Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-01-25
TO THE HON. THOMAS $. FLoURNoY

For the Enquirer.
TO THE HON. THOMAS s. FLOURNOY.
Among the marvels Of the age, we numbered
your rtt1rn 10 the House OF Representatives, in
Congress, from the Halifax district: but il that
be marvellous, how utterly Astounding must be The
course which you have seen fiji TO pursue in thai
body during the first month OF lis session. Leav-
ing ont OF view The question whether you were
entitled 10 the legal or equitable return or not,
(Which il is moi our purpose here TO discnss,) We
are prepared 10 imagine state OF circumstances
10 which you might receive lawful title 10 The
seat you are holding. A district with an &C.
knowled Democratic majority OF I'VE hundred, al
minimum calculation, could, without much vlo-
lence on imagination, suffer the conceit to enter
its head that yon could not carry The district with
but one opp ,nent. The history OF The Persians
is repele with instances of their being repulsed
by their enemies owing to an excessive conn.,
dence in their own numbers and our own his
tory records victories secured over enemies who
trusted too much in their own strength. Ii is too
natural for man TO lessen his vigilance when ne
deems himself secure in his strength. Conf.
dence in numbers and trust in strength bring
with them a hazardous apathy. Cognizint OF
these facts, we believed il 10 be possibility that
You might become the nominal representative oil
This dislrct-no. by any increase Of The Wing
strength in the canvass, but purely by The Demo.
cratic consciousness of their own superiority a nd
strength in the campaign. II This be questioned,
we have but 10 say, We have not yet met with that
Wing who will dare say there is not Democrat
ic majority in The single county 81 Halifax OF
more Than 2l3-Mr. Tredwa.'s majority in the
Spring. But, aside from this, we say, owing to
the dangers with which apathy is ever lrausht,
we were prepared 10 think your election lasl
Sp, ;roD ell nj rrsu1TcI
10 sec you associated with Northern Aboliioni'is
10 eleva!ing notorious supporter Qi not the pa
remit Of the principle Of the odious Wimot Pro-
yiso 10 one OF the highest Offices in our Govern
meni. Nor were we prepared 10 sec yat use the
ecapng knife Of prescription over worthy ofhcer'
! with , hand rnliiicalIy mnrder"ns, and WIN
| partisan thirst for Democratic official blood
| Why, Sir, were We unprepared for This You
yourself well know why. Last Spring, when you
were unwihing and unable mot individually only
but in common with The Wing parly) 10 meet The
issues rendered BY Mr.. Tredway upon the Tariff
| the currency, and other subjects purely political
| you remember The shift you made Flying the
track oil discussion, after seeing that you must be
led in every heat upon the Tariff and other sub.
ecis worthy Of pcltica consideration, you s,rayed
of upon the "no party" hobby, using as your spur
this identical "Wilmot Proviso" You desired
"pary" spirit to subside-ihe clamor of Wing
and Democratic dissension 10 be hushcd-and a II
again to be united in patriotic and brolherly love !!
(Heaven save the markD After this, it would
really have appeared well, sincere and consistent,
il you had contributed your forts 10 The des,ruc-
lion OF ''par,y" and the creation Of a "nO party"
But, as you neared the splendors OF The National
Capitol. your "no parry" professions (however
sincerely made) were all forgotten you entered
the Hail of Representatives, ami there, as a mo
party"-ie, roied cut a Democratic Clerk, and
against Democratic Postmaster, whose only
sin was the entertainment, OF a Democratic
creed, not consistent with Wig faith. Yet,
last Spring, you had in your political composition
a very large ingredient OF "no-parly"-ism! Ply
biologists, in The political and in the healing art
can here trace quite an interesting paral el-ihat
as the physical system changes thoroughly every
seven years. SO does the political system OF your
self change 10 so many mon his But while these
NJ. DIS and P. DIS can humorously wander
through the mazes oil uour political metaphysics
il is an homes constituency that bewails The nor.
redemption OF your "no.party" pledges, and your
misrepresentation of their wishes.
However even all this could be borne, compared
with your vote for Speaker Winthrop. We under
aOOd you 10 prefer General Taylor for President,
because OF his uncompromsing opposition 10 the
Wilmot Proviso. Do yOu not remember how
throughout the district, you proclaimed against
This dee>lable Proyiso-huw p0L "lai upon the
table" any discussion on the Bank and Tariff
declared The rights OF the South in danger from
this Proviso-,hat il was the great subject 10 Eight
Overland that il swallowed up in its dark abyss
every other topic that had asiIaed the nation
Because General Taylor ras opposed 10 Il. ycH last
Spring, advocated his claims 10 the Presidency
Alter your seat in Congress is obtained, The same
causes Especially the same 'bseau,s') seem TO lose
their influences II you were sincere and consist
enl in your advocacy Of Taylor, because he was an
anil PToyso.ile, you surely oushtto have opposed
Winthrop because he was Prori'Oue. II Tav.
lor, in your opinion, had aims 10 The PfesideE-
cy, because Of his patriotism and his opposition 10
the Proviso, then there is no reason why Win
lhrop should, in your opinion, have claims 10 the
Speaker-ship, because of bis support Of this same
Provso. Indeed, yoI's claims 10 the Presiden.
cy be good because he is opposed 10 The Proviso-
Winhrop's claims 10 the speakec-.hip must be
bad, because he uOtei Tor the Provi>o, and be-
cause in certain event the speaker may become
Presdenl: in which event, shouli he conlDgen-
cy nor occur, We should be curssd by having as
our Chief Magistrate, Wi!mot Provisoiie,
who received yonr vore. What defence you can
possibly make for thus betrayiDg the Soutb,"-
thus giving "aid and comfort" 10 AbolilonsIs,
and thus being found the co ally OF John q.
Adams, Giddings, Winthrop, &c, we confess
ourselves unable to see. Will you hide your
own sin under thar OF other Southern Wings,
and say you voted for Winthrop, because he
,ras the caucus nominee or because other South
ern Wings did the same2 We will not here
stop TO remind you OF your opposition 10 caueuscs-
to ask il The present Wing Clerk was not caucused
into his Office 1T you did not support the caDd-
date ofthe Wing caucus Tor your Postmaster; but
We will pause, 10 ask you if after your last Spr,ng;
opposition TO Wimot Proviso-Ism and your mo.
party" fever professions, &c, we were 10 expect
you 10 trampc under foot yonr premises and &C.
cIaralions as understood, even though every other
Wing should stand opposed 10 you3 II you were
no-party aylor-ite," then you were mol bound
10 follow the Wings in their ueachery 10 The
South, and in their mad career Of Prescription.
You promised US TO represent US according 10
the best of your abilities. W balever independence
the Wing party may have claimed for United
States Senator'S we believe their madness has
never vet claimed for the Reprcsen air: an lire.
sponsibilily 10 his constituents. Al any rate,
you promised to represent US. Have you done
so :? Have you sto)d in our place And
have y0u ro,ed exactly as you believe a
majority of your cons iluenls would have voted,
had they been personally present in Congress to
deliver votes Unless, sir, you have SO voted,
you have 70. represented US, and have violated
your pledge. Had you gone 10 Congress like
49, Ill 1,o DandIotnb u;tb Lace. rc