Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-05-11
nr. HrNrEE,s spEEcu Ar rEIrHsRrKti.

these practices upon the character ui our proprl
Wa" would transform the old Nir,ininn---uri Us we
used - know hiu-surI, | trust, he atili is-nio
what he must become. il he make this radical change
in his habits amt fcelings!-lIc old yiryinian was
frank, manly and generous and made by his cnrly
trainin. and the cha!acteruf his political institutions
lie had his faults 1t is true, but they were for the most
part, the excuses ~ brave and manly spirit. Reci-
less h. might bca little 200 read 10 conceive an in
suit or too prone follow the word with blow: but
he had no secret malice revenge III lis M
turc. His friendships and his Gnnitie- known,
and he scorncd To strike foe without giving HIM
ticc beforehand II he had opinions the world might
know them; and whom he acted As citizen, no wac
ready 10 meet all tho responsibilities of that action
either at tho hnr of public opinion or elsewhere Who
would be willing n transform such man into the
aSitator, uilng hi. face, and threading the dark
alley 10 the back door Of his midnight conventicie
there To determine upon measures involving the wei
iarc OF his eilowcitiLcns md yot giving them no no
tice Of things that tu affect them deeply; OF
sitting, perhaps, III secret Judgment upon some un'
suepcctng nrighbor, trying him and conIcnlnlng HIM
unseen, or unhcard, i'll matters touching his political
character mud standing aud involving it may he, the
litllc office which gives bread hi, family; and vet,
when that man meets him III the morning and offers
han lhG hand OF unsusprctnig friendship, he II unable
IT, relieve his heart by saying to him, lyon wrong
Yourself and ME by such undesarveI friendship and
confidence; you are sra-ping the hand which will
strike YOU blow where yUu will feel it most kccnlvi'
II would bc relief 10 generous mimi To ia able
70 say this much but, spc-bOund by come terrible
vow or uath of secrecy, he must walk on in silence
aud bear the Calling Ond of unmrritrd confidence
The edct having gone forth. ho mas. obey il; he
express no opinion in opposition to it, he must wlis
por 10 dissent; ho must breathe murmur against
it, He belongs not To himscf, but 10 his Order.
And this is the Order for which th" old parties
exhrred to di.band their organization, and lay down
their arms. regret to say, that there some synp
toms OF a determination on the part OF the Wings Ia
take service under this new pHrty 1t has been said
by wit, "That next 10 IN old friend, we love an
old enemy" | will not pronounce upon that scnti-
lnet, bur certain it il, rhat prefer The old to the
new enemy The old Wings were Il manly part;
their issIes open; they might be wrong, but
they fought upon principles, and principles wll'ch
prosSrd to look to the welfare of the whole and not
OF part: they used no secret contrvhncca 10 CIR
cumvsnt their adversary, but met him III the open
field. lfhny ob;ained power, you know what to EN-
pect from them. But what change Is here" my cou
trymen, where hi. new party appears Ia take their
pnco in the political aronu IL is not, however, Tor me
to give dgncnt in This or to proteradyic 10
the Wing party a0H,am L"gtaS mp'Hrrriti''.
But do protest against dlabandiiig tho Democrat
ic party for any such organization. We are told that
the principles oil this party, and upon which the pen.
pie have given favorable verdict obsolete. If
"a, il must be for the reason that they so firmly
fixed la the affection Ot the people, not to be sha
ken hereafter, but it they thus fixed, il the
Democratic party that achieved the work. Is that
ust ground for dlsbanhin" tlemi DO change our
physician because r hns heretofore cured IL, or our
preacher because he has convinced us, our house,
joiner because his work has pleased usi But how
can it be SAID, that the grent principles OF our public
policy in regnrd 10 commerce md currency, or the
great doctrines of constitutional construction can
ever become obsolete! Whilst government lasts,
they must INSTANTLY rccur an be applied III IT, daily
legislation. lu why disbnn1 the Democratic party
nr the greater part of period of moro than fifty
years, il has administered the affair. OF the federal
government in such manner rs 10 enforce respect
abroad 10 secure 10 US Al home such peace ana har-
mOnv ~ have never been found 10 exist elsewhere,
in connection with the enjoyment of 50 much
liberty, and to develop the moral and material
Resources Of the country 10 an extent heretofore ui-
,aralclcd in the history OF tho world. IL has shown
ITSELF too to have been the only party with spirit
broad and comprehensive enoug IN 10 steer the ship ut
State safely through the OF sectional contests
When section nrrayed against section upon the
protective policy, it WAS this party when inter
von,l nd lust matters satisfactorily "nonshorpcncc,
at leas by the application of the grcat principles Of
Il trade. Under the still more earlul atoms ol the
slavery question, tho South has fndchciIy within io
rauks Of this pnrty, the Northern friends who could
dare to be just 10 her md true To the Constitution
without frnr of the personal consequences witch suel
course To involve. During the Inst Congress
far tho free Stnes concerned that party emit
ted Itself to the lasting respect ami grntItu" III ITO
South, for removing the udious ban Of tho Missouri re-
strictiun Throughout the representation OF the whole
of the Notwithstanding States, no man was To be
found outside of the Democratic party, who sustaln-
ed the Nebraska bill. And now that they are IN dit-
iicucS for noble discharge ot theirdufrs otho
Constitution, Is this time 10 desert or distru5t them
Frilnw-ciiinens, have spoken OF the Isslrs which
we are meet, and of tho trials which await - In
view Of these, | wonld ark every man, Who lIas
Southern heart in hi. bosom, il he wouid NOT instead
ri the present state of things, Restore II II" c"h IN"
Democratic party il in the as Congress, to liz
former power in that body! II this could be done.
