Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-08-01
THos. W. LEWIS. Sec'v.
From the Charlottesville Jraersonian.

! LAW
Mr.. EDIToRr-Wh in response to a mos. uneI-
pecteI call made upon Inc, | addressed a few re.
marks TO the Democratic meeting in Charlottes-
vile, it was very lar from my expectations that
my name would appear ho consplcuously III
the papers Of the State. | feel very painfully
the embarrassment of this notoriety. | ain but all OBJ.
scure individual, who has taken no prominent part in
the politics OF the country, who hes but little influence
with hs fellow ciri1ens and whose opinions upon any
sunicot are void OF interest to ull except a few personal
friends, for me therefore to s;temptto "dehue my posi-,
tlun IN politics in q newspaper card, 10 III oad taste, ald
yet ain unwilling to DO placed IN O ialse poei'lou De-
tore the few who know me. From my own eiIlnhrrass-
meut in speaking under e. rcumstances Iew to M, or
from al inaccuracy in the report OF what l said, / AIN
made 10 appear rs having changed my party relations
without sufficient reason, and OF making a boaSt OF my
former connection with the know-NotIIng party
What [ said or intended to say was this; that / found II
dill dcul, to address a democratic meeting, for the reason
tbs 1 was born O wing, had in early lits imoioed q
strong prejudice to the Democratic party, and was nor
sur. that that prejudice wsa yet removed; thati wouln
he much more agreeable 10 Inc ~ coitlnle III opPos''
ION to the party, and like the President Ut the hno"
Nothing Council OF Greene. mentioned by Mr.. Leake'
10 remain IN full communion with that order, tivt 100
had ooen the President Oft Council butthat e1isl'is
circumstances and a sense OF duty to my country re
duired ME 10 act otherwise. l had lost my 'a't, J."
Know othinsisn when l found that such mriss WI!
son Of Massachusetts he'd ickeu tie Third Degree UP
IN which | hung ny hopes oil the preservation .. tn
! Cnivn, uud hat io aud others At the North hello ina
tho ouiy way To preserve tie Union was iii carry'ni
oui free soil doctrines. Nearly twelve months ago
had Withdrawn from the order, aud | had seen ina
| day, in the meeting in the courthouse. thu old lin'
Wing party swallowed up in Know NoihlIgrin. :.
| di say, or have said, that The Democratic party II
their Cincinnati convention had made a direct 'ssn
with Black RepubllcanisIn, that that issue was liv al
inuur,aut one tu the South, and, while l ddinire MI
Eill,nor. as nn honest man, q sound Statesman an
true patriot, ! felt il my duty. in the coming cont.-t, t
give my vote for the party that c,uld deal the h:1er'
bor 10 Gboi,tlonsm. l should therefore vote tn
Democratic ticket. .
Ii WAS not then nor is it now my purpose to commit
myself fully to the Democratic party. lhad Dissolve
my connection with Know Nothiugiam-had zee
w~higgery swept from under mo and | asked OF you
party = temporary refuge. | did no. intend regular!
TO enlist but merely offered myself as a volunteer pr
vate for the single fight you are now having with th
enimies Of our country. Should you be victorlon'
as I pray God you may be, | do not promise that "!
not, as your shouts OF triumph rise up, shake my hst
your face and enlist under some other banner. J.,
q sense Vf dury TO my country and not a love OF Ds
lnocracy that leads me " vote with you now it J. !.
my opinion the cause you advocate is the cause VI ~
country and the South, and l cannot 40 o,nel",s
than aot with you. All l wish is that ! mao s'eate
strength an keeuer weapons to bring 70 y9ui A~
but 'suoh a. | have l freely give unto YOU
Your obedisnt servant,
r, w. y. holland.