Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-09-14
HANOVER COUNTY ELECTIONS.
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Gcntlemen:-FOr some time past, the question
whether or not the Democratic party OF Hanover
should organize with the view OF putting forth candi
dates for the several county offices be filled mex
spring, has been freely discrsscd aud Ii had beel
SUPPOSED that, inasnuch rs four districts out Of 81,
have held meetings, nominated candidates for thc
respective district offices, and appointed delegates tC
general county convention To meet at Hanover e.
IL. Oh September court day, the sentiment "f the pur
~ had been pretty well a.ccr;aucl allI that the
course would bc adopted without amy question, doubt
cavil as 10 the ri.h 81 IL do Or the eXpcdrncy u
the pniicy. But, sirs TO the surprise Of some, tht
right is questioned and the rXpclicncy denied by
Democratic writer i'll the Examiner uf the 3lst ut.
over the signature Of "Firyinius.' The writer j.
doubtless a gentleman and scholar. The tone and
the stylcof III. article Indicate this. His head is
good one, his heart is in the right place, and has Il:
much patriotism III il Ms mans heart ought 10 have
lie tells HAT the policy are called upon to pur
SIZE il new, that il Is new species o discipline VI,
are persuaded To practice; that the novelty of the
subject demands our caImcst Judgment, Ne. He Ell
tcrlu serious trars to any beccla results to bC
derived from the proposed change dcprecates new
practices without any view 10 the fact that cicuin
stances altcr caSvs' In short, he rcuds the party
what may be styled very pretty lecture on political
morals That the party merits no such lecture vii
bu our effort to show in what toIws.
Democracy is ever vsiIant; proud of its dear prin
cip!es, watches thuse principles with Jealous eye
and guards them with all the scrupulou, affection tina
honesty of purpose bcgri- in hearts intent on yrtu
GUS deeds. These principles were conceived IN tht
fountain where dwet the chastc goddess that gave
| shape aud mould to American liberty. The seat
that fountain was the point OF union, where colhcl
ding iIcu. and mutual sentiments ot tie patriot. y
ollrn times were WON'T u il WERE 10 meet IN concert
and in concert offer PRAYERS for peace aud America
! There These principles had their conception. How
were they brought forth aud divuiSed to the world
BY the genius that gU"cd and burned III Jefferson
! mind. How were they maintained and supported
. It, E,.n fir fuiI followed,
their Democratic children How are they tu be per-
prtuatrd and sent forward in their mission nt love
and liberty By our children aud our children
crildrcn until their destiny is fulfilled, and the wide
world bes; Such being the origin, such the ultimate
destiny hoped iUr BY the followers Of these principles
is il surprising that they shoiid offer manly resist
anre To ANY thing tending 10 leopardize these prlhc
pies in this land, or their spread TO otltr NATIONS no"
uubr,i hv and stranger. the GENIAL an inspiring
! iuiu.ncrs of American liberty! We CLAIM for thu
Virginia Democracy the proud position OF being al
WAYS rst II OppOEc rrOHg, first 10 it"d III matters
right. The Examiners correspondent VIII hardly
deny this. Hence il was thG: oar democracy saw
with fear and trembling. that dark p"lItlca! monster
called Know NuihinE!sm, rise from lis n;thy birth
bed OF Northern Abo!ltionsm and fnnaticsn and il
day boastiully assert it- claims 10 Anc'cansm anG
to nationality.
darkness, crushed TO earth good men nnd true con
seryatives and national patriots, and raised IN thell
stead to posts of honor aud disnctlnn lnbcces hnd
bluckguards, radicals and sectional traitors to the
Union. They that the doctrines ana teachings
of those who called this monster their god, ana al
were aimed us denth.blow at the national Deniocr"
cy, thnt they anil-Amercan in spirit and prac
tlce, and opposed 10 the genius OF our republican IN
stitutuns. They saw that the waves oi popular upih
ion bearing this evil political beast towards ine
South and boldly thercatcninG to establish him "
the capitol of our renowned old Commonwealth
which fulcrum gnucri, the whole South was to DI
raised To his support Then it wa- that the Virginia
Democracy, true tu instinct and In prHcuce was nrs'
To uppuSc E'r0as--i:rSt to lrHd Ill rShi-nnu' lei e
Ly the usprinc zeal which rght gives TO action, rs
ur man, we mrt the waves of error and iaI"ticsln
uur ranks proved successful barrier u iher inward
flow, and Know Noln.i,mr that ran triumphant
race in the Northern States, wns stranded Oh oa
piuu's shore. Tile Union was saved, ana illtion
paudits told Of nations gratitude 10 the irSihia
Democracy.
