Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-03-17
ADDRESS
To the Republicans of Virginia.

The Republican Central Sale Committee bee
leave 10 address you briefly on The Importance d
| prompt and effective organization, preparatory Il
The approaching elections in April. The demo
| cratic Convention, recently assembled in hi,
| civ, have already addressed The people Of Virai
MIA on he questions which have heretofore tiyi
det The p"o!ilica! parties d! The country. The az
dress and resolutions Of that toiy ar before you
We respectfully commend them 10 your Calm an,
serious consideration. The address boldly pro
mulsaies the long cherished principles 81 Virei
mia. Il reviews the course oil he presen, Demo
cratic Administration, ard illustrates tue bench
cial. results OF the measures which signalized GU
triumph al the last Presidential election. ),
rum phanlly have our expectations and promi
ses been realized, and so completely have tht
predictions Of our opponents teen iai>ilcd, tia
they would nov have you believe that the is
sues on which lhey have heretofore relied 10 elc
vale themselves 10 power, are ~"oIsole'e IDEAS
The important questions VI a National Bank. :
Protective Tariff, Internal Improvements by Inc
General Government, the Distribution Of tie Pro
ceets OF The Pubic Lands, a Bankrup Law, &c.
they would induce you 10 believe, are sal>d.-
i llcSe 2TeGt w HIc IUcdSulcS, Which, NI.H tltl.
illnsl!ious "Embodimenf,h they have heretofore
50 eagerly pressed upon the county, they are vii.
ling Tor he present 10 consisn 10 oblivion. De-
tealcd 90 all the issues which they have hereto
fore mae before the people, they now approach
you, not under a new name, but a lovers OF peac'
-denouncefs q var. They proclaim The war -
be Unconstitutional, alroclous and unchfisiian,
which The Wing representation 10 Congress, b.
an overwhelming vote, declared 10 e1is!, no, by
our act, but blythe act of Ms1ico" Many Of our
opponents are DESTROYS 10 present a ca indicate for
the Presidency whose tame is identified with thai
war, which has excited 50 much OF their tender
sympathy, no. tor their own country, bul Mexico.
They expect that your Judgment will be dazz!ei
b. the eclat Of a popular military candidate, ami
that The influence OF his name will effect that
a declaration Of their principles will be unablct 10
accomplish. The aversion and disgust they
heretofore lei, Tor a mere military chieitain, :
have Welded 10 expcdicncy. They no longer cor.
cur wilh their late great lcater, that "waf, pest
lence and famine" are preferable 10 q "miliiary
chieitain" tor The Presidential office. They nov
prefer a candidate distinguished not merely Tor M
li,afy ienown, but for Inc peculiar q1allhcationo ~
having formed M Optnt,ns upjn the leading politl-
cal questions which have 81 Ion. divided the Two
great parties in our country. The gallant Scot,
the Genera!-in.C Chief OF our army the conque-
ror OF Mexico,-a ViIeinian BY birh-has been
entirely overlooked by his Wing brethren in It's
own Stale-he who, though 4 military chieiiain"
has formed and expressed opinions on their issues,
and in accordance with their cherished principles,
and heir most ardent desires A 'no-pary" can
didale is now deemed necessary, one who, though
he styles himself a Wing, has declared that he
will not be he exponent Of The views Of anv par
". Such is The candidate Tor whom the late Wing
Convention OF Virginia have expressed their pre-.
ference, not 10 support tt.eir principles, but 10 sus
tain The existence OF their party and restore them
10 power. Such ale the means 10 which they have
resored in the renewed alemp, 10 "spread nets
Tor binds ot every feather"
Republicans 0. Virginia!-you have ever pre-
claimei Your principles, and boldly untnri'd the
banner IN which they are inscribed. You VIII
MOI suffer yourselves TO be deiuted hy those, who.
for me sake Of banning power, have laid aside
The embodiment" Of heir principles, in the hope,
that a Candidate whose political opinions are IN
formed, may, i~ieeclet by their votes, be moulded
10 their views, and revive the obnoxious measures
which you have so often repudiated. No! You
will prefer defeat while mob y standing by your
flag, 10 any temporary triumph which may be oh
tanned By a compromise Of principle. You Will
stand By your Couulry in her lime Of need. Your
sympaihies will be Witt her. Our opponents de-
nounce The war in which We are engaged, and
yet withhold The means oi bringing i 10 a speedy
and honorable termination. A hope al peace
has dawned upon The country, but is clouded hy HE
t~actious course Of The Wnis House OF Rcpresen-
t~atives, The Wing Press. and The Wing orators,
whose pretended commiseration Tor Mexico and
biuer denuncia,ion Of their own Government, al.
