Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-03-07
In the next number propose to examine the OBJ.
JEcrIoHs urged against the proceedings the Board.
PAUL JONES.
Albemarle County, Virginia.
FUF NC 4 HYIktFcT.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

For The Enquirer.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Mcssrs Edi,ors:-Tiere may be various opinion.
entertained and expressed of tile merits Of this docu.
ment: but, utter careful perusa, tha; 40 diversity OF
sentiment ought to exst among those who truly love
our institutions y are desir.us Of preserving them
un;,iured, as a.. :tanca for posteri!y. Tie
conflicts of the 'LS political factions in the North
it may readily be Inferred will lead to differing It not
opposi,e opinions; but to the calm aid SOBER trlenGs
OF the republic, there ought not 10 DO diversity
| much less an opposition of sentiment. The Pres.
dent has, with fairness, rankness and dignity, wo!-
thy Of all praise given to the country his views OF
actual condition and relation III reference both 10
foreign aud domestic topics. They are expressed IN
| clear, unequvocal and forc6le language, No one
can mistake his peapngi and this 10 me, looking IL
the history Of the last twenty years s great recon-
mendstion. It does Not puzzso me with squiVocal
generalities. think soc his meaning clearly and
am anxious to what you, what the people OF Viz.
| yiuiu have TO say in regard to L.. s.. &,
am not, and never have been, either Democrat,
| Whig Know-Hothing Free.Soisr, nor Abolit!onist.
but en- humble Republican Of the old Jefferson school
of l79S Being such, have scrutiazed, closely aud
calmly, the motives objects and principles OF the va.
rous political organizations which have played their
parts on the public stage during the last thirty years.
never for a moment doubling that 10 the end, II
would be found essential TO the preservation and
perpeuy Of our Union, that We iDust go back TO the
old cauons of constitutional construction, established
by the trainers Of the inetrumeut itself Other eIpe'
diens other devices, having no higher objects than
Temporary party triumphs, might subscrve tor mei
but Il could not be doubted that, if there be any diff
eranee between truth and error the time would come
when all, however deuded and inhamed by the fierce
conflicts which have been engenflered Gy the rude
contact Of opposing elements, would bs compelled To
pause and look hack on the past If they had any con-
| Germ for the future.
| Tb, time long delayed, has come. Government
and people alike present most extraordinary specta.
cle Never before have we Witnessed what we now
| witness Who are The authors | answer not the
question: feeling do that part OF the responsl-
bility rests with me, with those with whom have
acted. Whai is the caHss2 This will answer II
is TO be found in the inordnate ambition of particular
leaders, the excessive zeal of their respective partl-
zans, and to the entire subssrvieney OF the public
press.
| make no charges against you or your professional
| coutemporeries. I mean only 10 say that, through
the insrumGntay of the public prsss, designing and
ambitious aspirants have duped the people, and CON
tribut2d much, very much ~ Drln2 aoout the eAsl-
| ing state of things.
Bnt, be this as il may, ia it not time to pause and
ponder The loss Of our tree Federstlve Republic 49,
and must ever be, n great calamity Human liberty
peace aud progress must feel its dire effects. And IS
This the end And must this be the result, the ulti-
mate working out of go much toll, prvaton and sui:
ferng on the part of noble and patriotic sncestorS
| ! trust not.
| adopt TO avoid this fearful catn-roph-l Shall we
Weld 10 the hopes aud expectations Of any ndtrtdna
of either OF the fierce factions, now struggling fol
preferment at Washington! | answer, No! IL IL 9
matter Of small concern to me who shall oe eiecteo
Speaker of ths present Congress. Considered in it
SELF it is of as little Importance to me ns the qurs
tion whether my pointer shall be called Pluto or ria
to. ! believe that Messrs. Richardson and Fuller
and the Puritan FRibnst,r Banks, might live or di'
without any serious injury to the country. They arr
the mere puppets who the spectators IN thea
tre The living and guiding hnnds who put them Iii
to motion are behind tha These men are per
haps in all their plans, motives aud purposes op
posed to the old established order OF things Is no
w. II. Seward only who, hid behiSl the curtain, y
playinc his game for the next Presidency. There
are Others not much less united by experience a't
public SERVICE who his competitors in the rock
less game. ~, ,.;
interests Of the country do not depend on the sue
ces failure OF their small sclisines 10 these ~
forests look solely; and in this view, nothing 10 le
to us but to unite, sat in support OF the Pre-
u sident, and the recommendations aud principles
: his message. If we do this, Congress will at one
organize and proceeding 10 the discharge Of the put
= lie business, relieve Institutions from The sgm
, which they have cast upon them. Let US tell thes
!. restless aud Invisible agents, that We will have IL
thing TO do with any OF h.ini but That takins coui
sci from the example OF our a;eestors, we VIII tol'
y rate none Of their schemes of Individual aggrandz
ncnt for the next four years at east The principle
avowed by the Chief Magistrate, are before the pul
: lc. have enquired Of every man With whom hoi
intercourse aud have not yet found asolitary IND
vdual Of any party, who did not applaud the nool
b, aud patriotic stand he has taken. know Mt
Q your views-have never enquired about you
personal preference. The Enquirer is not see
: by me once in twelve months. But, retired n
l am, and have long been from the political areur
cannot bat fuel un Interest iu passing events nav
not lost my love of couutry-bighted though iis III
turs desrines may seem to DO, by the machna'lons
ambitious and bad nen, apd soeinny believe ina
II the principles Of the Presidents message are no
sustained by the country, our institutions are IRE
r trievably lost. II furnishes soand constitutions
platform on which all true lovers CT The country, i
every section may cordially unite. knoAc that som
of the most distinguished and influential mon OF a
parties in fh. State, have joyiuy hasd il rs tho har
binger OF better times Let unite upon Il, one I'M
ALL and test tho great question, whether the conserva
tive principles Of our forcfstbers-thc principles
jefferson, Madison Monroe and CGlhoun-can b
sustained or not in this uncient Commonwealth. AZ
sure Of the result il the people are allowed fur chanc
to express their sentiments Wings, rs well rs Demo
Gratis will give thersupport. Tell The younger aspran
} for the Presidency, 10 wait awhile 10 pat;oncs w
oannot stop nov = weigh their relative claims
More important an. urgent business demands our al
tention. We must re-organ5e parties on the con
sttutiopal theory contained III the PfesIdents me-
sage or we shall cease in very brief spnce, to b
ONE PEOPLE. Such is my deliberate and solemn con
victon. JEFFEhoON'
| FEBRUARY, 1856