Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-06-05
lFr"n the phiIadrl7his Argu..l

lf ROM thr Philadelphia Argus.
THE VIRGINIA ELECTION.
!! il with no ordinary feelings of exuaon wo con-
graduate tho nation the defeat oi knpwNo:h.
inEsin N Virginia, b. the election ri Henry A. Wise.
1t Is not merely State local triumph. It's cniis-
Gnchce' ana results are not confined 10 the narrow
limits at tiIa State. whore brave md patriotic SONS
achieved the victory; but, like ir;h, ;cy prrnleac
the whole Uninn. 10 nerve the tind and make more
res"lIte TIE bold The contest wus no, between tiios
parties WHICH nave been recognized since the adop-
ton of The Federal Constitutions Ii was not the De-
mcrrahc party fnuated by Jefferson and Madison
anl t'''r brother shges. opposing the Federal party
wh:rh received lts vitality from the elder Adans nnd
in later days h"as.cd the support Of Webster, Il
LAY ana men ot like intelligence and standlng.
Ihi' Whs moi Tho shape the Virginia election
sumed. Ihe lneE Of that State have been used 10
political warfare The Old Dominion las always
been a land OF statesmen. At each returning ei:c-
oh' !ie ni parties met at the polls aud tho hII>
lnss, ana discussed the great principles Of cnnatu
tou1l freedom on which our Goy.ru,ucnt r,..,s cs
well rs ile best Incnns for putting those prrip.cs
into practical execution in n parts OF the Cnion.-
They ilnd nothing to conceal, for they were honest
nrn, loncs;iy differing ss In the efficient mod
o Elfn- tue largest amount of constitutional freedom
Ia all, both in the State aud Nation. They were free,
from blgoiry, narrnwness ignorance and imbcc;ltv.
The idea tIat political rights should depend upon the
acciuent ci birthplace, never entered the mind Nf
Virginia republicans. Tn appeal to national prejudice
would have been the certain degradation Of any per-
son prcsunlng on such II course, while the attempt
array men or parties against each other gu account Of
difference IN religious faith would have raised s;nr
vi popular Indignation from the Ohio to the ocean.
l5ut niir country has nliCn upon evil fines. Doc
trncs have sprung up at war with III" fundamental
principles III American liberty, without which tin,
republic VIII -h"D sink into anarchy and conlns
political order has been instituted thu members Of
which are bound by oath 10 uu all men not born
on the l! q" this country. No matter what ,Ilnv be
tile lntelfgeuce and worth OF adopted citizens, or
how faithfully they may their country they are
t" be- osracscd from MI participation ~ the offices OF
this free government. The great doctrine that ell
governments derive their Just power from the consent
oi the governed which forms the groundwork. Of the
Declaration ui Independence, il rrpudiaicd hv This
band OF traitors and they up :lc- conract,.
ions ol the superiority of men account of brri-
place, ~ the acme nf American rcpuj.cansm. No:
content with thus attempting io iguoru Tic first pr.u
cipcs O republican form of government, the rights
OF every Il full pariiri pa ion in a its privileges.
this order "orr'.-s- -tlr bloody flag OF religious
proscrHiicli, ard openly Announces tEht H man shall
have tho iui! rights of American ciii2c: u.rr tn.
Constitution VIII" Is not Protestant, and whose pr
rents Not Of the like religious faith. In the muskv
carerns nl secret cnnclavc, il determined for
crime thus IN nub"c. men o the grevous cnMi:v al
to exclusion 0i n virtual ts; net, forbidden hv the
Constitution of the United S.ntcs, aud the cn-rq
degradation of a substantial slavery, more calling
than That of the coOrcd population OF country.
This is the basis Of The Know Nothing party uf tp
North Disloyul to the Constitution, this Order
attracted the favorable notice of the Abolition pa:iy,
who III its hatred Ia the Constitution spirit oI
mn,incss and mischief kindred with hcir own dar!.
purp",tT This led 10 union agHins; lhriDsiitu,Ons
Of our government The .:Ics Cf that union il to h.
in 3las-achusc;ts where laws hav" been passed
III open defiance ui ihe Constitution nt the United
States ani Jua. siignnriz"d with '.; isialive
proof for daring Ia enforce the laws ut the Ini"n
w!!him her borders. The spirit which animaics
the Know Nothing Order il Massachusetts is - Eo
seen N all the Northern and Western States. Every
where i! IL The active G.lv Of 4 bpitnnism. The sam"
persons their tickets, he sNma orators their
cnncHv. while Identical! Resolutions are passed Il;
their meetings. Senator Wilson,. Of MGs-nchU.rits, is
one ni-.i tie lDud-mOU!hcG dc!amcr # tc Union al
IN Aboition meeting The next wi.hil the wais Uf
Know Nothing Lod;c, he urges that hand Of ira tors
raise the BLACK flag ui .cord ia i..u North, aii de-
>trov the Union rather than allow the principles o
lie Declaration o! Independence to i"nSc: rue nc
nation.
