Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-21
TO THE MEMBERS ELECT OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF VIRGINIA.

TO THE MEMBERS ELECT OF THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY, OF VIRGINIA.
Gentlemen: The tine will soon arrive, when
in The performance OF your legislative functions,
YOU will be called on 10 perform grave and I'M
por,an, duties. Amongst these, not The leas; will
be. 10 elec Senator 10 The Senate Of the United
States. The crisis demands the performance OF
this duly, al as early day as can be done with
pronrelv. You are doubtless aware, that seye-
raj distinguished gentlemen have, by lheirfrends
been placed in prominence tetore you for The high
and distinguished station. The nominees thus
presented, have been taken from the East and
from the West, and are all esteemed and regard
ed as politicians OF the Jefersonian school, strict
cans;rucionis,s OF The Constitution of the United
States, aud thoroughly imbued with The doctrines
Of The Virginia Resolutions of 1859; opposed 10
Inc present odio,is Tariff, in favor OF The Sub
Treasury and in favor OF the admission Of Tex
as into The Union, provided lis Constitution be
Republican. doubt not the political orthodoxy
Of any one Of The nominees. Suppose each one
Of lheM Gas doubt not they are) Republicans OF
The Jciiersonian school: the question ises, which
one will il he your pleasure 10 elect Is he 10
ha il from the East or from the West! 'sand 10 this
complexion it must come al last" Being a West.
crn man, and having been born and reared in
Western Virginia and being resident there, and
having been, from my Soyhood 10 the present Tine,
a Republican 'ihrough storm and sunshine" for
Thirty Years pas. take the liberty 10 address you.
The Senator 10 he elected mus, be a Democrat
and as the West has never had but one Senator in
The Senate OF the United States, The question sus-
sess itself, How has this happened! Why has
Inc Western section OF the State been overlooked
Not from the lack Of material for The Office MOI
because The Democratic party in The West, has
ever proved Teercant in The great political con-
ficis that have been waeed. No such objections
can be urged. The West has, al all times and
on all % casons, performed their duty with Gdcl-
~. In The conaicl Of 1870 fresh in the recollec-
lion Of all il is not 10 be forgotten, that The Wings
carried Eastern Virginia by more than one thou
sand lna lurity The Western section saved The
Old Dominion from The rule Of Whiggery. In the
election Of 1911, the overwhelming majority Of
Mr.. Polk was found recorded in the West The
majority in the State was near six thousand
votes. OF that majority, the counties OF Rock
ineham, Page and Shenandoah gave majority
OF more than three thousand voles-heing more
than nloiely Of The Democratic majority Of the
whole Stale. These are facts sustained BY the
returns. They will show, 10 demonstration, that
the Western section OF the State has, upon all &C.
casions, and al all times, Inainta med the Consii-
tuition according 10 the Interpretation Of the De-
mocratic party. After having manifested the
principles Of The party by cur votes, and after
having sustained the great Republican princ-
pies OF the party by the tests 50 often exhibited,
why, repeat, Is il, that no man has for series
OF years been taken mp from The West, as suit
able individual 10 fill The station OF Senator Of
lie United States? The uniformity in selecting
Eastern gentlemen for the station ot United States
Senator, Tor more than hall a century cannot Just
ly be attributed 10 InadveIience-io mere chance.
Tie people OF The West have too much sagacily
moi 10 perceive The light in which they have been
held by their Democratic brethren ul The East,
and 100 muck sensibiiy rot 10 be wounded by
The discovery Of it. The Democracy OF The Wesl
has saved Virginia from the embraces cf Wing
gerry, and, from 1900 up 10 this time, has conlnu
ousIy sustained Republican men and measures
with vigilance that never tired. Is II not hu-
initiating in The extreme after having sustained
The Republican cause with So much energy and
force, not to receive one encouraging symptom
from our Eastern brethren for The last forty-hve
years2 am no asilator-no ohce-seeker. |
think the West entitled 10 the Senator; and SO
believing, urge The claims OF the West. ! adj
rit have my preference among the Western
nominees, hn that is not material; give Us a
w
matter whether the Legislature has been Fede-
raj or Republican, Wing or Democratic, the re-
suit has been invariably 10 select an Eastern
man. 1t seems 10 me, in taking, as | hope, an
unbiased view OF This question, that upon The
principles of justice The West is entitled To the
Senator.
have nominated no one for the station seek
not 10 produce disconI in The Republican Parry
my sole object is TO render justice 10 The Repubi-
cans OF the West, who have baiiled manfnliy in
The cause not with the view 10 Office or emou-
ment In speaking Of the Western Democracy,
| certainly mean not 10 cas-, the slightest imputa-
ton upon the integrity OF our Eastern Democratic
brethren far, very far from il, they have fought
The good fight, nobly and courae.otsly; bu in turn
appeal 10 them, and ask, in all sincerity, do they
believe that in The distribution o! honors, the West
has received any hing like due proportion
will iorego my preference amongst Western
men; hul cannot, according 10 ny conceptions
of proprie,v, yield The point OF having Western
Senator. | certainly know that the Western de-
legation il united cannot alone elect the Senator
But confidently hope and believe that, in the
East, we will find many Democrats who will aid
in The election OF j Western man 10 Tie Senate Vi
The United States.
l., however We should be disappointed in The
result, shall regret the defeat most sincerely, for
The Wesi will hc overpowered in good cause
Bui be the result what il may there is one thing
certain, lhatiT We should be defeated, we will moi
commune with The Wings, and Join them; thai
line Democracy willnever do; no, never.
WYTHE.
This last sentiment is "worthy OF all accepta
ton 1t is the golden rule BY which every De.
mocrat in The next Legislature should be ntlex
bly, guided Enqurer.l