!ord every encouragement TO our enemies ard
may give them new spirit for the %canflict. Should
The war be proiracled, The awful responsibility iuf
its consequences, must rest with those who, whe-
Their Intentionally or not, are giving laid and COM
fort" To The enemy.
We invoke you, fellow.citiZens, 10 prepare.
without delay, for the Spring elections On rhr
successful issue OF the approaching contest may
materially depend the result OF IN" important
election in November. We do not donbs thai
Virginia is thoroughly Democratic. In every
Presidential election The Republican parry have
triumphed in this good old Sale, because there
was no division IN their ranks, and The strength OF
parties on The important principles which were
involved was fairly tested. The occasional tri-
umphs of Federalism and Whigsery, in elections
Tor our State Legislature, have Almost invariably
resulted from divisions in our own party on To-
cal questions, or from having more Than one can
diiale IN counties which were decidedly Demo.
cratic. Want OF concert and organization alone
defeated rs in the last election Of members 10 the
House Of Delegates. A similar resui, may al.
tend the ensuing elections il We are not lrue IL
ourselves. The ardent desire, then, OF the Re
publican party is Tor unior, harmony, concession
'eYerylhing Tor The cause, nothing tor men," IL
we ale united, we shall again be victorious. We
therefore call upon our friends, in every county in
the Stale, TO arm themselves Tor the conles'. Ltt
no co14nty 20 by defart. LET NONE Es LOST FoR
WANT or UNION IN ouR RANKS. He who would
SOW the seeds OF discord noc and be the means oi
dividing The Democratic party surely, cannot pro
perly appreciate The principles he Processes 10 sus.
tain. We entreat you, therefore, in The name 81
The Democratic Republican parry, from Maine 10
the Rio CiIande, in The name Il our common
country, and 5y The recollection OF our former
struggles, 10 lei no considerations operate tha;
NAV lend 10 distract or defeat us. Unite in
every county upon one and bu, one Democratic
candidate, and If there be these who think they
should have been preferred, let them not, we in
woke YOU, al this hour indulge in heart burainas,
chickering's, or strife; but, rather let them show
heir devotion 10 their principles by submitting
TO a poslponement Of their prelensions. He who
yie'ds now for the sake OF The cause will no. be
forgotten by his Democratic friends.
Tothe county Committees Of Vigilance we beg
leave 10 say, il is srpectcd Mai vOG 'rilt rtcon1ie all
differences, and SEE that there be mi 70 many can
Gilotes in the field. This is a highly important
| part Of your duly. That you will faithfully dis
charge i, we canno, doubt. Every effJrt will be
made by our adversaries 10 produce division and
discord amongst US. Lei US disappoinl them
Let no local questions divide US. Postpone thei!
| consideration 10 a future day. Our whole coun.
uy now i, interested in wha, We do; and il is ex,
pecled that We will, 10. the time being at leasl, ga,
c,ifce all minor considerations and permi
them 10 be merged in The great cause. Vic'ory j
ours, il we are determined 10 secure il. Relyin:
with confidence upon every Republican 10 do HI
dufy, We look forward 10 a glorions triumph oil
The fourth Thursday in April.
JOHN RUTHERFORD,
JOHN S. CASKIE,
WIN. F. RICHIE,
THOS. t. GILES,
JOEL 3. BRAGG,
R. o. HASKlNS,
THOS. h. ELLIS,
DANIEL TRUEHEART,
WASHINGTON GREENHOW
p. H. AYLETT,
Y NJ NE WITT