Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-05-26
For TIE ENQUIRER.
ALARMING PROPOSITION.

s..-,,arv Of Har's plan for raising a Standing
I'' = 3rmv, al a time Of profound peace.
~ Sir aud 50 printed in large letters, is the cap
sue bandbll, containing merely The details of Mr..
ton =" plan for organizing the militia, which was
rom throughout many OF the counties of Eastern
SI' n few DAYS previous To our late elections
''S'. among rs, know not by whom, il was circu-
hen no time left 10 combat il by argument,
Jay" the false Impression created by It's little; and
4" g. i, tins hand bill, and other wlu misrepre.
j" nj the Srcretarv's plan for organizing the
''I ,b,, our late defeat IS 10 be attributed; and as
m''" ,bors Of this handbll may arrogate to them
:" tr,at merit for having originated IT. propose to
their claims 10 any enviable distinction on this
Nm, II only day or two previous TO our late
49,, n that learned this handful, or ALARMING
,%,pDSITION was Il ,at,ng through our district; and
nv" b,,ninr copy, fist looked for its date, that
u" y, know how long had been circulating. There
|- ,,, Then, for evidence of ITS authent,-
wa II, stamp Of the preSs-that was blank. then
tea or the explanatory remarks OF the Secretary,
..,,,uc the details which followed they had been
'-,a.s-,d Having observed these things, regarded
~ h,,,ard haudbll the offspring of some vulgar
ppprinciplei press of coffin handful charac-
},-irr Itself out to perform the lowest offices for
,a,ry price, and was content to let 1t pass along,
80 boating libel of an hour condemned, as believed
,,d be- bv the rejecting portion of all parties, and
~ live during its brief existence only by the en-
i,r,rd party slang, which created it, But, Sir, II
Inns was mistaken: for, quiet spectator, have
,,-5 some Wing gentlemen gravely advocate It's pro-
,v upon the ground, that IT was conducive to the
.,s1, Of the present Administration If there is one
s- which should at this time, more than another,
In the true patriot it is the reckless manner in
brb the present Presidential canvass is conducted
.,..s - the avowed object, and regard is had TO
,Gs means Tor obtaining it. Instead of appealing, as
sry IN the purer days of the Republic, to the rea-
.ya and Judgment OF the people, there are orators
80. who address their passions, and seek to lead
.s, bv trick and neutrality-suspicious., who, IN
.,o.d ed.tices, quati costly wines, in golden COB
~. then mngle with the people and harangu them
~ me benefits of log cabins and hard cider.-For
,y..f | shall regard my country us lost, and her
j,uions as not worth preservation II the tinsel or
eu, that decorates warrior, or the false cry Of
,,6nr armv can effect change in the principles of
~, Government. When the people cease to think,
80. bl,ndlv follow those who would lead them, Re
y,lcln institutions are at an end Thus believing,
.s.ret,ed exceedingly TO circulating in Virginia
80 6,rdbil before alluded TO, issued the eve of our
I,,,,,Ys and scattered abroad to frghten the tmid
.l ,,oran,. and thereby influence their votes.
ALARMING PROPOSITION.
n. Nr,,iqrp Of Vars Plaa for raising Standing
Anu at a time Of profound peace-"Ae most danger
eas ae 10 LibCry
I'll was the caption of the plan reported by the
Secretary merely that the people may think of it, talk
II #. and discuss its merits their Representatives
tsc.ur .u! power modify it, alter it, refuse to act
mann !, altogether as accords with the wishes of the
COMMUNITY d, large. Heretofore, the weapons of Fir-
-uIars IN political contests have been reason and ar
,u, they never before resorted TO trek: and il was,
therefore with some degree of modification, that
s,wcrcula,ng in the ssun;errihed commonwealth a
29cnl winch ought only 10 have been expected from
some proS,riuted press III large city, which derives
II, support b. panderng to the worst passions of the
most w.ch"d par>ans
And .ra!.y il seems to me- that could not feel JUS.
tiled in sitting down and creating, By artitice, false
impress on against worthy and patriotic gentleman,
,le-sr - promote the wishes of party. The cap.
