Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-22

w,,c; Il, ~ be maze 10 .ran. nothing.
"Bn. IA periods OF sfo1g party excitement, IKE me
present :it :e ag,. Id feelings a5r"aG III "hich
do not and petukc /; seces 10 me that an af
ca, va " Is gwen onany topics Of 'eTe pa'y discus
a;, and sr,r Of Genrnc,at"n ag1ns. political opfo
nans ,rcuiced in, which equally unjust ana iihpols-
tic do not btiieve ! am rrrsc!irare enough 10 my
views u3on these satiecis; certainly rot ior those
with y hotn opinions and measures are a!o"e
he ptoof Of w,sdnm aud tho test Of sincerity am
firmly convinced tia: The Dem9cia'ic party are ght
IN their construction of the Constitution, and that The
nraci,es they advocate 1t fairly carried ou', W." ots'
ensure the happiness The country ana the Peroe'uiy
.: lie institutions Bot believe also, that the opposite
n,riv though wrong their views, are yet us hohest
IA we are IN their political opnions, anu as socou'
for the prosperity Of The nation. Many OF them nave
the honor and pleasure to know, and do not oeie'e'
and M human consideration would induce me 10 pre-
lord 10 believe that they seek ony thing but lie nap
,;ness NJ ouf common country. These great DIVISIONS
cf The American family hold in equal respect lie ion-
lamen,a pes Of our Government, out lhey oef
uonn soU,e OF The questions oil rs acui'hstfdtoh'
an, nat oftiose " no ,hn. that The destiny OF tue
co,n, d,,cnds upon the which either parry
wond pr25ahy adept believe lis prosperity may DC
accelerated retarded by wise or inudicous course
Of administration, and that The principles We advocate
are The suited 10 The nature OF our uo'e'haen'
and The hes; calculated for lis usefulness and Duration
But do no, belong 10 that school OF politicians when
sees in every departure from their own opnion, 'he
immediate c,vnall ofcur institutions. and fatal issue
10 the farcst experiment OF self.gofefnmehi, winch
Providence las permitted man 10 make. believe The
foundations Of our liberty are too broadly ana deeply
Ind To b., shaken by such have great conn.
dcnce in public opinion and while TINS IS enighened
by free ard open discussion, end an unsacktd press
and exercised by religious and intelligent community,
have little apprehension but that our questions OF
internal pncy will be adjusted by the good sense OF
the nation without leaving behind them any permanent
riory tn our social or political institutions am Tree
TO confess that my fears fer the future point 10 far
different source of danger. fear that we 90 MOI
sufficiently estimate the value Of ,e blessings We ENJOY,
nut ,ba, we are TOO prone magnify into serious evils
subjects of comparatively minor Importance, ana loo
ltlle disposed to acknowledge the kindness OF fTovi
dence by a due appreciation OF the precious tFus
c,niided 10 US Let hGmby hope that TINS kind OIL
judicial blindness may nat be visited by one oil those
s,gral chassemcns, by which, in the progress OF
human eiTars the moral government OF God IS vndi-
Gated, and the in!ra,itude of nations is punished.
al have been the more impressed with the force OF
these views since have seen the slae Of society III
Europr and have discovered the nature OF the SUBJECT
b. which il is aplatsd These not questions OF
construction relating 10 the existence or extent oi
power 10 make road to order survey, but cues
ions Of HE and death Struggles OF antagonist pm
cIp.s; cf modern reform against ancient abuses. lEey
ARE even shaking society TO lis centre, aud they are
destined mark their progress IN blood, ana pfetao
10 terminate their contests revolutions lheir origin
rnay be traced to immense military establishments 10
numerous and searching police entering mo all the re-
ations Of life; TO oppressive taxation; TO system OF
legislative and administrative regulations, controlling
Individual enterpr,ze and leaving little as may BE- 10
individual Will; TO the hereditary power and influence
of pacu'ar classes tc The inequality oil political rights
mud social conditions and above all, and beyond all 10
the physical misery and moral degradation OF large
por,inn of the community Happy are We that these
evils are unknown country, and vel! would be
for US if portion Of the energy we display IN orr po-
ca disputes were employed in thanks 10 Coo Tor The
contrast.
