Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-06-04

IL,
case we are convinced that event couid eccu.
hostile to the principles of Democracy men 70 csfaOsa
the nopsl and dangerous precedent IN OUT hise1'y, y
transferring successful nary or army cee'' Io II,e
nerer been In ci1H life, bnt eho haa yPehl vi
nsyS IN THE MILIT7RY SERVICE, from the deck
of his ship, or the command q no at0sSS''' "'' Wv
the late Presidential election the Democratic par
~ of the Union were not merely deieaied-they were
totally routed. The important question now 49, no"
are 10 gain our lost ascendency' ana lenaef ous
party once more triumphant: This can only be Done
by rigid adherence in conduct TO the ne
inc first principles of Democracy. If we profess one
faith and practise another-if, whilst we nave Demo
cracy upon our lips, its most important measures ae
ALWAYS defeated in our legislative bodies by Tue V0'es
&c nrosessnu Democrats IT, whilst urge the absolute
necessity OF bank reform, grant TO the banks me
privilege of perpetual suspenslon-we shai De
ed over and over again. Under such circumstances
honest Democrats will soon become discouraged anu
no longer maintain the struggle OF party
that whether victorious or deieateo tne iesu'
is ALWAYS the same. In the one case our principles are
battered away by the reachery OF protesting anu
IN ,he other they are borne down by the open hostility
| Of avewed enemies. -,
| If the Democratic party, IN the ota'e ana III Tue
rnon had never departed from its original principles,
- conid never have been defeated by the combined
Ercss of Federalism The remedy, then, is thorough
reorganization of the party upon these principles Lei
no recur to the ancient andmarks-such as the Fir-
,v,n ;oa nd
IN better DAYS by Jefferson and the other fathers OF the
church and resolve never 10 transcend their liInts-
| A strict construction of the Federal Constitution
devotion to State Rights-a perfect equality OF CT
oil RIGHTS among the peopleno exclusive privileges
am economical government-light taxes-low saa-
res-a strict accountability of public officers, and
their instant removal and punishment Tor every Vo-
lation of official trust These few OF the raoi-
cal principles of Democracy, which the party must
not merely believe, but also practise. Our ne1t
4 net he
when the proper period shall arrive for his selection
will be man whose public life has been ldenuheo
with and devoted to these great principles ihese es'
sential prerequisites e1iSns, he ought then 10 oe Sc
iected in concert ch the Democracy o. our ss,e' Aes'
and scith rie,o of his popularity throughout me cnion
| No mere naval commander even if lie had fought a
battle and gained victory equal TO that OIL faiasa''
or Lake Erie can become The canoiua,es VI tue De
cratic party at the next Presidential eiect,on. our
candidate ,nusl in trery respect hare been Tho honest,
L, ond faithful represenQtire and exponent Of THE pm
;nes of Denoeracu and he must harc made h,nst cefi
Locn IN ,bs countru as such by his public te and con
dy,t They are behind the age who imagine that De-
nlocratic support throughout lhe .h'o"' Gan e 'se
| BY any other quaihcation ~ IN
| w. NAV then be asked who will be the man. We
| answer that we do not know. We must await events,
and for the present continue to be guided by the clear
though tact understanding which has hitherto 60
verned the action of our political trends throughout
the country ever since the late Presidential election,
that the Democratic party should mol prematuTey CON-
init itself on the question An excellent EDITORIAL en-
forcing this view ofthe subject, appeared IN the PHI
adelphia Pennsylvania about the close OF the last
session of Congress, which was generally copied and
adopted by the Democratic press different States OF
the Union.
The new Federal Administration have already done
much 10 break themselves down. They have already
afforded us abundant evidence that what has ever been
true of Federalism in times past, will prove to be equal
" true in time to come The Federal party hare
possessed po,cer aoithoat abusing it, Still, Congress
has not yet met-the principles of the new Admins
traon have yet been officially developed in any
Executive message, and no legislative measures have
vet been adopted. The Democratic champions who
are to oppose and trust to defeat the charter OF
Bank of the United States, and the other unconstu-
tional and dangerous measures with which we are
threatened have not yet been called into the lists
and it is impossible, this early day, 10 foresee on
which of our Democratic statesmen we can eventually
unite with the brightest prospect of success In
position however, the party throughout the States IS
mmovaby fixed AMI that rs, not 10 de toreed mo a
premature nomination, or ecen premature discussion ~
the merits Of the different candidates. They are deter,
mined upon union, Cancellation, and harmony and
that every personal preference mnst YIELD at the proper
time to the good Of the great cause. Should the
choice fall upon nativeborn Pennsylvania, and We
are not without hope that may, we shall rejoice but
we shall ne yer suffer feeling Of Stale pride to inter
fere with our duty to the whole Democratic party OF
the Union 1t is probable that this question cannot be
wIseiy ar.d~I candidate -~'eely nelcoted, un-
close SOnTresS-cert1inIy
until after the close of its second or long session Our
friends in Philadelphia may rest assured that no efforts
of individuals, however respectable they may be- Will
drive the party into committal on the SUBJECT much
before the time just indicated. The Legislature OF
Missouri under the auspices of the patriotic Benton,
have brought the name of Mr.. Van Buren, again before
the public 70: reelection but that pure and enlight-
ened Statesman felt it to be duty which he owed TO
the whole party under existing to arrest
the agitation Of the question, far as he was concern
tlo C,fIz nj
own State whose name has been prominently mention
ed every State in the Union, in connection
with this high office, has taken pains to prevent his
own friends from prematurely committing themselves
/ in his favor. Let US then wait We frmiy believe
that the friends of any candidate, by attempting 10
| force him. at the present moment upon reluctant
party would by this very effort, ensure his defeat in
stead of his success The Democracy Of the country
cannot thus be driven from its purposes 1t cannot be
carried away bya rush and hnrrah The Democrats
were too much disguised with the pursued by
their political opponents during the late campaign, so
soon to become their servile imitators.
| But enough on this subject for the present. we
shall resume it next week, when we shall discuss this
subject in other aspects and particularly its bearing on
| the Governors election.
Com Ste,earts Letter.
| We publish this document part Of the political
history Of the times.
The letter is in reply TO letter from the committee
of the Old lronsdes Club of Philadelphia
/ PHILADELPHIA, May %, 1871.
GENTLEMEN / have had the honor tn receive your
communication as a committee Of the "Od lronsIdes
Club of the city and county of Philadelphia" accom-
panied by their resolutions passed at their stated meet
ing on the 18th inst.
| In your communication you remark that "tbe Asso
citation being composed Of large number Of The De-
mocratc citizens Of the city and county of Philadelphia
entertaining the fullest Confidence in my patriotism and
mental endowmens, well us my honest and consist
ent attachment to the pure fundamental principles Of
the Democratic faith, promulgated by that grca,
disciple of liberty Thomas Jefferson, and perpeuated
by Andrew Jackson, have placed my name before tie
nation as candidate for the Chief Magstracy of free
and grea, people, and you ask whether will sal
low them in conjunction with my Democratic fellow.
citizens throughout the Union to present my name to
the people for their adoption through Democratic Ma
tona Convention; and further, that "you are instruct.
ed to obtain my views of The great Democratic princi
pies which have distinguished the party of The people
since the days of 1.-THE great Apostle of Democracy, in
order that the people of the Union may be satisfied that
am ever have been, the firm, consistent and de