Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-05-27

our duty Let place the name OF Fierce with the
Instrous and glorious of his predecessors, the
ytorsr of the Constitution Of his country-as the
Northern STAR to which the political needles of the
mariners CT the Epion may perpetually point.
| -sst-
To The Editors Of tie Enquirer
| Louisa, May 22d, 1875
! Gentlemen: have read in your paper of the 2Oth
inst n communication the signature Of ~ Sub
scriber and t.ce Vrginan,' throwing cold water
| on the patriotic exeriuns Of the citizens OF Peters
burg and some of the counties OF Virginia for attempt
ing 70 raise fluids and for the projection Of
.ls. He .ea.s to think it Is initiating the example Of
| traitoruus Massachusetts. | beg leave to think very
differently. 1 think il chivclrous and patriotic in
Virginia 10 resist the traitorOns course Which Massa
chusrtis is pursuing towards the rights and ibertie;
OF the South. consider it an invasion of our rights
and liberties by set Ct taHGticz who, in the midst OF
wealth aud number, have forgotten night. Virginia
has done mnch for the good OF the nston ana is viii
ling do more 1t is not agreeable TO the genius OF
| the Old Dominion to keep her sons at home, to raise
hive of drones and TO follow the fashions of New
! York and Boston, who glory in their wealth and
NJ whilst they neglect principles morality aud
| religion. Witness the many sms that grow out OF
those stagnapt POOLS of wealth aud numbers, which
are meusurably cOn6GsG to the great cities Of the
North.
He says that Virginia was once the E0.t populous
State in the Union, but not so now. Ylrg!His has
certainly ioEs her part in setting up our Nestern do
main. aud that her citizens will leave the old state
by hundreds aud thousands" 4dIlt These facts
and Whist do they prove7 Virginia, when lie most
populous, az the same time the most respectrblo
Has she lost her responsibility by her reduction in
numberl Is not Virginia still the flag State Of the
Union Are not the eyes Of all of the States fixed
upon the Old Dominion as the guiding star % the
Uniunl "She alone has never trailed her Tag IL the
dust" Virginia has taken the lead in almost every
important movement since the commencement CT the
revolution. She put the ball first in motion. Her
renowned son commanded the American forces which
expelled tie British from Boston The brave sons
OF Virginia. with their pGrioc brethren OF her sister
States, under the con'nant u washington, iSusht
the battles OF the revolution, and pltipney at York
town, captured the British army and Get America
free.
AT u more recent date, during tho war Of 1872,
company of patriotic sons of Virginia from tic Cock
aie City, volunteered their services in defence OF the
West aud under the command OF the brave MINOR
Croghan e. Fort Sandusky, defeated the confined
army OF Bgitst AID Indians and saved their brethren
Of the West from the iCr:shawk and sca'plns knue
of the Indian, and the no!e de"-v.ins flame OF the
BRITISH incendary.
At th. tipe there is voice from the West calling
on Virginia and the patriots of the South for adnot
against the British aud Indians but against set OF
fanatics from the North moro devoted 10 their ne.
rest with css feeling for the interest ere happiness OF
their brethren of the South than the savage q the
wilderness. . ,.u II,
Shall that voice be heard and not heed viii the
South suffer Gordon to be drawn between them Gnd
the great Wesl Will they tamely suffer that gorl'
Gus Country to fall into the entire possession OF 4e
North wtfc:; has been paid for in Southern blood anu
treasure Shall sharps rifles in the hands o. eial,
grants take possession OF Chg territory OF Kansas Tor
the benefit of the wealthy pei O. Mns.achusetts'
No!-YisgiDia says No! DEAb CfAl.
NEW TACTICS.
