Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-12-30
ADDRESS OF MR.. WALTER D. LEAKE,
(or THE HOUSE OF prLrG.rr.D

To the "Dsmure,ie .7ssoeiaon Of the City Of Richmond,
And published their unanimous request.
Ma. PRESIDENT: | regret that have been called
upon 10 address this Association at this late hour oil lis
bu, nv heart is always thrilled by the sent
ments of Democracy and it never fails 10 beat respon
sive TO is calls.
Freedom, the perpetu,y of Institutions and our
country all call upon every one of Us TO perform the
duties which devolve upon American FREEMAN
We are already amidsta mighty conflict, and the is
sues involved in it infinitely above oil considera-
tions Of individual honor and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The
world has been convulsed long enough in struggles to
satisfy the sslfshness which pandtrs TO craving ambi
ton Whatever ents the feelings and The eff,rts oil q
people claiming to be free, and who aiming to per
peuate the blessings they emmy should have the len
dency 10 give stability 10 the principles upon winch
their freedom and their happiness repose and to over
throw ,Ic those no would undcrm ne
the very rampars of their institutions 1t is OF but
i,a importance TO the great mass OF The people, who
is the chief among US, II he Will be governed by De-
ocratic principles all his efforts and acts u nd
vance our national prosperity and glory; and he viii,
by vi:tuous administration prove III II he is the ser
want of an enlightened und moral people. There Is
an enthusiasm which animaes the bosom OF the De-
mocracy Of this Republic, whose power and strength
has been equaed by that, which, al the exploits
of the warrior has led nations to pay homage at a
bloody shrine Of military desposm and 10 become the
helpless victims If their idolltry. il is created
nv the united influences of desire of freedom, and
the conviction that We are struggling Tor It's PfeseVa
ton II is an enthusiasm kindled by the operation OF
principles which secure equal rights and privileges 10
all and ,hus have emelinrapd III. condition of man
wherever they have extended and have raised barri
er against that encroachmen Of vice and tyranny which
has 81 long desoated the Kingdoms OF the earth he
bold strides Of oppression may coward nations into
demonstrations of Joy CT its onward course: mighty
ACHE vement of the great statesman may dazzle and
delight mutudes: the orator may carry whole peo-
pie captive ct the chariot wheels of nil powerful eo-
quence; but the effects of all these things are depend
en upon shorl-lved tons Of The heart which may be
aroused by other influences than those which ndlsso
luby connected with whatever gives permanent happl-
man, and elevation TO his character But the love
of that cciii=ed freedom which, in country has
cured, TO an extent hitherto unknown, To every man
his proper mmunes and has placed within the grasp
of every one the rewards Of industry, and has hung
up at the goal of vruons actions the enduring emblems
Of true glory this atie ction tested By The trials aud
| the trophies Of lexington Bunker Hill, and York
Town, needs not devotion 10 any man, to arouse the
energies Of freemen to ress! the triumph OF party
whose policy is destructive Of their institutions. This
feeling promp's freemen 10 look to the happiness OF
the people, Us the great object of their exertons-
Many, no doubt, would delight 10 rush on to the sup
port of their principles, under the lead of the great
Statesman of the South (Cahoun,) the mighty resour-
ces of who's, talents would furnish all the apons oil
the patriots warfare and whose virtue, they believe,
would give to all the fruton Of hope Others
pant to rally 10 the support of Democracy with Van
Buren, who stood the frmer, during his administration
10 the principles OF Jefferson and Virginia as they were
the more deserted then by their former friends, and
whose magic, they trust, will ssolve forever the
charm of Wing inv.ncbili.y. Bat whether the wand
of The Magician STALL strike fear into our enemies or
the skill oil another General shall lead TO their dlscom
future, the Demo- rats of our land lack incen.
tive to enlist all their feelings the coming struggle.
The true merits Of hs contest no longer be dis
guised BY the mockery Of political chicanery. Some
OF our oPponent', t, make the oppressive system OF
measures which they advocate to appear the less OBJ
| iepfin ,hoyo tho(
Of law and order, while we not, but are destruc-
tives and Jewelers. To render the less odious their
admiration for unwarrantabe enacments, the Wings
falsely represent US hostile the good order of So
ce,y. They have, undoubtedly great alton for
law, and their prototypes, The old Federalsts evnced
as little regard for the in which they obt lined
the power of making 1t, especially in their attempts t,
elect Burr the President of the United States, they
did in their mummeries and coonskins Of 1910. His
tory records their fondness for law Those concerning
aliens and seditons regarded by the Republicans
Of the time as ample proof of their desire crush the
energies OF the people by the qualification Of their
ruling passion and their fate has been regarded
sufficient evidence, that freemen consider this pro-
pensity for arbitrary laws productive Of nnumerabe
mischiefs and evils There have been manifesto
tons Of the same disposition in recent bill to limit the
freedom Of speech in certain This late accession to
power, made memorable BY The passage OF law u
distribute money TO US, which was to be The permanent
policy of the country and by which were certainly
10 he enriched although it would as certainly mpover
sh and ruin those who wonld have u pay the taxes TO
replace the fund redistribution Not satisfied with this
extraordinary usurpation they nulied contracts rem,
dered sacred by the laws of the States and destroyed
credit and that there might be no obstacle IN inc pain
of their encroachment they now propose 10 strike out
from the Constitution of country some OF the great
est restraints against the passage of unwse arbitrary,
unconstitutional and despotc laws. And further to
create among The people the same affection tor law
which they possess they have been attempting 10 pro-
duce the absurd impression, that to burden Inc people
with restrictions, and unequal taxes, is to add TO their
prosuerty. and to increase their wealth These are
some of the tokens which the Wings have given OF
their devotion to law and It has made them fas'iy So
Tenn pledges, and srampe upon The PLANE" rights Of