lion 5' ias handbIll was read by hundreds who never
!.aa tie Report and the impression derived from 1t IS,
that VI Ponseit wishes al time of profound peace,
,g;2.se a Standing Army of 100000 men, the most
dangerous foe liberty This cha e, too, brought
spans: one who has devoted all his energies to the
.4.yce OF his country and whose unsullied integrity
sa! purity of character never before questioned.
al! there another thing about this handful; 1t Is,
the authors of ashamed OF II; and yet,
lGtla, secretly which they would not do openly. II
Ok ashamed Of il, why came it forth, without date,
a without the stamp of the press which gave it birth:
& not think Nrginians SO electloneered formerly
'rrs are an improving people, and Probeliyh IS al
url
Bat suppose this handblll was open to no graver
sas..e, not the caption, in wretched bad taste
caption N which hurnbug usurps the place OF reason
s.. o. aryument' A gain, was It right TO print but
par; o: the Report Was it just TO the Secretary Can
te ina, public officer is entitled 10 less justice than
- .nsg.dHal' think not Then why publish but a
yly; II thu Report but that they feared TO trust the
people with the whole, Why suppress these portions,
rach accompanied the details:
appears that the organization now proposed viii pre-
aF'e: T m U n1onrry drilled md Instructed viii be
rendered perfectly Efficient and capable OF defending the
maritime frontier, which, in the absence OF such
"a o;eanlaon would require regular army of fifty thousand
present the militia canno; be rendered immediately
oa ,rE wanl r, iis 10 their stations and
stcn, soldiers when there In case OF war those sta
nd m
render the service a little buTdenSome as possible
@r. au1lG and mechanic
.uts States their of defence The
a vii r called ot in the manner at present provided Tor ny
change contemplated the mode OF oihcerlng The
v,al ro. Of which the active class viii be composed
az m MOI as:rar, single man from defence of the State
re.lss separate him from the class of citizens to
belongs wlii the contrary, strengthen the dete
II each S,a:r y furnishing il with organized and well
dau-i force taken from people, and making of the
f caa Interested with their owctizens in The preser-
Institutions. and ready al all times 10 guard The ef-
:lo'y aud tlt liberty of their country"
Even these few extracts, taken from the Report it.
self would have deprived the handful OF all the terror
aat alarm II carried with IT, suppressed rer', !
thought heretofore regarded equivalent to pro-
glga'ug ehood. Has this maxim lost It's virtue:
DID no', Nirgiuian, feel morthed IN even re-
oarrur 10 them, | wonld tell OF the monstrous
,argtou, which this handful gave rise to but IN
,afrow reflect, and in sorrow | write, that thus was
done n tie proud Commonwealth of Virginia, and that
terror and dSinav abroad III the land Is II
ALARMING PROPOSITION to reflect that their
.15ofs frightened the ignorant, deceived the unwary,
and carried terror to the bosoms of many who before
"r'r happy That the cry Of war, war, and Standing
s;ay OF 100000 men, sounded until the lone WI
low e her own ircside to seek shelter under neigh
'2;s roof Now it be, that the authors OF THIS
aiHao do not already regret their agency IN orgnat'
2LIr Can there to them be any triumph, in driving
'"O" and de,cnceeSs from her own hreside,
I'm Sling the breast of the poor but honest man, who
1ly tolls or his daily bread, with terrible fears and
.'e alarms Is vote gained by such means cause
'i'Hnph. Bat let draw veil this branch OF
-e subject.
come to the inquiry, how far it was consistent
'aose gentlemen who originated and distributed this
iat', 10 d"nounce Mr. Poinsetts Report for organ
1"- tar militia, and vet urge the people OF Virginia
support Gen Harrison for the Presidency In do
~ '>, deny tina, they treated the people with the
es}"c' due 10 them. Lending their personal influence
% ne distribution Of those handbills the people had
-o % Expect, That while they denounced the Admi-
.'i'"n tor recommending plan for organizing the
t'a, they could not, IN good fnuh, urge the people
support man, for the highest office in the gilt OF
'''a"a who had pressed upon the country again and
Il. apl,ta fnn