Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-05-29
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER,
FRIDAY MORNING, MAY 20. Iss7.
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND ITS opPo-
BY RITCHIR, & DuNNAyANr.

NENTS.
The principles OF the Democratic party are as old
as our government In fact they owe their origin to
point OF time even anterior 10 the Constitution
ihey are lhe embodiment of that spirit of liberty
which actuated and animated our forefathers in the
revolutionary struggle, and which is still the motive
power that extends our institutions and guides our
constellation Of States in is course.
Ihat thiS 10 true We need no other evidence than
the durao'y ot Democracy, it's adaptation to the in
terssts OF the whole country and ts almost uuinter.
rupted approval wherever reason regns in place of
prejudice, aud patriotism prevails over passion.
The natural lncongrulty In the intellectual organism
OF men, led to differences Of opinion, in the outset Of
this republic with regard to construction of the Con-
stution, and the mode Of administering the govern.
ment And, hence, two great opposing parties arose,
which, from that time until very recently, uualtered
except in name and in the conformation of measures
to the necessities of the nalion have divided the
American people in their political positions.
The last national rally of the Old Whg Party un
der the banner of General Scott, was followed with
such defeat, as to prove conclusively that
Democratic principles were dominant to such a
degree as to render it necessary for their opponents
either to abandon all effort at their overthrow or to
re.organlEe with Issues and upon another point
G'Gpput. The latter alternative was adup.ed aud
Know Nothinsism, declaring deadly hostility to
foreigners and the Cathoic Church. was the result
For while, those of tie old Wings W ho abandoned
their sinking ship and eItered into an alliance with
renegade Democrats, were attended with such signal
in their first forys in several sections of the
country, as to Inspire tb, new party with hopes Of
q national triumph. b.; already it ia an exploded
experiment. We hear nothing Of the prescription Of
those horrible heretics vho under the direction of the
terrible Pope were desined to destroy the country;
little is said about the Malignant character Of those
frighful foreigners, wp were about to overrun the
nation and lay waite tie institutions of our republic
The party which but yesterday Justify vaunted its
prowess aud power hs dwindlsd already into a fee
BILE faction, and Democracy is in the ascendant in
every Southern Ststsbut Maryland, and in every
Northern State e1ceptwhsre abolitionsm overshades
everything like bsry and law. The canvass in
Virginia is no ipapposis e1emp6cation Of the poti
cal position Of the Southern people.
OF all the old issue which have heretofore been
aetated in contests foi Office there ia now but one
advanced against the Democratic party in this State
and that has been & ohsn, and so positively pro.
nounced unacceptableto the people, that, as the
suit of the elections on Thursday will prove, it
amounts to nothing mre than mere pretext forop-
position.
In the Democratic ank, there are thousands Of
Old-Line Wings, who have manfuly and frankly
yielded to the honest cnvictions Of their judgments,
and determined fer tn, future to labor actively aud
earnestly in that caue, which they believe to EN-
brace the interests of tie people, to sustain the Con-
sti,ution and to hold ou the only hope OF the Union
Our country has grown in wealth aud strength, in
population and in territory, in agriculture, in COM
merce, in MANUFACTURES, in everything that contri
bues to national greatress and individual prosperity
under the auspices of Democratic principles. The
days of partizan prejudice are rapidly passing away
in the South, aboltio1sm rears ts frghttui front
in the North and the institution of elsvery is SO en-
daneersd as TO demand the united action OF all who
are interested in it, to protect it. To oppose the Ds'
mocrscy now, With a party OF even less than respeo'
table strength In the Southern States, would be the
height Of temai,y, it would open breach in the
serred ranks # the South, and render us unable to
beat back the aboli;ioniss in the assault for which
they are actively preparing at The Presidential cleo.
ton In 1861. The country awaits the verdict Of Vlr-
gina with q, ordinary interest. And there s no rea-
son TO believe that it will not bs such to satisfy the
South that he old parties are all extinct, and that no
nsw party c.n fud favor with our people, in opposi
ton to Democracy.