Til. !, the combination OF traitor, kAa"':, T'p-
aId ina;irs which having e., bgi"t period "iIa".
"s4easion a: some Of The Northern S'n;c' attempted
10 invade Nir:n;r. N the recent crci."a :! ih"'"
auprals which arI!;:!, designing men cIl frame L"
,;,crate uprn the feelings Gnr riuiiccs of the i,,o
ni.. were nut forth 10 swing the Old Dominion from
her monriurS The Executive of Massachusetts
stopped from his high position nud by nr'.iiCc at
,cm;:-d 10 rescue the at the Legislature ut that
State from public condemnation arrd Disgrace. The
knew Nothing organs tremcd with articles affecting
an attachment III" Constitution Hnl ;hns- .i.iE
which guaranteed In c different s'tHCS While Tie
uni"r;uaafc affairs in knnsaS We're lnId 10 the ChhrGr
nf the National Administration, and Mr. Wise, the
friend of that Administrations attacked hostile
10 the rights OF the South In all sections Of tho
south secret agents Of the "dark lantern pnry,
were nduSiripus'v 1T work insti;ul;ng order, nI.
tng members and iuising the poison of ;n!i,irv 10
The Consti;uti,n into The minds nf the pcnilc The
whole Know Nothing and Abolition press Of ia"
Country, nidcd by large amounts Of money from
Sfr.sgr;i;;rttts and Erw York. contributed by the
4 - rnI erin 4.
The gairs OF the old citadel ui Democracy ot Nir-
.inia. Bd: tho Democracy, led by the champion OF
c.vi. Hnd religious f:rctnIu. Henry y. Wise npci'
ly took the field On the old platform. There was
np .kulkinS like thieves III the dark. T!.c
meeting did not take flure in diml! lit rooms,
where ench mans lips were .ened with AZ
onh Gark aud deadly as his purposes. On eaclI
hilltop, III every smiling valley OF Old Virginia. tcis
"i thousands Of her ndomiiabe, Intelligent snn- rs
scm!lcd 30 talk the past, 10 listen 10 the words
of her ,I,;rrs)n, Madison nnd Henry, ma around
those iime.haluwcd affairs 20 swear eternal hustyt |"
al kinds OF iyranny over the minds oi men, ihrrr
WINS no change Oi front 10 meet this ncw enemy. lh.
old doctrines Gi the party furnished the spear ana
sl,i,.d bv which the victory was won. "Ail men nre
born equal" wis cmblnzoncd on the party banners,
with devotion tc the CONSTITUTIONS and fiil rcc"nI-
,ion of the rights u each Gnd a the States This Wa
the urnorv from which the Democratic party drew iS
ammunition Tor the recent fight i'll Virginia There
was no attempt 10 cvndt q single Issue winch The
Know Nothing party presented whether ot CIVIL ~
r,.lriuu, character. Know Nothing inbecili:y and
Ahol;ii,u rant were alike met und oyer;hr0wn. The
reasonable and dangerous tendencies of this annlga
nation of traitors was established from their doc
triucs and acts and contrasts drawn between The
teachings of those mighty spirits which have made
the soil %: Nirg;nin sacred gr"und TO the lovers oi
civil and religious freedom. and the bUd, mixed trca-
son of Garrison, Wilson, Snmner, and their fellow
traitors and conapraurs. The people were pointed
o what Virginia had done in the past and under that
excitement they marched To the contest nnt scattered
the enemy like leaves before the blast.
The news Of this victory in Virginia will bs haied
with icIchti in ali sectirus ufthc Union. my, more
the lovers of rcpublcanisin in all parts of the world
will i,n in our anthem of cxutarion over the prostra-
tuu of this germ Of tyranny in free Amerirl IL the
doctrines promulgated by the Know Nothing party
once obtain control i'll this country, It's liberties VIII
soon be memory of the pa-t. But the war "' mao,
nest an fiui icsn has been stayed on he t'rts'"u
nf that State, hcursh whose soil rGpn-c me i"hs "'
the revere father ri his country. His sp!f!t bcrk"h-
rL hnrk ,h. horde Of traitors who would nave I"ra-
d.I the Oh Dominion, and marched across lis icr-
rtury 10 universal conquest. Men WI! nav nave
time for thought und reflection They can wciIi t,!c
Union with all it's cs,iahc blessings hS;lhst 'l.c
mem and sordd motives OF those who woE dcsiroE
il f,r their own personal advancement. Nnen max
is done we have no fear irr The r"susl bas, III '"t
all honor tn Virginia for her noble und
uutriotic devotion To- the Union ANA those great pm
rr;p.s ON which alone It's perpeiulty depends. ste
has well maintained her ancient lame ana III iIv .u
turr when men talk Of patriotism as liying rch''v'
th.v will nnn, 10 the old Dominion and h,sc who
led in the fight agains; owNuhinSisn in 1872