Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-12-04
PUBLIUS.
1Erom he .N;eo Orlfuns Courier

run" 80 s'ft b'f'' NV"''
The election for President is now looked upon, by
most men, as having resulted IN the defeat OF the De-
mocraiic party, in %four-ffths of the whole number Of
States in the Union. For our own part, 1t certainly
gives US pain to see the cause of popular rights, OF real
liberty, abandoned, even for a time, by the majority of
a nation, enlightened and great, like the United States.
But we will not indulge in the dependency felt by n
few of our purest Democrats. All is not lost. Some
thing approaching to dIshonor may attach tn the corrupt
practices which have been resorted 10 by party leaders;
but the great mass of the people of the United States,
however deceived, have not yet sold themselves to the
privileged classes, and ere another twelvemonth shall
expire, they will be seen rallying under leaders entitled
to all their confidence.
Men strangely deceive themselves, when they think
the cause of Democracy can be checked, or that it will
long want leaders of capacity, equal 10 any emergency.
Monopolists, and all, in short, who possess wealth, and
aim at exclusive privileges, may still combine TO keep
down this great spirit; but IT is folly to think they can
prevail long on this side of the Atlantic, when the feu-
dal and arisiocratical principles aud institutions of Eu-
rope ae gradually disappearing before 1t.
Some argue, from the success which has iust crown
ed the combinations Of corporations and moneyed men,
that, hereafter, liberty IN this country, will be merely
a cloak, which the unprincipled and ambitious may, at
any time, buy and put on. This in our opinion, IS n
mistake-Demncracy, it is true, has been defeated
but in what way:-from what causes: The mistakes
ofsome Of its leaders, and the divisions and dissatIsiac-
ton that have grown out o. them.
So far from despariDg of our cause, or renouncing
MI hope of again SEEING on the rudder Of the ship OF
State, we are inclined ~cheerfully TO ruminate on the iu-
tura-to anticipate a change in the popular voice, which
shall do for Calhoun, or FORSYTH, or Mclean, or Benton,
what it accomplished for Jefferson in 1901. Til, Wings
cannot stick together rs n party. The political doc
trines of their leaders have aims as wide apart as the
%aniipodes. The interests of their variuos sections are
ms discordant as many degrees of latitude, and differ
ent habits of though, and culture, car make them
Long ere lS4i comes round-befnre tlr questions OF 4
National Bank, the Tariff, and a Funded Debt, are dis
posed Of, we shall surely see the Wings of the North
md East arrayed against the Wings of the South and
West.
What course should every genuine Democrat take +;
Ii is n vital principle with US that the majority must
govern. lftha, shall be found to place WIN. H.. Iiar-
rison in the Presidency, on the 4th of March, lS4l, then
it will become part of our duty 10 respect and nbey him,
as the head Of the nation. At the same time, 1t will
also be our dnty to keep a vigilant eye on the measures
and conduct of his administration; and, should we dis
cover any thing in their tendency hostile To the genius
Of freedom, or calculated 10 encroach on the rights ofihe
people, then it will be our task 10 sound the alarm
to rally every Democrat in defence Of the public lIber-
ties.