Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-07-18
SOMETHING FOR SOUTHERN MEN TO Pom


tive, he was iIdi-putaby among the most brilliant
members of the Know Nothing Order. No man
wrote SO ably in support of the principles Of tie
Know Nothing party as was a;tested by his vigorous
conduct of the Washington Organ. Since he ceased
10 be its editor, that paper has been the stapid.;
sheet in America. Mr.. Burwell author OF the
famous 18th section. In every way he WAS caressed
and hoored by the Order to his hearts content. But
he is constrained to eave at last His reputation OF
Fillmore and bis support of Buchanan are vndicaed
by the highest consideration Of patriotic duty. We
commend his address to the impartial judgment OF
the Southern people:
TO MY CONSTITUENTS.
| Having been elected to the Legislature upon the
nomination OF the American party, II Il with rurii
regret that find il Inconsistent with my principles
OF political action 10 support either the creed or the
candidate OF that party at the ensuing Presidential
| election.
| La doing so mean no disresnect To those whu
compose that party. consider the immediate objects
oft organization vndcnted. The necessity for some
reform in the laws NATURALIZATION and alien suffrage
is acknowledged. The alleged hostlltyoi the Ameri'
party to particular religious has been
resolved into the iadisputabe principle: that one
who avows allegiance 10 any law higher than the
! Federal and State Constitutions, each within IFS pro.
per Jurisdiction is fit for political trust. The obnoxious
obligation of secrecy has been abolished.
But another important agency WAS expected from
the American party, to which it has, regret 10 say
| proved wholly nadeluate and it is this disappon;
| nent which has rendered my withdrawal from If
councils, in my opinion, matter OF public duty.
| Regarding the question of slavery rs paramount tc
! all others before the American people satisfied Thai
;he Wing party OF the north had fused with the Free
solcrs, and that the Democratic party was paraIy>"L
! by its own dissensous. | had, with many others
sought in The American party love oi tnnn, ira
terna affection aud national pride, which should
and
amongst 49,
The first national action Of th:a party encouraged
The hope that it woud realize this patriotic eNp"cra
ION. 1t ANNOUNCED in june. lSJJ, thar II would
nantain the existing legislation upon the subject OF
slavery u, settlement Of the Question. Under this
declaration soma thirty-three members of Congress
We're elected hy the American party III the Soath-rn
States.
In February. lsJ6, this policy Wa changed. The
pledge tu maintain existing legislation was snhSfi-
,utcd by creed in whic! not only the sutI"c hut
the Of slavery is carefully Ignored Tie guar
auce tor the admission ui new slave States sprclii-
cally given by The declaration OF l5JJ replaced by
an article which recognizes the right oi the lcga!
citizens OF a territory "tO frame ;heir constitution
land laws, and 10 regulate th"r own domestic ana
"sncial affairs in their own mode subject only to
the Wilnot Provso the provisions oi the
Federal Constitution" which lus: phrase, under the
interpretation of the dominant majority III congress,
means precisely the same thing With th!a reSirc'
ton the pr viegc Of admission into the mon !
granted 10 the Territorial State whenever II shall
have the requisite population Tor one representa-
| tive III Congress-
AT The same time, upon the came principle Of neu.
trnlity, the American party nominated Tor 10 candl
GATE gentleman OF integrity and PATRIOTISM bnt !;
did not require him ~ say whether he would elect
ed veto q bill restoring the Missouri restriction or
rppealing the Kansas act Those who have regarded
the pending question too lnportar! 10 be ieit u:
| doubt have been informed TINT the nominees Plat
form enough and that his pas; Official acts afford
sufficient assurance OF his future. Taking his rig
nature of the Compromise Of lSJ rs the most pron
u-nt of these acts, encounter iusurmnuntabi- di
cultics of construction. The friends ut The hansas
act contend that it is Legitimate deduction from the
compromise Of 1851, but thousands who advocate
that compromise assert that the kansas act Is lid
grant violation Of that measure. lfthe lnlcr"nce tha
the Kansas resulted from the compromise Is III
evtable, there could be no controversy upon tn
subject. But there is a radical difference upon thl
subject therefore the position Ut the American nomi
nee upon this question is doubtful, and those who ar
dispOsed 10 support him may, without impugnin
h- integrity ask his construction upon the col-s'enc
of the Kansas act with the Compromise Of 1871, an
whr,her il is his purpose to MAINTAIN OF repeal i
TntiI some such declaration shall bu made, the Amer
cans of the south are wholly without assurance aga'
tho continued agitation OF dangerous Question, or
having rights deemed by them invaluable, surrender
ed BY the act OF their own Representatives.