every freud of peace auI tie Union would breathe |
fre.r ai easier there would b. no fenr at sucrrse
iul attempt in my branch OF tho Government I" |
abolish SLAYER, in the District o! CuumbIn ar IN IN"
Territories or tlc slave trade between the States, ar
Ia repeal tho fugitive slave INV or 10 rrN"rc
the Missor" restriction. il then such Chang"
wnull be desirable, The next best thing nssufehiy'
would be Ia unite The South, body 10 the c"'Iscr-
vntivr men the North, who are dong bhtto Tor III"
Constitution, ud dare be just To our rights. Let
u.s. in this way, keep together party strong enough
10 defend the constitution and tho peace ct the c"ui-
try until the sobcr-scc"nd thought ot the people
comes the rescue, il, indeed, we urc to be Rescued
nj all Whit other roud is there probably safe as
this ! Aud where are those conservative men 1" be
found, in my strength IN the free STATES, except III
the Democratic party! But why, Of all the Stai"s IN
the cunrcdcracy should Virginia be- cXhoried Ia desert
the Democratic party mn, al such M hour this -
Has she lost iaith III their principles Are they not,
Tor tine most part, her own principles Lorng, OF
in late eloquent letter. has Inscribed
the origin vi that party mainly 10 NHsnIa. III has
been suid that all the great rcligo 0t tho world
have issuc'! from the tents Of Shcn; it mny be said,
| think, with as much truth, thn many of the grent
principles OF the Democratic party eulanut"d from
the log cabin Of the Virginia pioneer. Tho tounda.
tons OF much of liz public policy nrc to be found i'll
our colonial history; and in the outset u! TINT party
under the Federal Constitution It Wis led by Nir-
,innns. The very banner which ls now way ing over
its hosts in the field IL, to q great extent the work
nf Virginia hands. How much of its web and it's wouf
were contributed by Jciicrs0n and Nadison-how
many of s muttoe- were inscribed by Virginia intel
lect-how much vi its establishment IL due to Nirgi
ujn genius, Why then should Virginia desert the De-
,nr,v nd ut | mr.
met with n succession of in the free States;
the tide uf the battle ha, now rolled TO our cct, and
the ewes of the whole country are fixed upon lis.
Are we invited leave posts now bccnusc of $"
many defeats elsewhere! Is II the cry Of "saarc qu'
,yn.'' which runs along the line ! Are We To desert
our friends in extremity 10 seek for personal safety!
or worse STILL wheel out Of line aud hre upon them
that We may make our separate pence with Inc nef-
Perish the base thought! Why is it TINT our friends
are in diticultyl Because they did justice to MS III
the Nebraska BILL and refused to wrong the South. Is
tlis thcna time to desert and abandon them I" the ten,
der ncrccs .! the cruel odds which are against ticni
In such mn event, well might tho old Commonwealth
hang her head III shame, and bow her neck to tn"
yoke Of the oppressor; for how could she hop" tor tn"
trust of friends tho respect Of foes utter such con-
ductl go
Sirs it seems to me, TINT no true son OF Virginia.
no matter what his politics, ought TO wish her t"
change now, 10 loay8 the field when such desertinn
would attach cruel nttaint tn her shield Ell sh"
to change ought to say "lut it he al some other
time; !" not now when lie Cycs VI thc "Ho'e '""'
try arr iutcny fixed upon her, and when ehorcs
of hcr11emoratiC brethren every where are eonccn-
trated upon her. redeem the fortunes III The tight.
Should We fail them now, they might well say n
llruce saIT TO his friend Mt Bannockburn: "Ah fh.
,l,IpI. there il rose fallen from your chapct, be-
cause hi enemy had pissed when he kept ward.
But fellow. citizens, may not shy III your mime,
aud in TINT OF the great body Of the Virginia Demo
cracy. the enemy shnl no; pass when we Keep ward
we will roll bnci tho tide Of battle which has reached
our feet and redeem, more than one" before the
fortunes OF this light. An WHY not p"th ,ay ana u"
III They arc the principles III Virgiuin whi"h at
issue the principles TO which for more than fifty
yonrs she has adhered through good and evil report
and which ahe has regarded as constituting The
brlwaks ot her safety they arc the principles too,