Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-02-22

10 representative republic, the people are the
source OF power; from them it orginates-to
them are their representatives responsible. When,
therefore, The people have met together in their
primary assemblies, "ii is their right, il is their
duty" 10 express their sentiments respecting the
administrator of public affairs. Ii in peaceful
times this maxim should be acted on, in war il
assumes additional importance. Indeed when
our country is engaged in open hostility with
foreign foe-when see the blood OF our coun-
trymen dow like water in defence OF the rights
aud honor of their country, and at the same time
see amongst US men, who are The acknowledged
leaders OF great political party, denouncins the
war and endeavoring 10 place their own Govern
ment in The wrong, il becomes the part of every
good citizen 10 stand by his country in this her
hour OF trial, and mark with the seal OF his
disapprobalion the course OF such unpalrioc po.
liticians In this spirit The Democracy Of Ches
tertield county have assembled.
As regards the peace measures OF the present
administration, which, al its inauguration, il
Stood pledged TO carry ou', such has been their
beneficial cdect. snch the prosperity the country
has enjoyed under them, that We seldom, if ever,
hear word OF complaint from even The most
clsmorous, and faction itself is hushed into 81.
ence al their success. The prophets of 1874
stand before lhe world convicted either OF design
10 deceive, or ignorance of those measures, The
effects OF which they pretended 10 toIelell.
From The commencement OF our national OK.
istence TO The present time, no war in which we
have been engaged was ever made party question
save our present war with Mexico. True, the
last war with England had its opponents, but that
opposition was rather sectional than political
Il was confined chiefly TO those portions Of our
country which were most liable 10 suffer from Eng
lands great maritime power; and even then, after
the country was insolved in war, il was maufully
cd hnt tom nd thep hoy,o
received as they merit universal condemnation
Why it should be otherwise now, we are al
loss 10 discover. Has any question OF civil poll
cy been afected2 Are any OF the great questions
which have hitherto honestly dividedihe Two great
parties Of The country involved in lis issuel We
tear lis cause is only 10 be found in that violent
partizan feeling which views every thing through
factions distorting medium, and which can see
no good 10 The country from any measure unless
il originate from one OF their own peculiar sen'i-
ments. We cannot but regret the effect Of such
course. We have TOO much confidence in The
patriotism OF our ieow.citizens al home, to think
that they can, by any course that parliZan leaders
may adopt be made 10 withhold their support
from their country; but such sentiments, as are
contained in the Ashmun amendment, and
which received the support of the leaders OF The
Wing parry, have tendency TO inspire our foes
with confidence and 10 unncTve the arm OF our
patriot soldiers.
l: has been reserved for The leaders Of the pre-
sent Wing party, disresardine the moral effects
which sacn course must necessarily produce Tor
the first time in the history OF the world 10 occu-
py the unenyiable position OF openly denonncing
their government when engaged in war. In the
iornssr days OF the republic, such course could
moi have been counenanced by The patriots OF that
day; such course cannot Bo.c meet The appro.
baton vi our patriotic counrymen. As expes-
siye OF our disapprebation, be it therefore Re-
solved,
Isl That the course OF policy pursued by the
leaders OF The Wing party, in The Congress of
the United States, in relation 10 the Mexican
var, is calculated TO lower The dignity OF their
Government weaken her efforts proong The war,
Involve the country IN shame, and ought to
ceiYc, as il richly merits the indignant condem-
nation Of ali true patriots.
81, Tha. The representative OF the sixth Con-
glessonal district Of Virginia, does moi, IN The
opinion OF this meeting, reflect The wishes of a
majority of his constituents, in his opposition 10
the war, and in his views thereof, as set forth in
the fourteen resolutions offered by him in the
House OF Representatives on the Dist day OF De-
cembrr, lo47.
81, That after the annexation OF Texas nothing
bu, National dishonor could have waried off the
blow which Mexico was resolved on striking
that i, is "by The &C, OF Mexico" and nat the "act
OF The President" that We are involved in war,
and that the President would have been recreanl
10 his high trus, and unworthy the head Of great
nation had he not directed Gen. Taylor to lake
such position a, would enable him TO repel in
vasion, sustain the national honor, and prolec,
siser State from Tapine and violence.
4.h, That while We desire 10 see the war honora-
bly, and speedily terminated, and believing lis vi
gorous prosecution The only proper step 10 be la.
ken TO accomplish that object, we conjufe Con-
gress 10 adop, such measures as will attain The
object without compromising the national honor.
5th, That the doctrine that no more territory
shall be acquired by our government either BY
treaty, conquest, or purchase, unless slavery be
excluded, is abhorent 10 onr feelings, 10 viola
ton OF the Constitution, and 10 utter disregard OF
the Missouri compromise, and il carried into ef-
feet must end in dissolution OF this Union.
9th, That any legislation by Congress TO pre-.
vent new States from coming into this Union
with The rights and privileges Of the old S,aes
would be violalive OF that clause in The Constiiu
lion which says that "lhe powers not delegated 10
the United States by the Constitution, nor prohb
lied by il TO The States are reserved 10 the States
respectively or to the people,"
Th. That in The admission OF new Sta!es into
this Union, the powers OF the Constitution are so
clearly defined that we look with amazement
upon an attempt by Congress TO place territory
under such restrictions as would debar the people
when applying for admission into the coniedera-
cy, OF those rights and privileges Of which they
cannot be Invested by any law of right and JUS
lice where Stale assumes its sovereignty, is an
exercise of power unWarranted by The Conslitu-
,ion and Incompatible with The rights and liber-
ties of free people.
8lh That they merit and The thanks OF this
meeting are hereby rendered those undnching
Democrats, Lewis Cass, Geo. M. Dallas, and
James Buchanan, for the noble and patriotic
stand they they have taken in behalf of Southern
rights.
Oh, That we hereby tender our thanks to our
gallant army in Mexico for that skill, firmness
and daring which overeapei all Obstacles, by
which it has acquired for its country fame that
will adorn the brightest page of history.
10Th, That we concur with our Democratic
brethren in the proprely Of holding National
Convention, and in response to our friends in Con-
gress, we recommend Baltimore as the place, and
the 4,h Monday in May as The most suitable.
lime Tor holding said Convention, TO nominate
President and Vice President Of the u. S.
lth, That in no event can We support any
man for either Office, how much soever we may
admire his talents, who is in favor of the Viii.
mot Proviso or any Other Froviso which strikes al
the Constitution and the inalienable rights Of The
South.
l2lb. That while we leave our delegates here.
after 10 be appointed TO the National Convention
unlrammeed, we shall expect them, as far as
practicable, to carry out The letter and spirit of
the foregoing resolutions.
18th, That we highly approve Of The Democra.
tic Stale Convention TO be held in the city OF
Richmond on Monday, The 2Sh inst, 10 form an
electoral ticket and other purposes, and that The
Chairman be authorized 10 appoint fifty delegates
to The aforesaid Convention.
In conformity with the foregoing resolution,
the Chairman appointed the following delegation
to represent Chesterfield in the Convention, viz
Captain P. Cannon, ]. S. Peers, G.. w. Friend,
II. Hancock, Samuel Hancock, VIM. Grey, N.
Gregory, nj. Nj. Robertson, D. H. Flournoy,
Green Hail. James Clarke, w. P. Wintree, ?.
Turner, D. S. Woodbridge, Richard Goode, A.