Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-08-04
VlRC!TIA'S RESPONSIBILITY AND POST
1IOS.

In every wellorlared and successful syste:n OF op
erationi. whslher it relates to physics mechanics or
poios, there must necessarily exist as'nc prevailing
principle or superior power Of Influence and cOnro
to restrain the centrifugal tendencies OF the inferior
forces or parts and induce concert at ecticn in tie
whole from the most minute Ar. al Itselt nnlnpor
tant, to the chief clement component. THE truth
is illustrated III everything around Tic, in the works OF
God ind man. in tine simplest and the most ahs:ruse
sciences. And in no instance s it more iorcibly or
beautifully evidenced and exempifed than in the po
liical system Of this country. aud the influence eIer
csed not only by certain cardinal canons OF our Re
publican Aith bu; also by at leas: Que OF the save.
reign States.
The great conservative Democratic doctrine OF
State rights it is not to ho denied. ID. il VIC may SO
express it, the INTERIOR regulator Of ursysem OF gov
erDmcnt. wilhoEt which our institutions would be ut'
.erly .iurracicabe aud altogether ideal in their np'
, p.icstiou. Al the States have separate sovereign
rights over which lhe Federal Government has uo
authority. And it must he by the maintenance o
| those rights, and tho advancement Of tha common
later eats Of tho whole Union, that iho government
can be proved to have answered. tho ends for winch II
was devised and intended. AZ long ms the Consliu
ton lie sricY construed and rigidy observed there
can to 80 iuugsr either OF Federal usurpaton or nj
a6uss of State sovereignty. But in tho North there
are uraied abol;,ionsts who have no hesitation III
openly denouncing tho Constitution und dsclalining
all alecauce to il, who contend for Ill arbitrary e1er
else of usulped authority by bc Feierul Government
ior the accomplishment ol their own REASONABLE puI
pn.ea And 10 the South, there are politicians, who
never seem sa.i ID, unless they are uterng abuses
against the existing condition Of nifairs. The State
of Virginia, standing between tho two cItremes The
uupriucipled traitors of the North, OIL the one hand,
Gnd the furious Gre eating maconenss of the pave-
holding States the olher, operates III ber ihhu-
ence, as a calm CONSERVATION and mediator between
Two violent and dangerous currents oi public senti'
m.nt Virginia has always boon distinguished for
that genuine American spirit, which, willis 1t ID the
sssence of liberty and independence, is at the same
tims loyal and law abiding always ready to resist
wrong, but not prone 10 urcalled for complaint or
unwarranted sspersious upon public men and mea-
sures upon prctcxs of imaginary insult and injury
In the councils of tho nation tho Voice oi virginia
is always heard @ith reverence and h'GH considera'
:ion And, in the Democratic party. the Opinions ol
the Old Dominion are received ns the soundest
,loctrire. The precepts OF Jefferson and Madi.
sun md Mason, are still retained and taught,
and obeyed by the Virginia Democracy, in their
primitive purity and power The rights OF the
States are watched with waketul eye, the nsti-
tutions of the South are guarded at every possible
poip;. the Constitution is adhered TO without waver
uy, and the Uoion is upheld US something sacred, as
long as the principles of tho government, honestly
administered constitute ts supporting pillars Una
ultsrated Democracy, that glorious ard invincible
old psrty, which acknowledges in equal membership,
N. man of Massachusetts or Vermont and him Of
T.xns or Louisiana finds lis fonrtain.head in Fir-
g,ia. Here We never yield right, nor do ne ever
AJAX NOR, than is GUARANTEED by the Constitution.-
Wa s,srd NY the Democratic party, in sunshine and
in Storm and never desert liz official agents and
,reseota.ives ous as they enforce or attempt TO
enforce those principles which do justice to each
S,ste and ell sections. The Democracy of Virginia
nsyer become inluria;ed, and insist upon dissolu.
lion of the Union on account of every trivial error
which mag possibly be construed into damage oi
Southern interests. They never cry out for
war ualess there is good cause, and then
they arc found firm and unfinching. Like men
OF that genuine courage, which never ausils wheD
there is real danger the sterling Democrats OF our
noble old State not given to demonstrations OF
hostility unless there is reason to justify thsu'