Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-02-10
POLITICAL.
From The Petersburg Republican,

Seodon, Goode, GreeniIow, Scott and GORDON, were
appointed to prepare the same. The committee thought
proper defer their final action until sr the State
Convention had hns he'd its business Their report was
submitted on Saturday night and unanimously ap-
proved by those present 1t be regretted that all
OF our friends dad not have opportunity Of seeing
aud signing IT. but there enough good and true men,
whose names known in Virginia. to command the
respect of ell parties We ask for the Address that
calm and deliberate considerations which the people Of
the Old Dominion are, from their intelligence and pa
Ir'osm, 80 capable OF giving to matters OF grave ma
tonal Importance:
AN ADDRESS,
Directed to be published by meeting Of the friends Of
JouN G. CALHorS, Delegates TO the State Democra-
tic Convention, with the signatures Of the commit
tee who prepared il, and such of the members az
ter it's fnal preparation could be seen
TO TIE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
VIRGINIA.
1t is known you, that OF late certain differences Of
opinion have existed among the members Of the Demo
cratic Republican party, which have seriously threat
ened II mar the harmony and eGdanger TIL Union OF
the pnrty IN the approaching Preside nal ca In
the celebrations and proceedings Of the Democratic
Convention OF the State held in February icl these
differences neither obscurely ,oubtngly m
dcated ard declared; and since, they have grown daily
more distinct and more threatening TO the welfare and
success of the party. These differences, so far as
they originated fnm depended upon preferences for
Particular candidates. however elevated aud Justly
titled To the cord,ul admiration and support OF any por
ton OF the party, susceptible of ready accommoda
ton in compliance with the magnan nou spiri, OF
ce 10 The good Of all which has actualed alike the
leaders ana members Of truly popular party; but
the extent TO which they involve and are based upon
important princ plies oftruth aud justice, they
ther be overlooked discarded consistently with The
solemn obligations of honor and patriotism. With that
portion of the Democratic Party, OF whom prond
Ia be- who have exhibited just appreciation oil the
lofty virtues and pre-emnent intellectual endowments
of the distinguished Statesman Of the South, John &.
Calhoun, by awarding to Inn their first preference
among the candidates of the Party, ell difficulties
the Of personal predictions merely, and all pos
sble mputaons The sincerity and purposes of their
declarations Of principle, have been fully removed By
the dgniiied and elevated position which he has lately
assumed IN withdrawing his name from the proposed
Convention of the Party, 10 he held in Baltimore. But
IN the mastery exposition of the End in
ducng that Withdrawal, contained his recent letter.
have been ably portrayed the extent and nature Of
those differences Of principle their grave moment at
present. and the dread respons biIes for the future
depending on their advocacy md maintenance. With
the sentiments and principles of that letter, we fully
and thoroughly Accord do imagine II will be
long before they will the Just appreciation and
sanction oil the whole Democratic party. Yet, at pre-
sent, such know is not the with apparently The
larger portion Of the Party md consequently ia has
dev0lved, al thus unctnre OF high and critical moment
to the welfare of Party and the destnes of The
nation; the grave responsibility of determining the
line OF action demanded of US by devotion alike to the
principles entertaned by The whole party, and
those which present cherished by peculiarly must
vet from intrinsic force and justice, become portion
of the Common Creed
The duty is Of deicacy equal II lis gravity. On
the one hand, every appearance OF difference or exit
bitlon of dissatisfaction with Republican brethren
on the Of the eventfu struggle which is approach
ing, may tend to impair the harmony and efficiency Of
the party in lis opposition TO and doctrines
equally dangerous and obnoxious to ALL while the
other, solemn obligations OF duty, aud considetations
vital only to the South but 10 the preservation Of
equality OF representation and popular supremacy
the party ITSELF forbid US to concur the mode and
agency which the majority propose 10 adopt for taking
the of the party in the selection OF It's candidate
for the Presidency. Amid these endorsements, that
motives may be above suspicion and our conduct
true TO duty, yet unproductIve OF mischief we have
resolved that, making every sacrifice consistent with
principle aud mohering personal dlscontents and pre-
elections will waive, for The present, the ultimate
decision OF the issue between and friends bu
for The preservation OF that issue itself and from
of duty to ourselves and the country will frankly
declare determined hostility tn the proposed cons
tuition and organization OF the National Convention OF
the party, and by free and candid argument, demon
strate lis utter incompability well with the ust
analoges and sacred compromises Of the Constitution,
with true Democratic pr'nc pies and the just rights
of the Southern and smaller sections OF the Conede-
racy.
