Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-06-05

4
~ rho snnrxed letter showing NY reasons and Jusii
wing, in NV opinion, the course pursued by me-
Your obeiieut servant, -, ,,.vo ?,
AuBuR., May II, 1855.
To Nc President Of Hague Council
Sr:-I hereby announce ~ you tnat Withdraw
from all connection with the party Of which the Coun
necessary if any there be- 10 absolve me from my OBJ
legation to that party. lprcsume there ccn BIZ none
more eiiicacious than the solemn remuneration OF
member; since / cannot conceive of any power il
any party or body of men potent enough to comps
ms to q cnnuexiOn which | renounce; whether tina
power consist in IN to restrain the omission
on the side Of the party to so through formula VI
dismissal Or absolutOn. As, however, wish 20 .e
tire without the slightest chance Of misconstructiol
misrepresentation !nputstion, hereby demand, il
ANYTHING be requisite on The part Of the Council ul
my full discharge, that they b. called together aud dc
what may be necessary. However that may be
though whether they act or hot ! shall consider M
self from the time this letter comes 10 your hands
discharged from my 0bigaitDn and, looking 10 my
conscience alone shall act in all political matters
my Judgment shall dictate.
IL is exceedingly painful to mo to make this renun
citation, because it involves the necessity of confess
ing that | ionk SD important step rs 10 become Il
member OF this party, and To act with II prominently
without that deep Gnd serious reflection which III.
momcntous consequences required For nearly two
months past my mind has been continually agitated
by the subject. l have read much. thought much,
heard iauy discussions of the principles objects and
tendency of Ibis party All these have convinced me
that no man who truly loves his country, who would
promote her peace aud uphold her constitution, ca,
rrmnn Il member Of it, Being thus convinced, there
is but way TO repair this the most serious error OF
my life, and that is 10 retire rs now do. In saying
this, speak only for myself and OF myself. mean
reproach others, whose sober reflection may con
vince them they do right in holding on TO what re-
nouEce.
1t may not be altogether improper for me to explain,
my pusilion and Ia assign, succnctIy, some ot the
rensolIs which impe mo (" the present course. ln
retiring from the American party, az 1t il sometimes
called my purpose is solely to remit myself bark to
the place occupied BEFORE In regard To the princi.
pies of the party, promu scdat Winchester, still
partially agree with them, ar us they nrc express
I'd in tho first article relative 10 the exclusion oil To-
rcigucrs from office, Tina; INSERTS principle already
eusrnf;ed upon the Constitution both of Nirglnin aid
cf The United States. To tho extent III which this
princip.c is thus adopted by these Instruments, !
agree prefer upon this, and all kindred SUBJECTS
the wisdom of tho trainers of the Constitution ct the
limited States to the of the present day In ali
other cnscs not covered by constitutional exclusion,
taouly saf and Just rule is to give nativc-born citi
z.ns the preference, when merit and qualification are
counI. TO the second Of these bass principles, |
subscribe us generality to which no one can object.
|, leaves open, however, tho most important ques-
tion-.that which gives vitality TO the whole viz:
what length Of time IS requisite for the foreigner "to be-
como acquainted with the principles and intucd with
the spirit OF institutions, and to become identified
with the great interests of our country" Shall this
be fixed Mt 81 or IA years or at five years, according
10 the present law! 10 discuss this point fully would
consume more time than ID compatible with the pur'
rose Of this letter. Ny opinion s thnt il you admit
tho foreigner at all, land you do not propose 10 en-
cude HIM. il he do not become asslmlla-l with our
in.t uons in five years. there is little reason 10 hope
that he will in fourteen and stll less that he will in
twenty-one years. For, An long as he remains dc,
prived Of the right OF suffrage, so long il he without
castehe is with U.s. but not Of us. lie Is no longer
a erman Englishman. Scot or lrshman, because ne
has cxpatriated himself; and he il not al American
citizen, because his time OF probation is not over
Make that time shor: one and you q. once place
before him the hope Of being soon elevated Ia the
rights OF citizen and this hope of Itself VIII excite
an interest i'll and love for the institutions oi his
adopted country, and make him feel that he is OF
truth identified with her great interests. Make the
period long one, and you produce the reversed e.
feet. What interest can any human beng take IN the
welfare OF O country, has country, and what pains
can you expect he will take to "imbue himself or
his children with tho spirit and principles Of lts nstl-
buttons, when you deprive him for Il years "t all
active participation in eformng o!those lneasu on
which That welfare depends and the practical !ustrn-
ton a. the polls Of his love othOse principles, aud OF his
appreciation ofhat spirit! 1t ~ not proposed exclude
tfon and yet if this probationary period ct 81 year.
were fixed, i, would be virtually, in a maorIty Of
cases. 10 deny them the elective franchise altogether
For, of the numbers who come here from foreign
lands, far tho greater portion are over twenty-five
wears of age; and if the RICH; of suffrage he withheld
for u years after they arrive, thousands will not live
10 enjoy it, md tho who may survive tho period OF
will naturally feel interest in the eXer
else Of tho right, or in the government. that has so
long held them unworthy OF I;s privileges. Other
reason. anr views of the subject prrsent themselves,
but must pass on.
