Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-12-18


with their dissent, il is waste ui time for us TO Ger
tiiy our own sincerity, "
know too, il is quite Lravely aud periodically DE.
,lar.d by some that they will "snk or swim with
this platform All have 10 cay on tins pom, U.s. tat
do not sec the practical wisdom or practical utility
nj ndnutinr such a sentiment. For my own part, !
do not wamttn sink at all had rather SWIM ashore
without the aid OF plank, than be ,iTowned wth one
| hdd tar T0'hrr s~im ""h"" - !""'t"'m' ma" """
rHh fhr best iha, r,rr constructors This SINK Ing
business NAV be- supposed 10 he quite pleasant ope:
rulon by those who never tried 1t ; but nave iuu
enough of it, in the various political c"nic's IN wnlr
have engaged, 10 Render ms rather niSIlc"heu !"
the sinking process farther than necessity may I'M
nose. | certainly shall not blindy aud recklessy
see! it, nor Yet do anything, with my eyes open, cal
culated to bring it about.
! may he asked. what would have n""na
| convention to do! answer, ! would declare IN,
American party n national party, established t" nc
compsh certain results deemed by us necessary inl
the preservation Of our free institutions, anu ma IN,
>!gr.,y question one az S,Ci'0HW Ch"F"cef "''i
rh,ch as nafioaa' p",'y h"d m0tb'n: 4" DO: and
,hat A. party, we would discourage and discounte
nance all men and all parties who would seek Ia III
troduco il into our councils: that this, like ulhc
questions that had divided parties was to be LAID
aside until we had placed the government beyond INT
control Of foreign influence; and would invite TN
co.operaon of all those disposed to unite with IA Il
securing our beloved country from tho COMMUNICATING
and poisonous influence OF tue h"rdes OF Eur"peai
criminals and paupers that are now Hooking 10 gu
pruiries of the West-aud would not ask nor care To-
their opinions upon any other question until thai wa
settled
| have lately witnessed most Notifying defeat o
the party i'm tls State, Occast0ntd by he MnHd'r> aa
| Lod enhancement ~ n small HHmJfr mhJ ;'",h II a.
haad when there WAS not only no necessity Tor II
but when We might have carried it, rs on my homo
aud conscience believe we could, by from ~ l.
30 600 votes ii other cnuiistS cuud have prevailed
! confess look with great apprehension To- an"thc
defuat an Il larger scale, unless we act with NOR
! wisdom and ,liscrrtinn--with more moderation ant
tOrbearancc. 90
avail myself therefore Of this occasion to one
tlese suggestions, (which it costs nothing 10 const
ler) being, in my Judgment, the only course lei
us as party Tor chance OF success. THAT fhiLA
nEIPHia PLATFORM MUST ~ SOME MANNER BIZ 10
soKEp. The South need not repudlate any prIncipl
set forth in il. We may entertain our own cnhVc
lions OF what would be right, but we must not den.
the same right to others. We must rub out and be
gin again, and If platform binding upon the part.
liz 10 be adopted, let it be by the convention that
10 make nomination, and that will be fairly and pro
perly organized
nunciament", which must produce an extraordinary
explosion in the Know Nothing camp. OF cours,
We except to the whole Of his declarations, and on
sympstLies are with those opposed to him. But h,
is Que Of the sblest and bodes leaders of the Know
Nothing party, aud his evidence is valuable so far IA
liz goes to show the true character Of the Phadephi,
Convention, TO demonstrate the utter futiity OF the
claim Of nationality" by that party, its thorough