There il no one thing in hunen conduct, whether
il be of private or public character, which tends 30
iuiuriously TO corruption and disqualification as the
abandonment of a settlsd principle for temporary eS
psdiency. Strict and undertaking adherence to prp
cpe 10 the only rule by which right can bs pursued
or wrong avoided. The man, or party, or govern
mspt which abandons under hopes OF success The
landmarks of fund smenal principle, and goes OIL at
tangent after come imagined erPediency Is sure to
involve itself or himself, the case may he, III en-
| bsrrassrnent and difficulty. Such man, or such
uo!itical party is not unlike the s;!S without rud
| !er-as liable to be driven by the waves cEd winds
upon rocks and shoals aud wrecked, "a II IL tn reach
| the desired herbor. These remarks are preliminary
to an examination o. proposition recently origlna
ted in this State by Certain restless agltators, with
| whom innovation is d law OF their nature, and
whose passion for the accomplishment Of any cher.
ished object is SO intense that they overlook every
| thing in accomplishing lt.
The proposition to which We allude IL that III as.
pertaining the choice of Virginia for President the
vote shall be given not as heretofore by districts. but
according TO the Democratic vote OF the district
Far and Just as this proposition seems at first glance
! al analysis of it will show concusvely that it is
violape of the principles of the Constitution unjust
in lis operation snd dangerous to the maintenance OF
| Southern power anu influence in our National Con-
ventions 1t is volutive Of the principles of the
Constitutions because, the representation in the Elec-
| toral College, which votes for President GGd Vice
President, is not representation according 10 Demo;
cratic votes, but representation according to federal
| population, by which five negroes Count rs much
| as three white NELL These negroes have right OF
| suffrage, and consequently would not count IN the
strength Of the district upon this principle OF voting
1t ia THIS that this plan Of voting in Nation
Il utr,Un
an element of represen Gt0n recognized in the Con-
stution itself, and thus su6Ta,t the very principles
! of the Constitution, which requisite It's election OF
President and Vice President. But this 70 net the
only constitutional objection. There another equal
ly strong. The principles governing the election OF
President and Vice President contain also the recog-
milton of the represeutson-not only Of the people
rs the source Of all governmental power but also OF
the sovereignty Of the States 10 uiditica The Eec
toral College Of every State Is composed rct piy OF
All elector for each member of Cangress but also an
eector for each Senator, by which the sovereignty OF
little Dclawareis equal to New York. This plan OF
voting the Democratic strength Of each eectoral as
trct, ignores eutire this State sovereignty eie-
ment aud thus subyers another principle CT fhs Con-
suon. 1t may, however, be said that party con-
! ventons are bodies unknown TO the CONSTITUTIONS
This is true. But We submit, tGet unless mere exist
! strong reasons to the contrary, these fundamental
principles should always BIZ recognized. Especially
should this bo the with the States Rights Demo-
| cratic party.
This plan Of voIing is unjust in its operation in this
that il gives the selection Of the President to one
section of the State exclusively and that without
ference to their Democratic majority, but their Demo
cratic vote. The only excusabe pretex fer this new
system of voting is thar those who elect the Pres
dent ought to select the candidate. But this plan vio
lates that principle. Look for moment at the polls
according to the last Governors election We quote
| from DR.. Hambletons biography of Gov. Wise
Kanawha county gave for Gov Wise 81 votes-Ap-
| ity in AppomsttoI was 266-hs Know Nothing ina.
orty in Kanawha was 9G6, and yet according to this
nav tangled mode of voting, Kanawhs would exert
yreuter influence than Appona;to1. Take another
Instance The city Of Richmond gave for Mr.; NV Wise
lI66 vo.e.-he county Of Page gIve for him on ioagE
The Democratic majority in Page was 9Sl. The
Know Nothing majority in Richmond was sIs; And
yet, according 10 mi, fashion Of voting, the h"G p
| suce than glorious Democratic Page. Can honest
minded that Know Nothing RiShPona 'nG G.a
anybody DENY that this system would be unjust in lite
operation These are but two instances Illustrative
OF its injustice. An examination Of votes IN other
| mia. yan1d h,k phara n