Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-03-30


THE VIRGINIA ELECTION.
II Is M formal and rnmeaninG compliment I" Nir-
ginH /" attribute I" her NATIONAL influence. poll
neal II:-i"s and issues possessed by rrn h"r mem
her at the cGniDGrracv. til" reasons ir this Superior
influence "Ns' III abundance III her pHsi history nud
Hlth"unh her own citizens not fully hppr"cint"
the Importance oi Their po.iri"I a inu't confess
we sometimes lear they do hot, vet the Democracy nf
the other States fully understand the moral weight
which attaches t" her verdict all great political Is
SnaE. They have habitunird themselves r. entertain
for the political results in Virginia that respect and
confluence with winch they wont TO receive md
adopt the recorded opinions and sentiments rf the H.
luSr,nus statesmen who have achieve e,l t"r her the
proud distinction at being 'thu Inoihcr al S:n;"s and
I'll sintc~m"i.' Democrats in every State listen for
the voice al tie p!d Dominion with ~ auclI eager
and lntcrc-: rs i; they regarded IL the voice u
Washington, Jefferson, and Madison speaking from
their tumh1 II thi, be true ui ,sl political contests
there are circumstances connected with the present
which make II more imprcssyely true than amy
former nccaflun.
The Virginia Democrat Who regards the pending
election III III" hight nt ordinary kJruiur STATE
test wholly mi~IudcrSlHnlS and undertakes liz real
Importance. II In cinIatIcnly n HirIDYiL cnmtr'!:
national. not only h"cnliy. the nation is deeply sni
citous As Ia Tie result bnt especially HiiDra because
t the niuenc" which the result will exert upon the
future prospects oi the national Democracy and the
future destiny ot the Union. 1t hchouvcs Virginia
Democrats Ia wei I'll well the responsibility which
rests upon them. IL bcc"Iacs each aud every one
who Processes Democratic pr.nc pies To inquire
fully whether hc is dacharg!m@ his whole duty It"
those principles III the pending canvas. II Is nn
time for supimclss OF Indifference much less for the
indulgence "i personal ,lissaiSciini!s and "aI"IsS
In view "i the fearful consequences that threaten L"
follow defeat, II were l" less than treason lo ti"
cherished principles of Virginia Ia br lukrwarm or
Indifferent and 10 be ncluhcd by personal pllu"s and
calusies We're little H!Iurtul treason IN the lmi"n.
But ur the evidences Of tho cTiSimlnatIDn OI II
Startling c"hi"n III the recent nomination "l an OPP
position ticket in that State, we should hesitate to IN
Innate the possibility of either lUkcwarmm"ss Of dis
affection the part ct any portion nl The virginia
Democracy. But these evidences cail inr plain Ian
guaSc, and as the Democracy ui the whole Union urc
concerned deeply in III" result, We should not do
duty il We failed Ia cXpcess ourselves with earnest
ana! freedom.
II cannot be that democratic principles are less dear
10 Virginia democrats r9w than formerly. Those of
them who have indicated q dsinrllnatIon Ia sustain
the regular party nominations are not less loud and
apparently not less earnest III avOwng their dcvn
ton I" democratic principles Than heretofore: and
yet, with IN" most perfect ASSURANCE that the defeat
Oi the regular democratic ticket Will not Oniy over
throw democratic principles in Virginia, hut en-
danger their succcs, III other States, and PIohnhly III
the Union, have the painful spectacle o oppose
ton coalition ticket composed al wing, dcMu'raI
und know-nuihin.s. If Virginia did not stand ru!
n sort ui political bCacun-.ht ~ the democracy ui
strange and unnatural amag;amaom which wc wit.
ness II may not be inappropriate tn remind III"
democrats OF the Old Dominion that i'll past times she
had great rival III political Influence IN TIE Stat" ui
New York. The present condition at the Empire
State, brought about by divisions III the democratic
rauk-, may we'll be held up a. Il warning example.
Ii Democratic principles are as dear I" Nrglnia
Democrats ever, it i, difficult In comprehend why
they exhibit that solid and unbrocn column
with which they have heretofore marched I" battle
and Ia victory. II be that there's di>aitcci;"n
amongst their trusted champions towards the present
administration account mt any failure I" aihcr" &"
Democratic principles. SuC!I an impuihi!un would
come with poor grace from Virginia Democrat, in
vIrw OF Tn" iaCt thnt one OF I'll" ChIri grounds on
which the administration j. assail.d in the free States
is its alleged devotion and adherence I" the Virginia
school of politics. We hesitate not IN affirm that II
President Pierce has not thus far administered the
government upon those great principles which South
crn Democrats, and especially Virginia Democrats,
regard sound and orthodox. then the South can
never have Il Chief Magistrate with whose executive
policy she can be saIi-;cd In the distribution oi the
public patronage he may have tailed L" meet Inc
wishes and expectations "t come Democrats IN Nn-
ginia as in other States but III" Democrat who al
lows such consideration 10 diminish his attachment
tn his principles much less l." engage in open hos
tility ~ ih. regular organization "I h' party l. M
worlhy l., clam fellowship Win the faithful followers
of jefferson, Madsnr and jackson, and wall h"d
his natural fssnria.nu wI:i IN" opposition. ii the
Ia Democratic principles upon III" p"n--
sor- nf -uch Democrats the country has long labor
ed under Il .rns+ '!ru-inn. We h.cyc that the re.
