Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-07-01
IDENTITY OF THE DEMOCRACY NoRrli
AND SOUTH.

AND SOUTH.
On the subject Of domestic slavery there H. "nu
ever possibly will be, differences OF OPINION oel~eeh
even the good, the wise and patnoto OIL 'he >o''"
and III. South; but a common danger proceeding from
a common source, has, for tue present, ohndea Ill
sucb men In a close, cordial, and Jealous alliance
IT, G.e, symptoms Of this alliance, now IN process
ucratIc party. The great speerIn ui'l'A.'s Ia LIAM
made in the Senate a few years before his death, IN
which he attacked the zone idea'd" isins, teetotalists
and abolitionists, and the hobbies which they rode,
was the first bugle note that sounded the alarm to all
conservatives the first invocation to the wise and
the prudent, without regard to party, to prepare to
meet the assaults Of the radical and Destructive
The speech WAS practical, philosophical and
prophetical, and not only the greatest ever de-
livered by Mr.. Webster, but in our opinion among
the best ON that subject that have ever been ad.
dressed 10 the Senate and 10 the nation. 1t was
admired by all good aud wise men then, but its
merits could not be half appreciated; for it was its
prophetic warnings, that constituted its mighty worth.
The isms Of Massachusetts were exasperated and i'm.
PEELED to fercer action by the exposure and the
lashing to which he subjected them; but on oil the
truly wise aud patriotic it made ali Impression, deep,
solemn, saIutary and lasting. From that hour, Win
throp aud CLoste, and the pious and venerable Stu
art, Of Andoves, and Professor North, Of Dartmouth,
and q host of worthis, at the North, became altered
men. The Webster Wings and Silver Greys came
forth from the head Of the Joye.like Senator, wise
and we'll armed, as Minerva from the head OF the
| Olympian Jupiter. Nor was the speech without its
| salu:ary influences on the Democracy. II "inar-
shal!ed them the way that they were going"
but disclosed to them their great responsibilities to
their country and to mankind, and made them at
once more thoughtful, cautious aud conciiatory.
MIR. Webster had portrayed to them tie inininencc
| aui. the extent of the dangers thatsurrounded tLem,but
! at the same time inspired them with hope, by iutims'
| ting 10 his own course, tina, there were good men and
true, ready to Join cur ranks, when those ranks should
be purged Of all base material and the issue distinct
ly made up between q national aud conservative De.
mocracy OH the one eide, and the black hosts Of dis
organizers, destructives and disuniouists On the other.
That occasion has now arrived. The Free Soilers,
who repealed from a union with us he Old Line
Wings, have either Ir:: Us, or changed their opinions
and their conduct-B!ack hep.blicanism has swallow
ed up Know othingism, and enlisted what remain
ed Of Free Soiis:n into its ranks, and now c0mbine'
together ali that is revolutionary, iuidel aud asras;an
at the North. Its numbers, already great aud rapidly
increasing, its zeal aud activity, the ta!ont, the cuu
ming, aud the interruptions daring OF is leaders, aud
ito successes tor seventy years, under other names, in
Western Europe, render it formidable at the present
and dangerous in the future. 1t equally assails the
institutions, the peace, safety and security of every
section Of the Union, and is equally dreaded by pa.
triots everywhere. Old political parties are destroy
ed, old differences Of opinion. on far less important
subjects, are overlooked or forgotten. aad every man
who has q stake in society, or acknowledge his
obligations to his God and his couEtry. ia Wheeling
into the lines ofthe Democracy, not always because he
has become . Democrat, but becausei hose lines present
the only yap;ess ground whence the common enemy
can be successfully asssiled. Most distinguished OF
those. are the Old Line Whis, North and South, who
but observed o "~masterly inactivity Until Demo.
crazy had slougisd of Free S"ilisln. Nov, the De-
nocratic party of the whole Union is identical, moved
by one spirit, npprehend!ug one danger, having one
object and one enemy. 1t is proud Of its new allies,
who equally add to its consciousness Vi rectitude, and
its a0u6drnce Of strength.