The issue upon which parties have organized TO
tn. ensuing campaign is "Shal! any more Slav
States be admitted iuo the Cnon!
Foremost and mott formidable in this contest stand
the Black Republican party, dangerous compound G
fanaticism aud political cupidy. II il numeroU
and of powerful resources; it is led by ambitious an
sagaciOus men; it intends 10 employ the numbers a
the North 10 subjugatc the South and govern IN
country. Its material OF warfare consists IN iupeac
ing the title o your property, dedining your clhrnce
and combining the most despoc and !awless iniiuen
ces i'm a crusade aga ns you. Its plan ct ~H.:are
10 cut off the supplies and communications ot slavery
10 invest its citadel aud to send IN ias inscribed
Assault or unconditional surrender
The Demo ratio p r:v has been by force ot clrcuT
stances uaced in direct autagOnism IN this party.
stands not only pledged, but committed, beyond IN
power of recanation withdrawal, 10 maintain you
rights as political equals in this c"nfcderacy.
With nv opinions, neutrality would be. at tins i'm
portant crisis little better than treason. shall there
fore vote for the Democratic candidates at the ensu
inc Presidential election because that IL the only pa!
~ committed to assert the rights OF the South and he
cause the opinious svowed by that party upon the sur
ject of slavery represent my own.
With these declarations, il would not be prope
that I should bold station which csn no longe
employ TO promote the objects OF those who confer
red IT, | have. therefore, transmitted 10 me Spefkc
of the House Of Delegates by the hands oi the ESe'
tive my resignation as n member OF that BODY u
do,ny 80 may be allowed 10 say that act i'll a.
cordance with my own sense ot pr"priey, hnG ho
mon the complaint Or ins:igation ~ others. har
eu,I-avured to discharge my representative dutie
with fidelity. | have advocated every legisintiv
measure which tended to restore tie credit, pr"mo
the power, employ the people, or protect the rlTht.
our beloved Commonwealth. | resign my post be
causa its Incidental obligations will not permit me +
uursue the same objects efficiently ~ could wish
hsvs mo intention 10 become candidate for the Va
csncy thus occasoned. | wish 10 create no I-.ue-
You have generously sustained me, without any o
those elements influences which strengthen pnhh
m.n. am not ungrateful nor would l. '"r any r.
! ward of personal advancement, encourage DIVISION
, amongst YOU. For, believe m", this IL no time !"
divisions Your rghts are at stake. The only que1
ton with yoI mast be-. who IS the most efficient al
vocate of these rights. The Presidential contest ma
not be- decided in The open ii.id IL caFric '',o C"I
rr6s. il may he Indispensable TO our safety tha' W
Should INIT. upon the most efficient anagonls; ~ OF
. common enemy The North has tOr,ottca us ta~|
in n ,,ommop snmify tomardS y0V. WY c"nEot yo
vuHr for he protcc'iJR IF y7Wr property "Rd y1H
rjybyt If we encourage strife amongst those wh
beoup To the sections of the great conservative arTn>
a. may find irreconcilaDle aninositIes pervadns gu
: ranka Remainder that the election of Back h'
, publican Speaker Of the House Of Repr"-"nin'v"
. vas caused nv the acerbtirs nf political warfare
Remember that by this event your enemies nav
been enabled to divert the influences Of Congress =
. your injury To that event is 10 b" hur'hn'"'
omonrst other evils the mission ~ mn eN'pnr'" ''i'
mittee into Kansas, t" encourage cF Wal h'! SUI
the magazines pf abolition w'il n''rep'
your interests and your Of rIgh'..
ina th.n 40 conlu" this campaign M 10 cast ou
,o,as f,r ann. urduubted representative oi "u
r;rhts. Let IL. in ;ls event The union of INC S0u
f,r .,e aefay Of the South. should become h"ct-s4r!
hon ~ few ,nimnsities to reconcile as possible, nm
r canuo, ssrur- the election OF oar iren"s let
a, eas; preserve curseiret from the reproach Of ha'
ing in caused cal the triumph Of our enein:e:.
~" Truly and gratefully vnnr friend
WM. NJ. BURWELL.
BEDFORD, 10Th July. lSI6
NAVAL AFFAIRS.
Srw YORK, JrLY 1.-The frigs'e Potomac In
arrived She is under the command OF CoinInodor
Paudinp and made the passage in eight days lroi
~ Wes, The sloop of war Saratoga wTs spoke