Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-11-17
For THE ENQUIRER
70 lie Republican, Members of The Senate and
House II Delegates Of Virginia.

To lie Republican, MEMBERS OF me Senntc ana
Hons n Delegates Of Virginia.
We have seen IN the newspapers the loss OF
Pennsyvaria, Florida, an New York, the no
lie. s-i,,n,ing can>r Which e>Fousc. and
con ave bui nie il any Tea On IL dou5i, that it is
owing /" dlsasreemcn's amnhgs' ourselves about
nvn-es>enl,als. We will nr, stop 10 investigate
in detail The motives Of influences which have
produced these results, but. looking 10 he facts
and The consequences, we will, lru>l avail our
Tho cd e eG d n5 5h 'S fSs SaT "a
double ,r,se; hunoiah, because they are dis.
lln.ni>A,d and honorable h.ca,I.r they appeal 10
all the n.cri sen. ihiilcs u execute them in the
pures faith, with reference only 10 The public
good. II We are 10 judge Of the stale oil feeling
which prevailed among you lasI winter. by the in
cidenls which occurred, il was BY no means har-
munious. This, we hope, had its foundation in
personal rather than political considerations.
The occasion for them is now happily past, and,
in the future, il is 10 be hoped We shall be exempt
from them Ii is as parry mn that you were
elected, and as such you should conduct your
selves. The people who vote Tor you, vote Tor
you 10 carry oul The system or frame Of govern
menl they have established, and do not expect
that on all questions which may arise, there
i
10 be employed 10 give effect 10 their will. All
they can look for, and what they have right 10
cxpect is, that in order 10 insure harmony or uni
ted action, we should freely confer one with an
other, by means ot general meeting 10 ascer-
tain The general voice Of The party. and then to
pursue The only rule or law which wise men
would follow-lhe law oil the majority; law
which makes a Constitution, an election of
President, Coneressn,ea, Senator 81 the STATE,
or mem6c, of the House Of Deicgatcs; a law
which is The law of necessity, which lies
al the foundation Of all social organization, and
without which there can bc no peace Tor society.
II rules The Senate and House Of Representatives
in Congress and similar bodies in The General
Assembly; il rules in cabinets, in conus, al
elections, everywhere; it is The law OF absolute
necessity without which society cannot be al
peace. Except for this rule we should be in
stale OF perpetual warfare The law Of the strongest
or most cunning mus prevail, unless we adhere
to the law of numbers. Society having no other
les, or standard Of what IS right, takes his instead
OF success in battle for the rule. Elect ms ale
decisions OF the people on this rule, and surely
where rule is 50 universal as ihis, IN cases
which hint society 10 submit, The agents or ser
wants Of The people chosen by them cannot be
faithful who refuse 10 abide by il. They who
refuse obedience 10 il impeach lis wisdom
and its justice, and strike blow al The iounda-
tons oil popular or free government We can
have no substitute for il but The law Of force or
chicafe, or, dscarding them, The impous pre-
tension OF royal aulhority-a divine right. In
this enlightened day, in this land, we find no open
advocates ofeher Of these bases of government;
all refer them 10 The only true tesl-lhat o ma
jorities al the polls. You cannon, therefore, de-
part from his law in whatever regard you may
be called 10 act. Some, however, seem 10 be op.
posed % this rule in deciding, as is oller ncces-
sary to be done by a general conference, or eau.
Gus, as il is miscallcd, what course party
Should take in order 10 avoid dissensions among
friends collisions and defeat. Where parties are
nearly balanced, the indiscrelions OF aspiranis,
the ambition oil demagogues, who never
look beyond their selfish aims, may and
have often defeated the majority. There is no
patriot, and il would seem IN me, that no man who
truly estimates the principles OF Republican
form Of Government, can refuse 10 unite in the
rational effort TO give effect 10 The will OF the ma
ority, by calm and discreet comparison OF OPT
Mons and wishes in conference or caucus, and
submitting 10 the clearly expressed will OF the
majority upon any gwen line OF conduct. With
out This, no party can exist, any more han society
nself, which is obliged 10 adopt il in its most po-
silive form, in order 10 avoid strife and dissou-
lion. Is there A reason why this rule shall not
prevail in party conferences lhink not. On
the other hand, there is every reason why il shall
be made absolute and unconditional. Expe-
rience, lest indeed there is a wider and more
accurate test than this; there is human reason,
and The very instincts OF our nature, which teach
Us, that wherever numbers are concerned, there
must be union and concert TO produce any de-
sired result. II every man be governed by his
own notions, or il every wing Of political
party, in all essentials in full communion with
The majority, betake itself to separate policy or
action, every contest must inevitably end in de-
feat, since there will be a majority for no one
measure or man. The consequence is, if The
parry or majority does not rule, ciscord and anar-
chy ensue, and there is an end Of Government il
self
Whose fault would il be that this catastrophe
was brought upon society, whether society al
large, or the majority Of the people formed into
a society, termed the Republican Pary7 II
would not be pretended that the majority, who
were willing 10 confer and decide on what
was the proper course 10 be pursued, and 10 abide
The decision of majority OF The whole should he
held responsible for the defeat or disaster. The
error or wrong must be laid on the proper
persons on those who refused 10 submit 10 the
great law Of society," who refused 10 confer with
their friends, and had sci up for their government
a rule al variance with The existence uf the party.