Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-03-31
Tor p: ENYNFT'
TO THE VOTERS OF NEW KENT,
CITY AND JAMES CITY.

Gentlemen A Convention Of the DemocIsu'
pa-ty, held III B~arhsmsville in the county 81 ~
Kent, on thu 2ls: inst., unanimously nom:ns.e1 y.
rs the candidate 10 be voted for al tine ciiarin2 sgr,nH
election, to represent ihsm in the next House oi Eei :
a:ates OF Virginia. Suffice it TO say, ;nsi var
feel deeply indebted 10 my Democratic irienos ~
this exhibition Of confidence which they nave mae..
Tested 10 selecting me as their standaru'9 eaIeI ~
tie spring campaign. l have neither souen. not =
pected tba, honor. | have no po!i'ic'l e;p'ra'onr,
but believe it to bs my duty, both as q c'tizsh "ta
patriot, when called upon by my fellow citizens. !"
serve them inso important and Responsible a posi- o.
that for which they hGvs selected me, to aciniesce ~
their decision. While, from my professional naone,
my Thoughts, for the most part, flow in anotne' an1
a quite different channel, yet [ have no: been entire.
ly unmindful Of pact political events. ana, IN ~
event Of my inability TO visit all parts OF the Dietlo',
to make known my political opinions, | deem II ~.
unsuitable To do so, 10 concisely as / Can, thfouSH
this medium.
Those old land which have heretofore con,
stiled the shibboleth of the Democratic creed, sun
rigidly and infexibly adhere to, as the cardinal prin1
ciples OF the party and believe them 10 De esseh.'a'
to the perpetuity of o well balanced government
all suitable occasions openly and boldly deciareo
their opposition to q United States Bank, q hlgh pro
tec,ive tariff, internal improvement by the general
government and a distribution of the proceeds OF the
public lands ; the opposition, on the contrary, when
known and recognized as the old Wbis party. adro'
SotSA N1At "iha ooiAdp~S e"N
! worthy Of q better cause. But after repeated iai.'
ures before the people to sustain themselves in their
advocacy of these strongly federal measures, true to
their instinct, by a sudden g%yration, they tnetamor'
phoaed Themselves into u new and worse organization
called The "know-Sothing;'' for a time, seemed 70 ig
more the old Issues which had hitherto uniformly d.
vided the two parties, that they might introduce
others, which they hoped might prove more success
full in lifting them into office. They were encourag
ed to pursue this course by their successi in lS4o, when
the Bank question was considered by them, previous
10 the election. as an "obsolete idea" and the revenue
tariff was acquiesced in. When Congress assembled
the world knows the deception that was practised
upon the people. A bank bill Wa. passed. aud but fol
tho accidental administration and Roman 6rmness o.
Mr. Tyler, the people would have been badly cheat
cd and the progress of the nation inpeded. Again
in ls4s a .imilsr deception was prectised upon the
Democracy BY denominating Gen. Taylor . no part,
candidate. This now organization, then, BENG com.
posed Of that part of the old Wing party, the leas,
qualified for, but most vc-ccious tor the spoi,s o.
Office, and the duped and dissffected OF the Dem
ocratio party, by a secret system OF ,le~gerdemai[
banded themselves together, and made open anc
unconstitutional war upon the Catholics and foreign
ers. According to their motto, Americana should
govern America thereby, hoping TO succeed to Of
Ace by pandering to the preiudIces OF the native
born citizens. To the honor Of Gov. Wise. this factor
was crushed in Virginia, aud in the whole Souih!-
Now, after having been. repeatedly, foiled in theN
many Vaccinations by the great conservative Demo
cratic party, they, In the kindness of their hearts, ar,
willing 70 give up all other question:, Yen, even t
forget the Catholic aud foreigner, if the Democracy
Of Virginia will but unite with Thorn in receiving
Virginia's quota of the public land fund-a fuEt
coded TO, and acquired by the General 60 ,srnuent
and Of right belonging to it for its own-peclhc purpo
ees; and from which it cannot be diverted withou
infringing those well defined landmarks erected be
tween it and the States. Abstract it from the Cnitet
State. Treasury, and Immediate the vacuum mus
be filled by other means. Hence It becomes C step
ping stons by which monopo.ist5 aud protectioniet
are TO accomplish their long cherished objects at tbI
expense of the great mass OF consumers. This ma
MIA for distribution has ever been q iaVorite iheor.
with Northern manufacturers, and must of couse
ausnce, be in direct opposition 10 the interest Of tn
South. But you are told Virginia 10 grooming unde
an oncrous burden of taxation, and that, now, in be
time of need. she will b. immeasurably benefited b.
this preferred bonus. ..
In the affairs of our State-that our taxes are some
what burdensome, and that the people may, to som
extent, groan under them. But what Of this !
Shall this glorious old Commonwealth, whose homo
is above all price, 40 far gully her tlme'honored es-
cutcheoD, by crouching and stopping as q meudican
at the footstool of the General Government, ca Il
suppiicate alms7 Away with the Idea, spurn tn,
thought with disdaiD; reply upon your own resources
90 to work and relieve the State OF her indebtedness
not by begging Of the General Government or re
ce!ving an unconstitutional donation thereform, but b!
developing her own resources "a speedily as possible
resources unequsil-d by those Of any other State il
the Union. This can only be done by a completion Q
The great thoroughfares Of the STATE Gs coon as prac
ticable, so that they may be made to pay a revena'
into the State treasury. All minor works should b.
abandoned, a. least for the present. Complete The
Covington and Ohio Rail Road-that great ar'er,
through which the great Western heart may send IT
rich lie. blood 70 Virginia TO reVivity her anaaulh
condition. This being done, We shall have on
continuous route from the Ohio river 10 the seaboard
likely to be the grandes. and most profitable in
proyement IN iuo nation.
Respectfully, your fellow citizen,
w. p. RicHARDsos.
NEW KEsT, March 26, 1857.