Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-06-05
THE STRUGGLE NOT OVER-THE DUTY OF
THE VIRGINIA DEMOCRACY.

a great victory is scarcely less fatal to the organ
cation of party than the most disastrous defeat If
in the one case despair paralyzes the energies Of
men and weakeus their devotion to principle in the
other they are apt to lose their sef.contrJi and to
abandon all effort and object in the thouSht!ess in-
diligence Of mornen,ary triumph. Itis against this
latter contingency, that the Democracy OF Virginia
have now to guard with especial vigilance and self
restraint
Tue grsa. enemy of our republican liberties inva-
ded the soil Of this State in his boasted march TO
universal empire. He came with the prestige OF M
yincibity ant in tho full confidence Of certain tr-
umph; clad in tho dread arnor Of secrecy, and sup
ported by the motley array of his Northern allies
He came staggering in the insolence OF imaginary
power, and gustug his fcrocious appetite with the
spos of anticipated conquest. The timd were ap-
paled by his threats, and the treacherous were Sc
ducsd by his blaudishiaent-. But, the Democracy,
theiesrless and true Democracy, accepted his def
ance, aud met him on the field which e had selected
for the most sigma display of his prowess From the
heat and dust OF the struggle, they emerged in ri-
umph The toe fed back TO his haunt in the distant
North, with infamy on his brow and stripes upon his
back. Tho chastisement and the disgrace Of his
defeat We're equal to the enormty of his guilt.-No-
thing is wanting to complete and to illustrate our
victory. 1t is splendid beyond example. We hive
majority Of the popular vote, which, if not without
precedent is ut least enough for glcry as Henry said
at AgiDcourt The ascendancy of the Democracy in
the State was never solid and complete An un-
broken delegation in Cougrcss majority of forty in
the Legislature, and the Commissioner Of Public
Works, are the trophies of our victory.
There danger lest in the transport Of this glorious
triumph we surrender ourselves TO the feeling ofthe
mert, and forget the obligations Of present duty.-The
foe is only repulsed. wre.coect his energies and
reappear on another field. The power aud patronage
of the Fesral Government is the great lject Of his
appetite and ambition. He is organizing his forces
COR the Presidential canvass Of 1885, The Democrat
cy of Virginia protected the soil of this State from
the pollution of Know NothiDs!sm, but the enemy
still! hovers ON our border. We must pursue his re-
treating columns Our friends in other States are
gagged in the same struggle through which we have
just past and we must now lend them our sympathy
and support. We may animate them with our spirit
and instruct them by our experience. The Demo-
crncy Of Virginia may rescue the South from the
da"ger and disgrace Of Know-Nothing'sm. They
may preserve the party from disorganizatlon' ahd
fa:y ITS forces for the ual and decisive struggle OF
1856.
men, let US not break up our orgauization nor re-
'f energy, nor abnte our zeal, nermit our ei
iot.' ou' no" that wo in the full flush Of victory
Hnu q" u"Fe with the spirit of the fight, let MS keep
up te nte qua press OH tho pursuit. until not solita-
ry Know-No,hing larks in the ,on5