Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-02-15
ADDRESS OF THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION,

.nnprss OF THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION,
.adop,,d on the 3rd Of february, 1874
We Law before our readers This morning this able
md eloquent Address 1t deveopes the origin OF the
FEDERAL pariy-elias the present Wing party. II
traces out the different principles Of the two par
ties. and draws striking portrait OF the wing cham
n;on MIR. Clay-shows the consequences winch may
,iso IRON, b;s election and The measures which may
he expected 10 smanate from his Ill-sared Admins-
tration |, nyokes the People Of Virginia to The res
cue We hope no Republican will hear this appeal oil
the Democratic Convention, without feeling his blood
stirred up, and his nerves new strung
.nnppss OF THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION.
TO THE PEOPLE OF VIRGINIA.
Having been called together by yeur authority, TO
select persons suitable 10 be voted of as Electors o.
President and Vice President OF the United States, II
becomes u.s. in discharge of this 10 give
The reasons which have Influenced Us in the selection
Wban tina ,trusple between parties shall become a
factions contest for sffce, then will IT DO matter OF
no eongeouence who may hold those exalted stations
Where the lust OF dominion, and the spols OF ofhee,
constitute the sole motives Of exerton the sincere pa
trnt will be constrained to retire IN disgust ana give
nlsce 10 the political stock obber, who ns,ead Of
,ardino Goyernmen Mt as high and holy trust for the
country sees in it nothing but Jo6 to be administered
for benefit of party Of which the PRESIDENT is The
head and grand almonsr III cannot De dshled, mat
there are men, who strive TO sink principle and TO
niv uarrorng IN masnituds and e1tenf, those funds
mental differences on all questions touching the Con.
stituion and policy which have marked the HISTORY Of
parties since the foundation oil the Republic Inc an
mails of our country furnish some black lster examples
of men who have hung loosey on the skirts OF party,
like ill-omcned birds lowering on the confines OF hostile
armies o. armed neutrals ready to take advantage Of
the fortunes of tmos with the one, some
times with the other; but awayr, by most s,gac'ous
foresight, falling in with the party for the time beng
in the notwithstanding at power as II passes
arrogant in proportion to the magnitude OF the obga-
tons they have volnted-tme serving and selfish IN
proportion 10 their boasted and seexating patriotism
Examples like these, however, rarely disgrace The re-
cords of earlier trmcs Our fathers knew too we'll the
Importance of distinctly marked principles 10 suffer any
,em,orary policy to conound eif4ce them IL IS only
since the contest hss become more evenly balanced,
the issue doubtful that hose birds of passnge have
become 80 numerous and Ill-bodIng in their flight
But. that On honest an'agomation can ever take
place-that the two conlendng parties OF the country
ever be brought to harmonic and stlnd together
on q common platform of principles aud measures, is
impossible The difference is irreconc!aor, radical,
and as durable rs time As we'll may the Ethiopian
hone To change his skIn the Leopard his spots. II
"a difference growing out of the mental constitution,
moral perceptions, education and social relations OF
men, and amounts to repugnancc aud hostiy So
long az man shall be proud aud imperIous, will he de-
eht 10 exercise his superior intellect IN acquiring do
nilnion over his wenkcr and less fortunate brethren.
So long IS his heart conceive the sentIneHt Of
se.hnsss avar,ce, will he seek to grind the aeeS NJ
he poor and to impose burdens himself would no, ell
dure So long the rich the webofn and intellectual
few conscious OF nidey and weakness in themselves,
shall have no faith in tho capacity and integrity Of their
fellow men, nnd fearful OF their chartered and time
honered privileges shall tremble at the slightest move
of popular indgna,lonso long will they unblushngy
sncriieo reh. on the shrine oil powerdras the relhs
of Government into their own hands under pretenee
of necessity and control the dependent and despsed
multitude with the potent wand OF interest or
fear. New men may come on Tic Stage OF action, new
measures arise but those deep sentiments OF the human
heart will ever spring up, "a perennial anu unchanse-
able as HE fountains Of Nature, giving character to
the men, and vitality 10 their actions. The naughty
Roman Parican, with his renue oil PlebeIan clients
the proud Baron with his retaners; and the ordly f.