An,..wby this present organization ofthe Democrac:
in Hanover, aud other cou"s II Is out uh"'heF n'
stance uiopp"-.ton 10 wrong anotncr leaa 'Pm II
movement gotten up md directed purely ana sii'
pv aganS; Know Nothing-in, ana the dangerous
and pruscriptivc policy oi TIM; party lie party Is
dead in Virginia. il may be Sa'i-why pursue II t"r'
tier! True enough, the party IS d"a III NlrEina.I
But In. Democracy intend "a consiTn II 10 tomD
s,,lI,r cud d.cn.r lhan death, aud will call that tomb
oLIy,ou We intend To reduce II TO state more pas
.iv. than eath To be simply d'0i, will not satisfy
the partv Ghosts of the departed are said to hover
around their unbs; 20 the very gl".t se lhusl oie
| m yu,o ils war upon Know -Nothingisn. Such be-
irr h. fct Virgniu, can hafti!y hope that his nd
vice $40 bury the bitterness 4" purty feeling us soon
us the contest is over, will be tuk.n, when the De-
mUcracy have so iliSuiouA ioe ID i>'o" A'o'h'
F., 10 contend WITH
| Vrouirls n.ks: "Is il right that the Democracy oi
Hn..,vcr should meet in Convention, ami by nomlia'
iinr candidates of their own party tor county offices
mnreIy civil in ther clnrnc,cr!'' That it is not right
was his effort TO prove. Whether this would be right
or wrong is not at issue, and the writer's whole mo
raj essay right and wron. is matter OF no practical
utty nj present, Us the party does not propose ia
| mak, political opinion the test OF fitness for cvl
offices nnd nominate candidates exclusively of their
own party. WIS this the design, the proposed or
ganization would be peculiarly democratic. Such'
however, is not the chsc As It matters noi VIM
| man political opinions may be- whether he DC WIG,
iuJepen,lent, or democrat, he will not be excluded
! frnm otlicp if he be opposed to aow-Nohnglsm.-
The only test after the matcr Of qunilhcation ana
honesty IS decided, is the simple question, are you
! Know. Nothing or Il sympahscr with that poiltlcai
order commonly called Know NothingS! II you are
we cannot and wW not support you for oiuce III
Hanover This we contend Is the righ anu the duty
OF al peace and order loving citizens without cf-
pressing any opinion rs 10 whether II would De rght
or wrong for the Democratic party, rs party ~ cs-
tablish the tests a. stated i'll the proposition "t tne
Examiners correspondent. Aud, here, we would ask,
| wonld the Democratic writer alluded To vote inra mem
Der of the Know Nothing Order Tor any ONCE! we
think we cai venture thtanswer Tor iln tna ne Wou
moi. Then if such be his private ana i''il'uui iee,
and endcavor to avoid public demonstration aSast
its members He would not, oil course JUSTIFY lnut
course of conduct, which, whie II Wou'd apPaIeuiy
exercise the part of friendship would DC READY at
given signal to stab in the darh. Are We I'LL; tt ~
nssuminr that he would no: support know-Nohing
for office Ifso his position towards that party IS
lust this: Gentlemen advise my parry fr'eua, 10
form no organization against Jou' 10 make no puuc
demonstration against you; proscr,plion iof oplh-
ions .ake is not less inconsistent win tue teachgs
of Justice than 1t IS with Tue P''iepe' u "ue 'eP
l;cauism."
and the Know Nohings, unit! the polls are opened
when and where too he will give hroadsde, ,ira rocf
aruiu.t now. y Nu!hingsn And IN DOING this, wouiu
be .oT il prescription for opinions sake! To hno"-
Soibinvs we imagine "a rose by any other name
wonld s,n. is sweet Again: Will the writer not
acknowledge that the existence ot such an order III
our midst is dangerous TO the well being oi OUT
nuhlcnn ipstutons-that the affairs OF our kepuoi
can form of government caunct be administered
nv the prescribed princi piles OF that parry
With what consistency, then, can ne reeon:uo
il TO himself TO oppose movement nu,hS haS
for its object the exclusion OF members 0l tha'
marty from positions oil influence who II Iiohcs'
will without any effort their part, naCIahy au
unavoidably carry the weight that tne pos.'iUH y,
fee gives to its possessor; who, II Gisno'es i
IL use that weight andinhuence toward" 'ne au
Deut OF htiE ONH pOnlcdI SlrSN' n.~.,ro,,
Examiner very zeaousy calls upon the t Ib ,b
40 march under the same coiors' 10 he"t Hi''' Wy
same yespon5.that have often oToush. "I ~ no t
blew br victoy" But the manly and eyslro@s C.r tos ,s
fo. in whose ranks it was no dS''onot :, f,b; ,b,
I Wfi's WSs par nqS 1is w5sh often hard
,iInes m Won the victory disbended That party
had principles worthy to be SO called; pTlnepesi@ 100 100
by which the affair' Of government e'u'u "''s