The third article is, also, generality acceptable to
all. Every must desire t" stop the expiration ~
puuprrs and criminals 10 ibis country; and, for lnysc
would gladly supper; my proposal for tia; purpose.
To CONSUME es little time gcs-iblc dismiss the
maindcr of The Basis, except the lih Article, wish
the sam, remark They harmless trIisnls, accrp-
table meA Of Nil parties, ani cannot !eCca;cy be
u.ed by 0ny rs tho corner stones Of! distinctive ,epa-
rate organization.
Having thus "defncd my position" permit me
briefly to assign the rensons which impel me to re-
nouucc the American party. This IL manly TO re-
hearse in detail the total change my opinions nave
undergone az to i;s character aud tendencies. And
first, have been disappointed in its practical efficacy
10 accomplish two great ends, the attainment of which
was grand inducemcnt with me to JOIN Il. One OF
these ends 10 do away with avhHhiilty as IL whs
called. in The selection OF candidates tor oiiict-o Sc
lect none bu. the best men-n short, 10 abolish de-
and spos-secing, the great bare of the
country. Perhaps it very weak to think that
men had suddenly become patriotic and pure enough
faithfully and efficiently to combine TO produce this
great change in the suleciion of public men. Psr-
aud emoumcn: were TO be at tho disposal OF the do
miunut pprtv that one could he formed in which en-
iovment of'"t spells would be 'gnored.' But
so i; was and, Ike many Others who cnnGdo too much
to Ar.; impressions, have been disappointed.
seq men ioining the party, whose only motive
Judging from their past RTiliIt:, IS olbce. Dis
npnointed of their prcY By the preference
shown 70 others by the old pnr'y from which they
desert they throw ernsc!res into the arms n thle
new psrty and become cundidattr. Where tho old
WhG vote was strong you An"e Wing cnnddatcs-
wh.rc the Democracy strong you try to break 1t
down with broken down, rcpndlatcd, Understanding
,liscontented Democrats. In ths DISCUSSIONS before
III. ueople hear from your advocates no arglmen
-, stc,rsnup-liks views expressed 4 great rrvolu-
ton is proposed in our public policy and hear no APP
neal 10 sound reason, reference 10 the Const
10 Justify it. All REASON - compressed III the one
sh;5boich 'Sam :" nui the Constitution, the bill OF
rights and the act of religious freedom are mentioned
To- cvnd, them by bubbles that wond disgrace mn
did Bailey Solicitor and setting up for our guide as
ueople and voters set OF "h'gher law principles t"
induce to carry out measures ana pocy denounced
and forbidden by those sacred Instruments again.
hoped tha. great national party WIS about t" be
formc,l in which at nnce rhe South and the Union
wrud find m ark of safety from that Northern ta-
naticism which threatens 10 ensulph them both The
Wing party at the North he'd beer justly ropudiatod
hy the Wings at the South ms Loot in Abolonls'n-
Tho Democratic party almost to the same extent had
shared like fate. 1t hoped that party OF good
men and true might be gathered from the fragments,
strong enough To stem the torrent and rescue the
Cnnstiiu.onnnd laws. How woiully disappointed have
W. been He who does NOT see that We are bereft Of
all hope of this end of tho American party at the
North, scused with judicial blindness. lis the blind
moss of MIN that not Look at Massachusetts,
Wilson, the an,i-savcry lecturer is sent TO the
Senate OF the United States. aud threatens abolish
slavery everywhere, save III the States! Mcrcfu
concession this! Lnring is condemned for executing
the Fugitive Slave law. Luok at New Hump
Shire Her Governor lately elected, is Abolition
ISL, and John p. Hale, is one OF the leaders of
this new party. Look ut the Congressional cleo
tons, in which every man (and they were Demo
Gratis, he it said in ju,t;ce who sustained Southern
rights is turned out, and men returned pledged to re-
new the agitation of the slavery question: aud 10 re-
store the Missouri restriction. Ln,k TO the House Of
REPRESENTATIVE aud there, "fnr the Gr.t time,
minority probably, for tho abolition u" slavery i'll the
District Of Columbia, and the trade b,twc0n the