nancer with his train OF supPlant debtors, we're oil
governed by the same principles, influenced by The
same sentiments. Time, circumstances may change
The means, but the end is ever the same Those mo-
tves of action, arising from mans innate love OF d.
minion in age have been suppressed; nor can t"y
ever be. Their encrnachments are as steady aud MS
sure as the everswelIing ocear-'ide, whose snrges
the feeble defences OF MAJ never surely fence OUT
Their poisoned germs, like the fabulous Drsgon eeth
springIng up armed men-not always armed
neuttals-aGd Liberty consists IN perpetual warfare
against them. Peace, even momentary armistcr, IS
fatal While men slunber, the enemy will so" tares
in their feld-whle they dream, will he disli 'nlo
their ears the poison of discomfort and sed't'on.-
Though a triple moulhed Cerberus were SCI u
guard the citadel of freedom, he would be lulled
to sleep by the opate Of wealth and the syren song OF
ease and luxury "Eterna vigilance The price We pay
for Liberty Our fathers with stern virtue, fought
against those principles and avor,e max'ms oil Gov
eminent arising from the lust of dominion IN the heart
of man. and at early period pronounced them IN
ic,h public saffy, and totally destrnehre 81
that equality uhich ought to prsrad m Republic But
il was an ever-beginnng, never ending coht'st. The
experience of than hal! century iinds us, TIER
still involved in the same struggle Into
the Constitution itself while yet plastic III the hnncs
of its makers those hos,il- principles were attempted
10 be engraited And our infant Republic, before j,
had cementod its strength adopted It's own practical
FORM mnde to bend by the strong hand oil master
spirit t. those favorte measures of the rich and we'll
born which fathers pronounced incompatible with
public safety, and tending 10 monarchy.
When men are banded together for the accomplish.
ment OF certain PURPOSES where intricate relations are
involved and wisely laid plans required, az IN the affairs
of Church and State he who most clearly perceyes the
end in view aud presses most boldly TO the accom-
pshment, draws the others after hlm by necessary
law Of their nature, inspires them with confidence, I'm
parts faith and courage and by common consent Is ac
knowledged as their leaderie becomes the represen-
taye and exponent OF their opinions the embodiment
and living type of their sentiments aud desires What
ever he thinks and feels, 10y a common sympathy Is
thought and felt by oil; and though absent, he IS yet
present IN SPIRIT nVeffHlinn III ic
laton stood Luther 10 the REFORM ton-ruireh Horny
10 our own Revolution Napoleon to the late Revolu-
tons Of Europe-and in this relation stood Alexander
Hamilton the ruling men, and leading measures OF
Government in The most eventful period OF our Repub
l,c Ills was the strong and compreh ensve intellect
that impressed itself upon every measure; the mas
ter spirit that touched the secret springs oil power
impaired energy to his more tnd followers, ana turn
ed them whthcrsocver he listed for the accomplish
Inent Of his purposes Unbounded was hrs sway over
the popular VIII Bold, talented and ambitious, he was
fearless the declaration ofhs opinions, and reckless IN
The adoption OF ms measures An adventurer OF fortune
bred up The camp, familiar with the wees OF war, aud
to absolute command lie avowed, that he
had faith in the capacity OF man for selfgoyernment
no faith in Republics that The Brush Conslitu-
ion, with oil its corruptions uas the bfst model OF
Government In the Convention, he proposed and od-
socated system bearing all the strongly marked iea-
lures of monarchy; and when to'led IN his al
emp TO engralt those anli-rspubl'can principles on
be Constitution, he sought by policy and 'ndrec-
ion 10 niu.e them impercep,oly into The admins
raton Of government He adopted It us max
m, Tint could only be governed by their
vicos-prtratc rice p0diic good The policy he re-
was recognition Of thr od"us doctrine,
hat, Nj, .l nah NJ. al