Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-01-16
from r!c Washington Union

The deep solicitudt 81 universally i.lt throughout
the Union in regard 20 the issue the coming cleo
ton in Virginia miw in part bc attributed Ia the
alnrnn"ly rapl growth and spread throughou; the
free States of doctrines not merely opposed (" the
principles of the drnncrac pnrty, hut which threat
IL "ngup pll IN lis ,.'p dark waters III" Union, the
constitution tie rights al conscience civil and rcli
| .in> irr,lu,n-n that we vcnrrGtr and clcrsl--ali
,l:at has bcci hclucnlhc, to lis by the wisdom n nur
statesmen, and wlicEhas been sealed tesla
'ucut hv the blood NJ uur revolutionary nlarivrs.-
Through union ii mn u! all parties. and "t all prin-
cipcS made for the tine homogeneous by the heaven
| NJ Know N"thImgiSin. the Democracy III Maine, IN
PENNSYLVANIA, in NrS Jersey. i'll Ohio, III Indiana in
| Michigan, III Wisconsin. and III lo"a. have been
stricken down; and il Illinois has emerged from the
contrs; victorious, she hears her bruad. proud
| breast Tn" marks o Struggle desperately and close
| iv contested. All cv"- are now turned tnwur,ls Eir-
| Cinin-turncd towards that old D"uri"f whose
hcacon:iircs have ever cleaned brighter and brighter
| as the democratic horizon hcCSnc obSrurcd hv the
Hitting shadows at faction, ark"ucd hv the thick
rolling clouds al Il RESTLESS upunsi;iuu Will -h. in
or even taIt"r, III the path "f'iutv! VIII She in the
hour oi need mud peril. open the flood. gates. and let
the deep red t" VI il1a'Irsn spend lis force and l
~ upon the entire South We do not wish 10 over
state "'r ease, 'n cXa-."rH.u the strength of our enc
lnlc-, or {" diminish the extent of own resources
| but We l!av" II" hcsaon in asserting. our calm
settled belief thH; :" far :hc South is concerned u
they ar" I" hc saved from ih" blight aiih curse "'
Know Nut!ngiSm, that immunity from threatening
danger can OnIy be secured b" the triumph ni the
democratic party i'll III" coming election III rgli!h
The stHk" deep aud the ,rnalvcS :" trau%h;
with peril. ilpt lot Ht all surprised that ont "i
Virginia, feeling bordering on apprehension should
he r,t. and felt by those who have hitherto regarded
the course OF the democracy q; that STATE with that
unwav,rinm confidence which recollection OF her past
unitcal history is well calculated 10 inspire. After
the nominations hud been made by the Staunton con-
vcmt"n, were prepared iUr the sghi chuIion Of
feeling which subsequently, manifested ii.clf in several
portions o The State. Men have their preferences in
political s well social life, and when called into
vigorous action by the tcrvcr Of friendship, they are
not disposed 20 "cqUirsrc wthou; nurnur in the
wish - nj the minority. II those wishes cOumertu
their hopes expectations. The majority principle
has ever been cardinal one ni the democratic party
but 10 expect that those IN full membership with that
party should be superior Ia the ordinary feelings or
faings of humanity would be I" suppose state o
political perfection which has and never Gun be
attained Seldom. if ever have the nominations uf n
State or National Convention called forth universal
coinmendaton. Time must be allowed Ia heal the
wounds Of disappointment and 10 cool the high
wrought desires OF the friends Otnpposimg camiiiaCs
Such has been the case in every State III the Union
and such has recently been the case in Virginia. Al
first we were told that Mr.. Wise's nomination would
not receive the united aud cordial support OF the demo-
cratic pary--tha such and such leader or such aud
such paper. wills either ukcwarm or secretly hostile"
Since the nomination was made, We have c"nvcrsCd
with lie ndng politicians from every section of Virginia.
and hive read with care the democratic journals pub
ishcd in that State, and, far from discovering any
evidence of that apathy or weakness which the enc
mics of democracy alone have discovered, from what
we have heard and read we feel satisfied that Virgil
min will no; prove rccrcant io duty. and, tOrgcu of
an nnbrukcm line Of democratic trumphs, reposc III
fatal security in the lap Ui the modern Dcliiah.
The country knnws what Virginia has done. aud
that the vital principle OF democracy is n warm and
strong now with her sos rs in the days of Jefferson
and Madison. The real Issur now is. not simply the
election of State officers, the friends the opponents
IF the but Whr: