Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-05-15
For fhr Enquirer.
TO THE DEMOCRATS OF VIRGINIA.

For tie Enquirer.
TO THE DEMOCRATS OF VIRGINIA.
When Cirnon was at the head of the A,hsnian
Democracy the aspiring Pericles endesvored to un.
Germine his power and popularity and to obtain su.
preme authority. To accomplish his object be
brought forward proposition To diridc the public
lands among the ,peopic and also to distribute among
them the money IN the treasury. Has not our coun.
try produced many Percles
"Timso Dana0s et doaa jerentss, were the words,
not OF fool, but of whose sagacy had penetra-
| ted the depravity of the heart. The corruption OF
the Romans, the degradation OF the voters the venal
iiyof elections commenced with Tribuntial disribu-
on of corn out of the public granarlesi it proceeded
TO the distribution of the epoils OF foreign nations
1t ended in bringing the spos of the country into
the canvass for the consusbip and in putting up the
Dladetn OF empire itslf TO be knocked down to the
hammer Of the aucti"neer.
! There has always bsen class of men who think il
the duty of government to distribute money or its
equivalent, either directly or indirectly, among the
corrupt, and all who think less of political prncipl.
than OF pecuniary profit. With this class Individual
energy. self-relisncr, industry and economy are
somewhat antedi!uvian, and instead of depending
mainly upon themselves, it is the duty of the people
to look tn government for the means of relief Are
commercial men and spectators in want of funds
Then we are told, that a National Bank will be- very
beneficial in aifurdng loans to the mercantile clsss
rency. Do capitalists, &c, wish to engage in manu-.
featuring pursuits Forthwith an increase of the Ia.
riff is demanded to protect domestic manufactures
and thus render lis independent of foreign supplies.
If in consequence of Incidence, extravaganza aud
pride, many persons become involved, how their
debts to be paid BY the plain and homely virtues
of industry and economy Certainly not. Congress
must relieve the people, by passing Bankrupt law,
dschnrglng debtors from their obligations to pay four
hundred millions of dollars, which were Justly due
IN hnn Anlr h,., rLn IN,
past times have tried tn relieve the people by advo.
eating National Bank, a Protective Tariff and a
Bankrupt Law, are now soliciting your confidence
and sutfrages, and asking YOU to cooperate with
them in their phanthropic and patriotic efforts To
obtain distribution Of the proceeds Of the public
lands.
In November last, you gave Mr.. Buchanan ma
jOrty Of 10000 votes. You knew then and know
now, that he is decidedly opposed to any dislrbu.
rn of tbs proceeds OF the public lands among the
several States. He has been recently inaugurated
and has doue nothing to forfeit your confidence
Are you prepared 10 send 10 Congress and to
the Legislature those who voted against Mr..
Buchanans election, who are hostile 10 his and
to your political principles, and who will spare
no efforts to render the administration odious
to the country1 What new light has been shed upon
the question Of distribution by those distressed poll
ticians-those American Wing Know. Nothngs who
now striving, by misleading you, to save them
selves from oblivion and woe!
For many years. you contended gallantly with the
old Wing party. The contest was arduous, and often
excited, but, truth prevailing over error the Wing
party was defeated and disbandei. This party was
succeeded by Sam, who made apromising deJnt, but
having only two ideas in bis head-hostlity TO TO-
reigners, and to Roman Caholics-he was soon hiss.
ed of the stage. Unable to obtain power by boldly
and openly advocating the leading principles ot The
Wing party or those of the Know. Nothngs uuwii.
Ing to abide by the popular verdict of November
last, and abhorrng that retirement which would be
the appropriate reward Of their past sins, yodr pot
cal opponents are now seeking 10 divide aud mis-
lead you by inc1ssant clanor about the public lands
Gaving defeated the Wing party ard Sam, you have
now to contend with the distribution party, which is
the legitimate offspring of two old "Co0ns' which
had taken refuge in "culvert." AscribiDg Sans
defeat to the multiplicity Of his principles, the dstri-
butionists have determined not to be guilty of
similar folly, and have concluded to try their luck
with only one nripi.. This shallow artiiice merits
exposure and scorn. Why are the disributioniss so
profoundly Silent in reference TO other prnciples!-
Why attempt to conceal from the public eye aud
those other principles which they havs until very re.
Gently upheld, and which they still cherish and
tain IN their hearts! Why do they not come for.
ward with frankness and m8nliness, and advocate
all of their political principles before the people OF
Virginia. When did they discover that a political
party could have any permanent existence with only
one principle, or that one principle suifced for ad
mnstering the affairs ot any government! Can you
doubt. for one moment that if every Democrat in
Virginia in favor of distributing the proceeds Of
opponents would not continue their war against you
upon other grounds and in regard to other questions,
which they dare not nentioD much less discussi
They modestly invite you Democrats to jump up
behind them on their OLD, lame, spawned and wind
broken pony (cal!ed disribItionl and they promise
you, that event, to conduct you in safety through
'all The ills flesh s heir to- Even Sancho Panza
would have been amazed and ashamed to have seen
his erratic master Don Quixoe mounted upon
animal go devoid of beauty and strength Ugly and
ha ic h utD firth m
him virtues as numerous and diversified a.
those claimed by DR.. Brandreth for his marvellous
pills, or DR.. Townsend for his equally marvellous
Sarsaparila. Your opponents being men OF strong
faith are entirely satisfied that, if Distribution pre-
walls, Virginia would soon surpass paradise. Innu
merable rail roads would be but-the public debt
soon paid-the treasury overtlowng-every child
thoroughly educated, and unsurpassed industry un-
precedented honesty, entire harmony and unbounded
prosperity perysde the Commonwealth These
things being obvious, susceptible of mathemat.
ical demonstration, they are amazed at your hesa
ton and incrsdulity. Your opponents were equally
amazed in October ast in finding that you were so
dull and stupid as not to believe them when they
swore that the Democrats ought 10 Withdraw Bnchn
nan as the only of defeating the election oil
Fremont in November.
The arguments against the constitutionality and
pediency of distribution, are unanswered and unan-
swerable. They are we'll known, and we need not
recspitulate them here. The Government Of the
United States was not designed TO raise money for
distribution among the States, and such policy, it
adopted would subvert the relation which the State
and Federal Governments were intended to maintain
respectively. The distribution Of the land money
would soon lead to an augmentation Of the tariff and
such augmentation would infect the staple growing
States more injuriousy than the others. We may
we'll dread the force Of precedent Distribute the
land money, and the time would come when such an
act would be urged ss q reason for distributing the
revenue derived from other sources
Virginia never had larger population or more
wealth than at present. The late valuation of her
land shows an increased value OF one hundred mil.
lions of dollars since 1850 Your opponents great
" concerned about the State debt and State credit.
Are you willing to entrust the preservation OF the
State credit TO set of men who illustrated their re
gard for the sanctity of pecuniary obligations and
their attachment to Individual credit by supporting
the passage of bankrupt law1 Virginia has ample
resources and no creditor Others at home or Abroad
enerains the slightest doubt upon this question: or
any other connected with her integrity.
DO you wish to see the able and accomplished
Hunter re elected to the Senate of the United States!
Do YOU wish to elect the Democratic candidates for
Congress and the Legislature! aso Democratic A.
torney General at the approaching election! If so,
fold not up your arms, and rely not upon your past
success or supposed strength. Apathy may DO much
mischief, while activity cannot. Your opponents are
working actively and secretly. Your ascendancy
was obtained by the use of fair and legitimate means,
but moi without effort and labor Vigilance is essen
tial to the vatou of every political principle
which you advocate. and TO the very existence OF
free government. Go then TO he polls, aniiI no De-
,nocrdt remain at home under The preert that has rote
agiN not Ge nesded.
The greater the extension of the right of suffrage
the greater the necessity of vigilance. The great
msjority of voters 10 Virginia honest, patriotic
and reliable, and trust they always will be. In
addition to these there is class of voters embraced
by the term "hoatiDg voe.' Some of them are in
competent to appreciate their political rights and
duties, while others are easily bribed by any un
prncipled demagogue who will purchase their votes
To the prejudces and selfish nterests Of this class o.
voters demsgogues always address themselves. Cof
fee sugar, meat and money are literally distributed
oseusbly from motives of kindness and beneyolence
but substantially to secure votes. Whenever and
wherever demagogues are found, no matter to what
party they belong it is the duty OF all honest and
patriotic citizens to publicly expose and denounce
tnens should be brought to bear upon an evil,
which thera reaann IN annrehsnd il increasing 10