suit will show thar thI- class "t rcuc-adGs is not lcs,
cnrIuptibir from the suaGuss al thc.' number than
for the loo>cncss with which they w.nr their rrimc-
pl,S. We can well understand how good Democrats
may be disappointed III fhr action Oi their cnilvrn-
tons, md may give vent tn expressions of regret NJ
the failure to have their preferences graitcl in the
nomination. made by their party hut with true De-.
th,Sp pyu :,llnyrl
10 inicrtr. with the great paramount object "f n De-
murraiC triumph. We are aware that such f.ciH..a
existed upon the announcement "f rh" Democratic
nominations in Virginia; ani wn d"nbt not thai ili"
fact has Given rise to very much ni the douh which
has been imdu-rrously crculnr"d the final result
whilst II hi4 encouraged the few iisnlcctcd Demo
crai- L. enter into the coalition (" which have nj
hldrd bat VIZ have the best r'is0ns inr knowing
;hn, those Democrats who were most disappnint-
c,l Lv tie action oi the Dcmoc, ,atir convention
hurutnl supporters al the regular nornnH;inns.-
They rnyv nj once that there too much nj
stake 10 allow nny sac disappointment Of personal
preferences tn rnan.rr the al the party and
they arc how engaged vigorously, efficiently, and per-
srvcrincy in sustaining the nominees
IL j.. not Ia be- disguised thGt there points in
IN. anieccdrnts ni the democratic nominee for COVER
rur which rcndurcd his selection hisiasirfu Ia some
democrats. The very tact, however, that he was Sc
ccted by Inuinriiy ui State convention, regularly
rhosru and cnInpusch "i pnund democrats who were
familiar with Mr.. Wiscs whole political history, fur
nshrs fhr most conclusive evidence ni his reliability
n, true Democrat. li- zcalous, industrious, and cl-
,ou.n yncacy oi the recognised principles Of .hr
party has fully vIndicatcd the safety and
prnpririv ri the nomination. lf IL II" small Offence 10
rebel against regular democratic nomination. With
put faithful adherence I" the organization OF tho
party, lis principles cannot bc sustained. Party or
saniEa"n l.. Therefore" hn' 'tc les important than
partv priuciplrs. Rebellion against the former IL mn
,firirc little less criminal than against the latter
There nr,. peculiar responsibilities attaching t0 Nlr
.inia Democrats at the present time which can be
,nstird bv nothing short III the most Zennus nmd en-
,r,,tir cNcr;inns IN support o the regular ur@amiza
ion Of tha party. Faction. fanarism, nnd intolc-
mice have combined IN the free States and defeated
he Democracy in nearly every election which has
aiken place Hostility 10 Southern institutions and
southern interests the chief element Oi the strength
# this combination. IL strength has been made ri-
octual npainst the Democracy by means Of the per.
.,, organization which has been given Ia the com
,iuniion by the KmnwN"hnGs The '!oa that IN"
yhiy rary was dead has contributed largely {" that
Iisurnauization of the Democratic party, which
,,y.r fniIs Iu result in it, dcl,at. Abnnnism, in
continuation with Whgism, Know N"thin-sm and
,nii. N,braskai has swept like tornado "vcrihe
r,e Stains Whatever claIns either 81 ihcs" allies
# abotonisin may make 10 the late !rnmPhS over
he democracy, the imposing Tact stands out III b"id
rlicf that opposition 10 Southern institutions = the
,r,runiua sentiment Tint caraCicTIs"s III" common
rocd IN which the coaomiss have triumphrd Tie
controlling power in the Northern States whether we
ooE 10 their representation i'll the StatcS ar III Con-
rress, is in the hands OF the determined foes Of the
south. Know -Nothingism has furnished the lah 81
n, ;,,,inr which has iinludcd and concentrated !
nio one compact mnsS the different component rI.-
n.nts uf IA, coali;inr Through the secret "rcnn- !
alton thus reduced to practical operation, 'hc North
ms hc.n worked up I" The p"nt ct mHE'hS ullN,d
md determined warfare upon III" South. III every |
northern State there is minority of true AMI r"lia-
,l Dcmncrn,. who have proved faithful I" The Con-
tuition and To the rights guaranteed by II to the
;ouih They have been beaten down hy The lrrcsis'
iLlr powcr u, the coalition, but they hav" not sur
rndcrrJ either Lei. principles ;hrir resolution :"
MAINTAIN tieln They are til" faithful allies Of ihe
southern Democracy, and tley Look +" TE,%d IN m S" S
s the only hope OF the C"Ti'dcricy IL T ni n,h ,"
Dt,r.. all !. lot; il the South stands firm aud man
MIN. il. iut.uri,y tilr Northern Democracy VIII b"
bIr To- recnvcr suiircu, strength 10 mH'nlan tn" as
rndancv Of constitutional principles and save the
Inion from shpwreck. ..,.,,,.,,o,, a..