81 have long been inclined, M fellow citizens, 10
entertain these sentiments, but recently they have set
lied into firm conviction In this frame Of mind, ycu
viii not be surprised learn, that am no friend 10
political violence intolerance. The result OF my OBJ
erva!ion upon the creed and conduct Of the two great
parties which divide US is, that their difference Is to be
traced more difference of opinion, respecting the
greater or less capacity of man for segovernneh than
TO any other cause. THIS is the great po:E OF Departure
and since adoption Of the Constitution, II viii De
found that the cular views of each party upon this
subject have led 10 the peculiar opinions they have res
ueciyey formed Of the powers and duties oil The Go
yerument The Democratic party having more conf
dence than their opponents in the virtue ard nel'.
renee oil The great Of our society," have IN doubtful
cles,ious o couSuclion believed that power was safer
with the people than with their agents, AID have there.
fore nc..ned rather to limit than extend delegated au-
orny. Their opponents, on the contrary placing less
reliance upon these safeguards have thGGsht that
stronger, 10 speak perhaps more Correctly inoe GO
yeinment was necessary, TO defend society rem The
latitude f construction BIZ; bo-l speak OF ma ses,
no, of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. have been equally sincere, and
have equally sought the happiness of The country.
a., not believe that either seeks any changes in our fun
dl,ncn,a institutions, and leas: of all, change winch
would substitute for them mona;chical establishments
81 ho: YOU would not believe that | ndulgc the
u:opan expectation, that parties cease To exist IN
our free government lie has Observed lie to l;tie
pu pose who entertains such hope 1t is result:
probably 10 be desired certainly not 10 be anticipated
/ u, IL hn ned
biz inst spirit Of conc,lia,ion, and we may thereby
Became stronger and respected abroad without any
sacrifice Of true principles al home whoever recol.
ecs the events which preceded and accompanied our
last war with Great Britain, whoever seeks them
the history Of the times must be satisfied that With
fever inferno! divisions, the suleri"gs OF the country
would have been far less, and efforts to obtain jus
tee far more efficient.
al trust therefore that the great Democratic party.
while it adherps with mistaken !rmness 10 lis primer,
plea, will pursue its course with wEe moderation -
Whatever others may do, hope we shall never ms
take violence for hrmncss, ard for paliIcal principle
the dcnunciatl0n If our opponents. We can have n"
guide upon these subjects than the example Of
Mr. j ftrsnn who with an admirable mixture Of firm
ness and moderation, although coming into the adm
the most excited state Of eelnT that our
country has perhaps ever experienced, LETT with The
Republican party greatly augmented. and the prlnci
pies i; had con,ended far firmly established His doc
trae OF appointments and removals, that source of so
much DIVISION, selecting his friends Tor the former but
exercising the power Of the latter upon the Just and
moderate principles lie lad down, while 1t proved his
fidelity 10 his party, proved also his justice aud wisdom
az 4 Chief Magistrate.
These facts will probably not be acceptable to many
jealous parlzaus aud it is for this as entertain
them tha, nm bound to Disclose them; such pro-
ceednr will at all events furnish proof OF nv sincerity.
The selection of candidate for the Chef hlags;racy
by the Republican party, question, not less inter.
es,inc, than it is difficult May considerations must
be taken into view, and have looked at the subject as
think with great Importantly My conviction Is, that
there is nothing my present position, nothing in my
past career, which should iead 10 my seccton for such
mark of confidence. Aly repngnance to the measure
is great, almost nyirchie And there is hnt nne state
Of things state cf things as little 10 he expected as
desired which could induce lnyicd 10 the sacrifice.
should Re called upon 10 make and that is the gene