dellnguerces ron ""'
would be sure supcrinduce. They will deny III p'ec
lice, and Of them ia theory ego the c"npee"'y
Of The people to Judge OF and control thelf own ioe'
porlant interests; and endeavor to bland WIN he e
AoRARIAsIsM, and with similar eph'ts exprfssiS' =,
odium. every effort TO bring the popular " III mo u
and efficient action upon the conduct ui ihelr ase"'
servants. These doctrines have been eSr"p',n,o
amongst in The alleged superiority ~ WISDOM o' ~
tegrily on the part Ut irresponsible banking ca"
over the constitutional and selected organs oil 'he Pr"
pie, and in The disregard Of instructions oy in'sea
representatives, though emanatIng rom lhf e" ,hs
tiona body. We how ever, know the ia'seho"u Wv
presumptunusDess and the absurdiiy OF such ple'e'
We are convinced that the most unc'n'r"!iaoee IN
nssiiale Of human passions IS avarce; that lhF'e'o
associations The acknuwled ped objects oi wiot' GU
are profit and speculation must be utterly uthu'o 10
the hducsries Of the public veal; because they are
culiarly liable to the influence Of tina, dangerous pss
whilst they exempted from the restraints o.
thy of shame, of love Of reputation or OF a','e' ~
sonal responsibility, all Of them causes when
individual conduct. We taught by The lessons =
history and by our own observation, that OF all men ~.
ing none are more unstable in conduct more loose ,
corIuptible in morals or less worthy Of confidence '
are ponicians by trade We are satisfied that 10 '"s
great body of the people, reside sound sense Is do
more integrity of purpose, by almost incalculaoe oy
piees than ever found in privileged orders u" 90,
ace or country We believe, therefore, thai On 'he w.
ME alone can our trust be safely rested for the p'fss
ton cf liberty Of morality political or private ~
Bu, should We admit for instant the drsfao"s -,
polhess which estimates the people as loo sup b,
vicious or helpless either 10 promote or 70 ,b
avn well bcirc, on whom should they dcrno ''' '''