Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-11-23
nar,I.l Law-now It works.

Martial Law-How II works.
The Democracy of the interior are not all disposed
to submit to the despotis leadership of the Richmond
Ea2uirer. They have opinions Of their own,-a
judgment Of their o~n-a will of their own and
way Of their own;-aud they very naturally consider
that they would be brutes and cravcns il they were
to suffer any power earth to deter them from
thinking and acting for themselves. There arc evil
dences in many quarters that the love of freedom and
independence is not yet extngushcd in the breasts Of
the Democrat masses. Though the central junto
have essaycd for many long years, and are more
eager than ever, to rule them with whip and spur
and lash them INTO its service, it speaks cloqucny
for the Virginia character and for the honor OF human
nature itself, that such attempt il likely to meet
with signal rebuke and an ignominious failure II
would be strange indeed, if in these days of popular
enlightenment free thought and liberty of opinion
such should not be the invariable result
We find in the Abingdon Dcnocrdt-an able and
discreet advocate of Democratic doctrines-thc fol-
lowing frec-spoken and independent toned Article
which We commend to the reflections and imitation
Of all other Democratic journals throughout the
State. 1t SAYS:
"There is considerable of apow WOW in the Virginia
Democratic camp just at this time The Richmond En-
quirer newspaper for many years tho organ Of our par
~ in the State-whcn it followed public scntmen,-has
cusants, denouncing them traitors" the psrtv uro
missing hction Of party Screws" and sundry other
horrible punshments to people who have dared TO have
aud express their opinions certain matter Our u.u.
ally amiabe contemporary has let hs passions get the bet
ter OF bis reason. When read the Article in which all
these terrible anahemss threatened we had 10 NH
our eyes and o'k at the sheet again, ascertain whether
We were really pcrusng the time honored advocate OF the
doctrines of Us aud 9g. Of old John Adams or
gans of the days Of Seiitioa Law memory When john
Jones editor Of President Tyle Madisonian he SCI.
tn N mn tprriht ;rI,,
this:
III We tolerate hcresy aud insubordination dcuora.
zation aud defeat will be the consequence In crisis Of
unusual peril the of martial law is essential
to the safety OF the The Democracy are encom
assed by many foes, sud vcxed by much srif. Shall
We relax discipme Shall suffer every man to go
his own way, caprice trcachery may suggest Or
shall We draw tight the OF party and exact rigid
conformity TO ancient usage?'
"rhat IS not the language of the Washington Union
even; but II Is the deliberate, long
weighed severely considered OF the Rich
mond Enquirer and Is uttered to brow.brat break
down, terny, and whip into its Traces men who have as
much right to an opinion any Others in the common
wealth. "lf this is the green are we to expect
In the dry IL such language is used towards reemen in
Tho intiatory ceremonies, what to expect wh.
The Dynasty Is installed? IL are threatened with
drum head court narals and the terror of second la
QUESTION now when the Throne is only il, pers,..cty,
what what We ask may wo not look fur nltar m, ,,
ton?
THE times are sadly out OF joint truly. The ''unusu,
peru IN which the Democratic party OF Virginia placed
10 entlrey To the freedom with which opioiona
nave been expressed 1t ia the rcsuit-bc inevitable re
sut-of a determination the part OF few would n.
leaders To loce upon the party, whether or no.
were better Tor the party that the Saunton Convention
should not meet than that the would leaders
to should prevail lin that body unless their tactics are
changed We are as deliberate in expressing opinion
as the Enquirer was III uttering its auahenas There is
hot man connected With the 10 who
possesses sufficient discretion be the leader of a party
In copying the foregoing extract, we will again do
our neighbor Of the Enquirer the justice to saw that
he didn't use the word screws" bu, "reins"-both
oil which words, however, in meaning and idea, is
just about one and the same thing
The Democrat very truly says, that the object of
the martial law edct OF the Eng can be none
Other than to "brow-bcat, break down, tcrrify, and
whip into ats traces men who have as much right to
an opinion as any Others in the Commonw cath y
And well may it enquire, 'f such language is used
towards irecmen in the nitiatory ceremonies wha, are
we to expect when the Dynasty is insailcd?" Sur
enough. II martial law" is threaented against the
rank and file of the Democracy, because they choose
to think, and speak, and for themselves, 6et6re
Governor is elected, what can they expect after his
election? Will not his whole rule be IN strict and
literal accordance with the martial law" doctrine
And will Democrats any where, be permitted to say
that their souls their Own? We beg the country
Democracy to pause and consider for their own
sakes, what will be the effect OF their aiding in the
election OF man TO the office of Governor who is
attempted TO be forced npon them through the tiers
rors oil martial law by the Spartan junto VI Rich
mond.
We had "a splendid illustration Of the practical
workings Of martial law" in the suggestion of some
of the Spartans on Friday night Ii was remarkably
proposed, in case of appointing limited number of
hat, 4!
directly put to each of them-Do you mean to vote
for the nominee of the Sauuton Convention, If |
this question was not answered prom ,,ly in the afr
mitive, of course the catcchiScl gentleman must stand
aside, being accounted unworthy, and no Democrat,
and another more plant and less given to commune |
tious vistngs must be appointed in his place n, |
matter now Objectionable, personally or politically,
this proposition made it binding upon the delegate to
give the nominee of the Stanton Convention his |
unqualified aud earnest support. We ask, in all sim
cerity, was such proposition ever made before in
any political meeting Of any party, in any portion of
these United States? Was there ever 50 violent ~,
attempt to control the freedom of action. and mt
letters upon the and conscience of ree-born
and independent American citzens7 This, VIC SIN.
pose, is an exact excmpication of what the Enoui-
rer meats by drawing tight the rens Of party md
N'~''"o thc nc'tIc sway OF martial law nd
yet these men talk Of the blind Ligory and cruel in.
clearance OF the Know No,hins5! We venture 70
say-admit,ng all that may be said against this ,pvs
FERROUS Order-hat the Spartan Association Of Rch.
mond lar "odtlierois' the Know Nothing Associa.
tion IN point OF political persecution and violation n
the freedom of conscience. And the illustration ~.
have given sufficiently attcsts the roasonablcncss Of
our conjecture.
we suggest TO our neighbor Of the Enourcr
whether 1t would not be we'll to urge upon the S,au,
ton Convention u ratfy its martial law cdict and
adopt aspart aud parcel Of the platform of the vir
gina Democracy
Know Nolhlpg Democrats
The Richmond Enquirer furnishes its readers will,
very importa item Of information as 10 the do.
sription Of Democrats TO he found IN the Know
Nothing order 10 the language Of the Enquirer they
my be Classified thus:
CLda Nug,bey L. can individual comn E,llovor