Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-10-24
A THOROUGH CONVERSION.

We ask attention 10 The letter below, in which
an honest man completely unbosoms MS
thoughts and convictions 10 The world. 1t must
be admitted that the process Of arriving al a con-
clusion, Uhough based upon sound reason and
eaperienoe,) is original enough. We fully en-
dorse The Introductory remarks OF the Norfolk
Argus in whose columns we find the letter:
From the Norfolk Argus.
We publish below letter sent 10 us by PLAIN
though an honest and pious citizen OF the county
OF Princess Anne. The style in which Mr..
Whi;ehursl gives an account OF his triouia-
tions and conversion TO The cause oil Democracy,
is original and unique; yeI all must perceive ihai
il emanates from mind painfully exciiea ana
anxiously enquiriDg alter truth. Having dis
covered The error OF his past political life, with
manly ffmness he determines 10 abandon II iof-
ever We have no doubt thai there are thou
sands OF honesl-minded counlrymen similarly
situated, who have been acting for years win
The Wing party, without taking lime 10 examine
into the soundness OF their doctrines, but VINO
must now begin 10 suspect, from their twlslinss
and changing, that all is not right with Them
Many OF these unquestionably would throw
aside The parry trammes that bind them, and
join The great Democratic church, were they not
deferred by the derisions and jibes which might
be visited upon Them by INSCRIPTIONS parlsans,
who, welded TO their idols, are unwilling that
Others should send in their adhesion 10 that pure
political faith established by Jefferson ard
Madison. To all such sincere seekers after
truth we would say-imilale the example which
has been sci you by Mr.. MISUNDERSTANDING
the STATE OF things and parties calmly, by the best
lights of your own understanding, and whtn Con-
WINGED that our cause is the cause OF our coun-
try and her free institutions, exercise the high
pleroeative Of an American Freeman and rally
in its defence:
81 had The privilege, once in my life, 10 be al a
meeting of The Democrats, al barbecue in
Princess A nne county The first man that deli
vered an address, was Doctor William Iatem.
When he arose was not the least uneasy in my
mind about what he would say against the Wings,
for | had been acquainted with him many years.
Long I've believed he was what he proessed TO
be--a christian; therefore his argument did mol
modest my feelings much. The gentleman who
succeeded him was Mr.. Geo. Blow. He being
stranger 10 me, promised myself that would
sill aud earnestly listen 10 him until he should
end his discourse. Shortly after he commenced,
thought he Was religious man, therefore
lell bound 10 believe all he said, except anything
that could prove TO The contrary which was
none. Mr.. Wheeler followed him, who very
much hurt my feelings by running down Gen
Taylor and the Wing principles, and their ori.
ginal conduct previous 10 Gen. Earrlsons cleo
llon, hard cider, coon skins, gouIds, &c, which
thought al the same time lrivolous-for boys
not men. Mr.. Wheeler spoke on the Mexican
war, upon the expense OF the war, and The bank
rupl law. | now desire that the whole world
could only know how my mind was UPSET, medi-
latins on Mr.. Blows discourse and part o! Mr..
Wheelers. was from Saturday, Inc day these
gentlemen spoke, until Friday following, about / 0
oclk, not capable ofal:ending even 10 my own hu-
siness as previously could; all could DO lcould
not keep these mems arguments from my mind; |
| would think 10 myself that am Wing, and
always was, and eyer expected 10 be. often said |
to myself | wish had had The asu. and fever |
The day the Democratic Club yeas AT Nimmos |
Meeting House. pass on, being 100 tedious. |
On Friday following was pulling fodder in my |!
corn field, and ahon, len o'clock, as thought, |
being very much disturbed in my mind, looked |
back and saw had lost The row | first started |
with. then thought If ! could not pull
feeder | could do nothing else. | Then sal
down / Immediately, on The ground, deter
mined 10 spend The balance OF The day just
there, and very appropriate place, Tor was
out OF sigh OF any person upon earth. was
not sitting here very long before This though, |
struck my mind that this will do will bring !
10 my mind all | can OF The Democrats, who be
lieve 10 be bad men, such as drunkaTds, liars &C.,
and 1.-THE bad democrats 0ulnumber The bad wings,
| will forever be done with the democrats. Took
my knife, ard, as the above principled democrats
came into my mind, | made a mark on the ground
Il went on sometime trying TO recollect all pos
siblY could Of The above QualiIies hoping all The
lime they would ou,number the Wings. got al
4 loss 10 reccllect any more-l then counted The |
marks, nd found there were lwenty-si1. he |
joiced was AT that number, hoping | could MT
find halt that number OF the above mentioned |
whig>; promised myself, as il on oath, TO give
justice 10 both sides then sci 10 work 10 emu |
mprale the wings Of the above principle, and l
very soon found only six wings short Of The nnm-
Der OF democrats.
"rhis thought Immediately came in nv mind,
that ] will next run the good Wings and The good |
Democrats 10 The best OF my opinion. thought |
| first began 10 enumerale The bad Democrats |
now | will run the Wings first; commenced |
and found only ~ that credence could be placed !
in. commenced on the good Democrats, and |
soon got 10 Is That moment counted the boil |
tom marks, aud also many preachers Of the Cos |
pei ! could but CRY out in these words: MY |
I ord have spent all my life voting on The wrong
side. or al least on The worst side Z l. who IN |
few DAYS will be fifty years old" Accrlain pas
sage of scripture iurcibly struck my mind, that
was sitting up, clothed in my right mind. I'M
mediaely iet bound 10 leave the Wing parry, |
and | never expect to vote on their side again.
But | feel sorry 10 leave a few OF them whom
love dearly, but believing that each one has 10
rive an account OF himself, and not Tor another,
therefore hope that the great Governor Of The
Universe may speedily bring each Wing TO ex.
anime without respect 10 parry, Tor himself ser-
ously. which Is something your humble servant
never did before September ~ lS4S.
NEHEMIAH WHlTEHURST,
"Pfincess Anne, Va"