Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-18
Enr he En1nirer
TU VIC 1|H7EFFN'
UNITED STATES SENATOR.

Irn.y P.cr County, Va, Nov. u, 1915
Messrs. Editors The question, who shall re-
present this Commonwealth in The next on''eu
States Senate has as is 100 often the case become
blended with sectional feelings, while the mos! I'M
portan, considerations are entirely overlooked OF
buried in the strife for local presidency Sectiona,
politicians and personal par'lzans' nave eA.Ne'
nreiudices and animosilies on question, Wnefe'
with genuine patriotism and the true spir, o'
public virtue localities would be forgotten, ana 'he
relative claims ,f different public men canvassea
according to the true maxim IN Tree uoSeinn'e''''
that merit only should be rewarded.
In selecting a man TO represent Us III .ie M
tional council, his merits, our obligations 10 nun
for services rendered in The advancement " ".
national policy and his talents are cons,ue auIns
which our attention sho1id De q, -asLaesn, ,he
with the important inquiry, IS nc 70 tePIes.n. wv
interests Of the ,rhole Stale or only ms partLahs,
in Inc parlicular locality Of his domicil! Every
homes, and candid man viii admit that The lrdote
,SInie should be represenei, and that the talents
of her citizens form portion OF her common pro-
ner,y. Assuming this 10 be the fact, we cannon
conceive that ,nnuut;in reared in our midst, oy
The God of The Universe, 10 beauty ana auoiii
The face of Nature wa. ever intended as line OF
demarcalion between or relative rlshls d. ch'-
zens Of the same political sovereignty ihe oeun-
Diary of aspiring genius, T The DIVISION i'he u ou'
common interests. :,
If the man 10 whom ", owe The greatest oeo! Oh
ora,itnde for his un,iring zeal in defending our po-
1tical faith bv the accident OF birth, should reside
Eca or West of the "Riige," it is not proper
exhibition Of the spirit O. The true Virsinian 10
make hat his frs, prerequisite oil qualihcatio,n'
but we should weigh vel his claims upon our q.
beralitv. together with ourdutv, and then, ee'eT's
mrl5us bestow upon him or confidence. We, OIL
the "Tenth Legion, have our preference, anu
that preference IS Of the most decided character.
II is no, based upon sectional pride, nor The de-
sire TO elevate airy particular person as man, but
upon primipe, and that spirit OF magnanmily,
which should ever actuale people who make me-
rl and talent Their standard Of moral, political, or
ludcial promotion.
The parlzans Of different aspirants seem 10
have become 100 much blinded by indtrldnoi
in,cres, and sectional pride to do justice 10 The
claims Of those who are separated from them ny
the "Ridge," and make it an imaginary R"biGon'
which, 10 cross either way in The selection oil a
Senator, presents TO their troubled and oveIheatcd
fancies the Temple Of Liberty and all our sacred
institutions tumbling into ruin Why IS II SO
The calm and dispassonate icasoner, and lover
Of his country, al once determines that The spirit
of compromise has departed, p,iriolism become
but an al eaptandur sound 10 veil the inlrieues OF
demagogues, and that public virue has fled The
earth.
Although gentleman has bcensroken OF West
oi the Ridge, "a native Of the "Hgion. whose
commanding talents eminenlly qua J him fer The
station Of Senator yetwe see no gold reason why
has cIs inns should be placed in luXiaposlion with
those Of the Hon. William Smith ui Fanquier,
(lhe man Of our choice, for he is now enjoying a
lucrative office under the Federal Government
which we consider an ample reward for his ser
vices Cat least for the presently while Mr.. Smith
who has been standing as sentinel on the watch
tower Of liberty, and sounding the alarms Of The
enemy's approach for the last twenty .ears, has
received comparatively nothing.
MIR. Smith is our decided choice; anC though
the "Blue Ridge" in point OF locality separates
US from him, yet il is only an imaginary line
tina, does not render US deaf to the claims OF gra-
iiude. or make us blind 10 just appreciation OF
his distinguished services; and we really think i,
is high time, that more solid reward than bare
acknowledgement oil his unrivalled iailhfulnes.
in guarding the sanctuary Of our political faith
should be awarded him. To do him justice, We
are sure The Democracy of The whole Stale wil
coincide with The preference OF the
TENTH LEGION.