Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-10-17
For Mc EnqniTtr.
AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE OF
VIRGINIA

Fellow Citizens: Amidst storms and convul-
sions the day is approaching. "big with the fate
ol Cato and OF Rome The plot hourly thckens
and TO the dcnouemeni Of The great political dra-
ma. the friends OF free institutions and of hu,na-
niiy are looking with feelings Of deep. painful
and anxious intensity. The language Of the dis
nsui>hed and beloved Wise, uttered years ago in
the House OF Representatives, oh an occasion
comparatively of trivial importance. applies 10
The present crisis mos, forcby and truthiully -
'Thc time has c0we for every man in public and
in private lfc-for the high and the low-ior The
rich and the poar 10 consult and meet together for
,hc safety OF the Government Il is under the
so!clna conviction OF this triiA. that one unknown
beyond the limits Of the spot which gave him
birth. prcsumcS, from The cl>cGIc shades Of pri-
ratc lite, 10 send forth his voice through The
length ana breadth Of Virginia against the
deep danna,ion OF our taking of -againS,
the mad, unholy and neiariou> schemes, which
have been Matched in the ho,-bcds of North
ern crPidHg and demonacal fanai:cism-
schemes not destructive of our prosperity onv
but Of our very existence as nation, threatening
the violent disruption OF every ligamen. which
has bound us together, for 50 many years, as a
family of nations. b 10, deceived, them fellow
citizens as 10 the real issues involved in this great
struggle /, is not a mere contest Tor party pre-
dominance, for the elevation Of This man or that
man to the Presidential Chair. No, no, no. The
struggle is between the opprcssor and the Cypress
ed and in it are involved the Sancli;y of the Con-
stitution, the inviolabi!ity OF the Union the per-
petuitv Of free institutions. At no period since
The formation OF the Governments. have YOU been
called on 10 exercise the elective ira nchisc under
circumstances So solemn, 50 pregnant with conse-
quences vitality affecting, not Your interest and
happiness only, but the well-beina Of unborn mil
lions In the overthrow OF Our institutions, the
hope OF the oppressed in every cline will perish
in the wreck The beacon ligh, OF Liberty, TO
which the nations OF the earth have londly looked,
as the pillar of fire 10 guide them in their exodus
from Egyptian bondage, may be forever exn-
sushed.
While stands the Coliseum, Rome shall stand !;
When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall
And when Rome talls--the world
In view OF this dire catastrophe let me cntrcat
you TO ponder well before you vote: think calmly,
and act fearlcssly; pin vour Political faith 10 no
mans sleeve; il is base abandonment of reason,
10 resign Your right OF thought: Heaven has en-
dowed YOU with faculties for tie discovery ot
truth, and it is only BY their free and unirammcl-
led exercise that you can enjoy rational liberty.
The man who takes his opinions ready made, silks
in the scale of human dignity beneath the Rus
sian serf; his scrvitnde is of the most de,cstahe
kind-n,orai and mental scrrifuGc The fundamcn-
tai principle of free Government is, the acknow-
lodged capability OF tee people 10 govern them
selves and consequently tot think and act for them
selves: if they be not, what are tree Governments
but splendid phantoms, magnificent delusionS
and The people but miserable puppets, permitted
to strut and biuster on the stage, 10 subServe The
base and sordid purposes of those who work the
wires !?
Virgnians. YOU are called upon by every con-
sideraion of duty. BY every noble feeling OF State
pride, by your veneraton for The mighty dead, 10
prove by your gallant bearing in November, tina,
you are The worthy sons OF patriot sires, emil
lous OF their glory and achievements, with the
sa one fixed and uualterable hatred of oppression
and the oppressor. Though spurned from the
throne OF naughty king, they never crouched,
and never kissed the iron rod of oppression-and
ask, with all the iervor of my soul, have you so
desenerated-have years OF oppression and insult,
more CALLING than The insult and oppression OF a
despotic monarch-so entirely and completely e.
faced and DESTROYED every noble trait and Inca
men, of character. for which the Firsinlan once
challenged the admiration OF the worlds Have
you So long Worn the iron of the oppreSSor in
your souls, that, reduced 10 the very naGir of de-
graduation and sefvilitv you are prepared meckiy
10 kiss the rod and humbly sue and crouch 10
merchant dukesl' If YOU cannot, how then, |
wond ask, can You support the man pledged 10
principles subversive oflhe Observation-Disclosures
size of the Union-subvcrsive of your dearest
rights? How can YOU support the man leagned
with aboliionsls aud manufacturers IN their ag-
gressions on Southern rights and Southern insti-
iuions-the boosted author ofthat system insolent-
~ styled the American; to us, a political Upas,
beneath whose whitening and blighting influence
the fair and lovely South has been converted in.o
a scene of far-spread ruin and deselationa How
can You support the author Of the odious and de-
testable Bankrupt law, legalizng the violation OF
faith be.wixt man and man, difiusing moral poi
son through the social system, and reducing our