Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-09-08
FOR IL ENQUIRER.
THE CANDIDATE OF Il DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

W h6 49, AhsN'
THE CANDIDATE OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
"h pouid be a solid triumph TO u, to put Mr.. Yan Buren back
ass.a' + "a" ID. g could siss o. ,as Illustrate" 81 is aE yaaaspt as ! f fs1 : Sss'"-
Many circumstances conspire 10 render the approach
ing Presidential Election one of the most interesting,
# not one OF the most important elections, which has
ever occurred in this country. The failure or inability
Of The late successful party, after having been intrusi
ed with the administration of the General Government,
10 adopt any measures for the relief of the Country,
groan,ng as it was, under the heavies, pressure of 3
violent monetary convulslon; it's ~n-complian with
the pledges; its non performance of the magnificent
promises made before its ele vation 10 power; and the
disruption OF that party, have centred the hopes of all
in the Democracy OF The country, rs the result Of the
recent elections fully attes,s. What then is duty
what are The responsibilities of the Democracy, and
what is the position which that party occupies before
The country and before the world? are questions Of The
highest interest and Of the greatest moment. The pc
siiion of the Democracy is doubtless the proudest and
most elevated in Importance, which any party has oc.
cupied since the foundation of the present Govern
ment. With every hope for the preservation and per
petuation of the only free civil Institutions in the
world clinging around il, that party now stands forth
the object of the most anxious solicitude, and ardent
expectation, to the friends of human liberty and SELF
government, in every cline, and lis progress is viewed
with the most intense anxiety. To their country, to
her friends throughout the world, TO their posteriiy,
they owe the existence of those institutions, and how
great, how vast, how fearful will be their responsible
ties, should they shrink from the performance Of their
duties and fail TO fulfil their glorious destinies. Have
they not the means to accomplish this great work p
If they have not, how is it that they have swept with
a whirlwind's po wer State after State, from Maine to
Louisiana, in the recent elections; how is it, that their
principles have been SO signally successful, so ri
umphantly vindicated since the Presidential yetoes Of
the Bank billss No external opposition can impede
their progress-wiihin their own body the danger, if
any, exists. If united, they must be irresistible; if
disunited, they must be defeated Shall the voice OF
faction prevail over that Of reason and palrlotism' THIS
question, fraught with the most momen,ous conse.
quences, is for Democrats to answer, and il must be
responded to at the next Presidential Election. The
veal or woe Of our country, and The glory or infamy
Of our Democracy, hang on the reply. Shall a monied
principle, foreign to our Constitution, be engraftrd on
it, and our Government be made subservient TO Banks
and other corporations Of associated wealth? Will
Democrats bend their knees 10 a ~despotism like this?
The negative or affirmative, depends on the union or
disunion of The Democratic party. And lives the De-
mocrat SO devoid of every feeling Of patriotism, so
much The slave Of q base and selfish ambition, who, TO
aggrendize himself, and advance his own interests,
would attempt TO rend the ties which should bind his
party together and disperse its forces, whitening It's
strength in The day Of conflict. | hope, for the honor
of America, the event will give a negative to the inter.
r~ogstion. When be reviews the position of his party,
when he reflects that the cause Of freedom and the
dearest rights of man are committed TO the care of
that party, that the eyes of the enlightened Of every
land are turned 10 them, and observing with intense
interests their movements, how can The Democrat per-
init himself for one moment to entertain the idea Of
disunion? How can he suffer his ~prejudices 10 gain
the ascendancy of his patriotism, so far Us TO cause HIM
TO behold The dissolution of his party, rather than re.
linquish them. Should any dare the deed, the execru-
tons of mankind, the deepest hatred of his country
men, the bitterest curses OF posterity, will forever cling
around his name and stamp his memory with eternal
infamy. To avoid the desolations of disunion, il
behooves US TO reflect calmly, and TO give due al
tention TO the suggestions OF reason and of patriot
ism. We should diVest ourselves Of sectional and all
other predictions, and discuss with impartiallty the
claims pf The go yeral candidates whose ms ore ha.
fore us. Why should we indulge in sectional par,ialities
or prejudices. Is not Democracy the same at The North,
the South, the East and The West Are not Democratic
principles similar in Maine, in Louisiana, in Florida and
in Michigan? How pnerile, then, to suffer ourselves
TO become the sla yes of sectional feelings for one indi.
vidual in preference 10 another. Were to permit my.
self TO be influenced by these feelings, | should most
certainly advocate the claims of a Southern candIda,e;
but, when | calmly, and without prejudice or prepos-
session, review the claims Of the several candidates., |
am led to form a different conclusion, that the Demo-
cracy Of the country should be Influenced by every mo.
tive, as Americans, as Patriots, as Democrats, 10 en-
deavof to elevate Mr.. Van Buren, to tho Presidential
CHAIR ogain, al the next election Tor q President OF The
United States.
The Democracy owe his e-election TO the nation
The history of the recent Presidential election presents
TO the view OF patriotism q most humlliat.ng, 1t not &C.
grading picture. Ii was effected, II is believed, BY dis.
creditaole, u not by dishonorable means, rejecting up
on the virtue and intelligence Of the American People,
and their capacity for self: government. No fixed and
settled principles were avowed by the successful party;
but they appealed TO the generous confidence OF the
nation TO entrust them with the helm of State. False
issues we're raised-promises, magnificent in contem.
%plation. were made, which were never to be performed
hopes, brilliant in prospect, were excited, which were
destined TO be forever blasted. Revelry and riot per
vnded the land, and instead Of calm discussion, the
most exciting defamation, and the most infammatory
appeals were made TO The passions of the people, by
persons who had assumed the venerated name under
which our fathers had fought through the Revolution.
One vas, system of delusive humbuggery was pracdsed
to deceive the ~watchful, to entrap the unwary, and to
entice the luke-warm. The principles of the existing