| 1t may, we presume, be deemed settled, that
in the Baltimore Convention each State will vote lis
consolidated Electoral strength in the colleges, no
matter what may be its political complexion as q
whole. 1t will be permitted TO each State TO divide
its Electoral strength, or give consolidated vote as
il chooses The necessary effect nf which will be 10
force each State give lis consolidated vote or les
sen its relative strength. Of these alternatives there
can be no doubt but the first will be chosen. The
effect Of this consolidated vote, estimated with refer
ence TO the strength of each State in the Union, and
without reference 10 its strength IN the party, w'li
be 10 place the holding States always IN the
majority in the nominating Convention, although they
NAV furnish but minority of the party The ma
liority of the Republican Electoral votes has gene
rally been found in the Southern or savehod'ng
States and there is coed to believe that the
Southern States, as compared with The non-sIaVe-
holding, will always possess more relative strength
in the party than in the Union. We will not pause
here consider these causes inherent IN our polt-
cal system, and destined to be as permanent, which
naturally lead to this result. Il h1s been hereto
fore it is probable that will be 80 hcrenitr. AS
suming then that the habtua state OF things here
tofore has not been accidental, bot the result OF
causes permanently operating we are Jusli cd IN be-
eynr that the relative strength Of The South IN the
Republican party must always be greater than lis Ieia-
tive strength in the Union and II SO, We shall have the
strange result whilst the Democratic President
must mainly d.pe nd the South for his election, he
must look To the Notwithstanding States for his nom
nat on To the South this state of things IS emlnentiy
unjust and cannot but be disastrous 10 The general m
erss,s OF The party Massachusetts, which cannot be
expected to vote for The next Republican candidate
will have nearly as mucn innuence III Tie huIh"a
as Virginia, whose vote is almost certain The lh'ee
great States Of New York, Pennsylvania, and oho'
might be irretrievaby Wing, and yet by an union
among themselves, mnoriues Inpo,ent IN those o','es
might be al powerful in Conventions constituted os
now proposed. Is it rational TO expect that such COM
bina,ions will take place, if such temP'at'ons are
offered; But laying ASIDE the consideration OIL .nese
partial combinations amongst the greater States
IL il not enough to dssatsfy any Southern "an'
that the non-slaveholding States must always oe W
the majority in the nominating Convention whist he
probability is, that The majority of hose who eieel ne
Republ can President must generally be s'ugh, IN the
slavehoding States The candidate being mus Sc
Iec,ed in reference the views of that pofon o. tue
party residing The free States, the larger DIVISION IN
the slaveholdng States always be found y'e''ng
more or less OF principle in order TO sns am 'ne ma"
tins selected and must lose instead Oh gan
strength at each succeeding Presidential ELECTION oh
the difficulty Of uniting its members, upon an hpe'
feet prese NATIVE of their opinions In ths aos"cf
of the kindly ties of common sympath'es aho p''"c
ples between the candidate and the party, necessity
arises Tor enforcing union by penalties upon delecuon'
and as the discipline increases in strength ano
deser,ion. become more numerous Much as we mus
lose \, home the South loses still more 10 the Union
She loses power which it IS true, coua never aval'
r. H.. co. conservative purposes, bnt winch IN thht