The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-10-09
DEMOCRACY" ExPoUNDED.

DEMOCRACY" ExPOUNDED.
Every one in the least acquainted with the
politics of this country is aware that Democ-
racy," as expounded by the organs of public
opinion in Virginia, is Democracy all over
the Union, with the corrupt and degenerate
party now in power. 1t is equally well known,
as we have often had occasion to remark, that
the Richmond Enquirer is the organ of the Viz
ia Democracy" That paper is now more than
fifty years old. 1t was established, or, at very
early period taken charge of, by the late vener-
able Thomas Richie, Esq, the friend of Jeffer-
son and Madison, and the especial organ OF their
Administrations. 1t at that period belonged to
the liberal Republican party; and so late as
1882 it was the bold advocate of Emancipation.
Gen. Jackson was then President, and the En-
quirer was the Virginia organ of his Admins
tration. But the Northern man with South
ern principles" inaugurated new era-the
era of degeneracy, of political prostitution. He
ran a race of rivalry with John c. Calhoun for
the favor of the South, and used his influence
to corrupt and prostitute the press. Step by
step, the politicians and presses ofthe Democratic
school descended from the high and honorable
position which they had attained as the advo-
Gates of Freedom, until their whole character
was changed. They have become the unscru-
pulous champions and the truculent instruments
of the vilest despotism and slavery which the
world ever saw. From being the uncompro-
missing advocates of the sentiment of the Decla-
ration of Independence, "that all men are Gre
ated free and equal" they have come to insist
that the masses of men-the laboring classes,
whether white or black-were born to be slaves,
that Slavery is the natural and the happiest con-
diton of the laboring classes that " free society
is failure" and that the selfevident truths
of the Declaration are selfevident lies."
These are the very words used by Senator Pet.
tit of Indiana, in his speech in favor of repeal
ing the Missouri Compromise, and was receiv.
ed with applause by the South. The Richmond
Enquirer, formerly the organ of Freedom, is
now the peculiar organ of these abominable SEN
timents. Still, it holds its position as one OF
racy," and is the trusted organ of Wise, Mason,
and Hunter. We therefore quote it as the
highest Democratic authority-higher than the
Washington Union, since it has vitality of its
own, while the Union is the mere mouthpiece and
stipendiary of the "Democratic" President, re-
movable at his will, and subsisting by his bounty.
With these predatory remaks, we call in the
Enquirer as witness, and quote it with day
and date. We happen to have dozen or so
of copies on hand, of recent date. If our
quotations were to run back twelve months, we
might find still greater gems of Democratic "
thought.
The Enquirer defines the object of the Ostend
Conference and Manifesto, as follows, on the
18th August last past:
I" 1t was with the view of counteractng the
cunning diplomacy of the European Cabinets,
and of protecting American interests from the
irreparable injury threatened in the scheme of
Africanizing Cuba, that the President proposed
a consultation of our leading representatives
abroad. The idea of the "Ostend Conference I"
was suggested by the necessities of selfdefence"
In 1882, the Enquirer demanded Emancipa-
ton for Virginia. in 1856, the same paper JUS
titles Mr.. Buchanans threat of war upon
Spain, to prevent Emancipation in Cuba. "Af
rcanization" means Emancipation, nothing
more. The Enquirer devotes a column to the
subject, but we give its tenor in the above.
The blessings of Slavery and the curse of free
society are illustrated in an article in the Rich
mond Enquirer of August Goth, as follows:
ave are in the midst of the mightiest intel
lectual, moral, and social movement that the
world has ever known, whether we consider the
ability of its leaders, the zeal and number of
its proselytes or the destructiveness of its pur.
poses. 1t is, however, precisely coextensive
with free society. In slave society there is
gradual progress in an opposite direction.
Conservatism is 80 predominant with us, that
public opinion almost supplies the place of
penal law. This is no new thing in slave soce.
ty. Even under the Empire of Rome when
her civil code became so voluminous, she had
scarcely criminal code at all. The slaves, in
such society, supply in great measure the place
of the vicious, disorderly and revolutionary
masses, in free society; and the slaves are
admirably managed by their masters, without
the Intervention of law. The masters, from
the necessities of their situation, from education
and habit, become unofficial but effective con-
SENATORS of the peace, virtue, and good order Of
society"
The free citizens of the North must remem-
Der that the Roman slavery here spoken of was
WHITE SLAVERY. The same article con.
tinues:
But we are so closely connected with free
society, so involved perhaps, in its fate, that it
becomes us to inquire how we are to arrest or
avoid the pending danger. We know that there
is large, wealthy, moral, and conservative
k1Ixv IL n
whose interests coincide with our own. These
men have heretofore been split up into hostile
parties of Democrats and Federalists and Wbigs
and Know Nothings-(for we believe there are
same conservatives even among Northern
Know Nothings.) All of these parties NAV
ultimately join the Southern and Northern De.
mocracy, in supporting the Constitution and
the Union, and in upholding morality, religion,
and private property, against the assaults of the
Black Republicans.
Mr.. Choate has struck the right chord. and
struck with a masters hand. He has set a
noble example. But will it be followed?
1.-The South has either to form an alliance,
offensive and defensive, with the property
holders of the North, and beat down abolition
and socialism, or else prepare for disunion."
The Enquirer is for disunion if Fremont is
elected. In other words, it will not submit to
the laws, unless their administration is intrusted
by the people to such hands as it likes best.
Rule or ruin is its maxim. The same article
concludes as follows:
I'VE love the Union. We fear disunion. be.
cause we fear civil wars, domestic broils, human
suffering, womans tears, and children's cries.
Yet, much as we fear disunion, we fear still
more to be involved in the fate that would at.
tend the event referred to. War is dreadful
thing, but RIGHTEOUSNESS, and agrarianism, and