Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-05-19
For lie EYHHt1'
RICHMOND DELEGATION

RICHMOND DELEGAIlON.
Mes.rs. Editors There are periods. in the deve'-
cI,nent of pnrty organization, which denrnd At 'i1
hands of every true psrio sacrifice of party ana
personal productions for the general good Oh Tue
community.
Such H. ct this time, the posture of parlies-ns de-
sigused by their mere nnmes-ia the CRY OF kich
mond, that every refscting mind nust perceive th-
peculiar proprety OF some basis Of popular action su
psrior in strength aud more elevated III principle than
mere party names.
AS a city. We need the fostering hand Of wise
JUST, discriminating Stat" lpgi-alon; people, We
need the salutary Influence nf enlarged. dsihter
ested straightforward reformation in the fuudamsn
| tai principle OF our popular action. The peculiar
e1gencies Of the times requires wisdom above party
dogmas, and demand foresight superior 10 persona
pr.judces. The cloud which go darkly ovsrshadows
the future destiny Of our national existence briohrn7
the necessity of timely and we-orgsn7 I'd Effort ~
prepare Virginia for the storm.
The great state revolutions the Shiboleth of parry
is impoent; the only reliable shield IT, that POWER
which rests ill., and derives its moral turcs from Ii-
free unbiased enlightened, patriotic action OF ih-
great body of the people: hence it sometimes be-
COMES imperOuelY, The duty of all we'll disposed and
loyal ci:izens-io dot The badge of party, and as
the more enlarged and elevated .raudard OF the
pub 10 goad-as opposed 10 every outward and suta
gonstic element OF popular action.
The present posture Of pIrtes in Richmond is a.
peculiar rs il is signh ant. As parry, the DINO
Gratis a larg, minority and Their f,rr accord ny
10 all rules of m-r. party action, they inp"feni
for good in a mere party struggle. As party, rest
Ing ON Legitimate aud recognized party orghnz.'ion
the Old line Wings are in acknowledged postum
OF autagonsm to The American parfy while the AGne
rcau party ia in d.j Jnt-i .nieeD cd, increasing
state OF rapid decateuce. Besides all this, each Of
these parties divided among thenstlres as 10 the
policy Of their reapsct,ve action. lu other words
there is no party power in Richmond. equal to the
necessity, OF ~ concentrating public feeling and d
rectng public energy, as 10 meet the necessities and
ward IF the dangers which press upon the hopes
and THREATEN the commercial and manufacturing wU
fare Of Richmond.
The ticket nominated by the American and VII ::
parties-so deuominated-is unpopular, and the gsn.
raj wish be, that some mods of aciion shoull
bs adopted, by which be secured the very best Ia
leafs and the most influential men In The oiIy. Now,
how is this TO be accomplished There is hut one
| way. as must appear manifest to every r-d-cfing
mind which Is, for the TINA being, 10 forge, purty
and for erery true psli rhsr to the real interests of
Ric6mond, TO nes and elect the reyy best and a6le.t
men the city can q5ord. Cannot this BE- donr7
Will not the Democrat act with the Whig1 Will
not the dsinflct-d American act with both Wing and
Democrat L. there any thing wrong weakening
in thi.l Let no true Democrat dissent. Did not Mr.
Wise owe his election Ia the ola line Wnigs1 Wac
not the Increased vote of MIR. Buchanan in tbe ate.
AZ we'll as in this city, attributable 10 the votes Of the
old line Wings and the dsnected Asercans7 Has
not X. NJ. T. Hunter been t,0iee e-c-d TO tho U. 5.
Senate by the vote. of the old lns Whigs
He who thinks that there are any peculiar attrao.
Line Wings and dsinfec,ed Americans Is nstak-n.
Theses independent, self poised patriotic men, are
attracted to the Democratic party BY any mere par.
ty sffinities. They rather dr1'cn from The ali.
dnce beirecn the IWtg and dmsr,eaa parties. by
their devotion TO State rights. Theirs are nsDy mem.
hers of Wing aud American parties, in the city Of
Richmond, who CANNOT act with those parties M
they ar. now organised, They regard tho existing
alliance rs destitute of every principle, and the result
of the unworthy thirst 10: pc cal power.
10 has yhi
has heretofore divided, aud must ever disrac: the
councils and weaken the party organization OF this
unnatural alliance. allude 10 the l.. n section, of
memorable note in tbs history of the American party.
give il below, with the expression of the belief tina.
there are many hundred Wings and Americans in
Richmond, who, OH proper lssue, would cooperate.
heart and soul, wiki the Democratic party, placing
in power, men who now are and ever have heen true
to tbs cardinal principle embodied in that seoti,n. and
which was shsmefully surrendered 10 meet the dc.
mands Of the North!
"l2. The American party, having arisen upon the
ruins. and in spite Of the opposition Of the Wing and
Democratic parties, cannot be held in any manner
responsible for the obnoxious acts or violated pledges
of either. And the systematic agitation OF the Slave
ry question by those parties having elevated sec
tioual hostility into positive element OF political
pcwer, and brough; our institutions into peril il has
therefore, become the imperative duty Of the Anne
rican party nerpose, for the purpose Of giving
peace to the country and perp-tul;y 10 the UuIon-
And experience ba, shown it impossible TO recon
ce opinions so extreme as those which separate the
dspuiauts, and a. there be no dsh0nOr in submit
ting to the laws the National Council has deemed il
the best guarantee OF common justice and ut tnur~
peace 10 abide by aud maintain tho existing law
upon the subject OF Slavery, rs final and conclusive
settlement OF thst suhieci, in fact and in substance
And regarding the highest duty TO avow their
opinions upon atuhl-ct 20 important in distinct aud
un quivocai terms, is hereby declared 'h. scn'r
Of this National Council that Congress possesses no
pow.r, under the Consultation, 10 l-g>la.e upon the
,f in thu SfHrea yh-th. ip.a
nsy exist, or 10 exclude any States from admission
into hs Union bec.use its Constitution does or doe
not recognize the institution Of Slavery rs par' o
It's social svsien and expressly preform;tng any tx
preston of opinion upon the power ct Congress |"
,sIsbh or pruhibi; Slavery in arg Territory, il l;
the sense of the National Council that Congress
ought not TO legi.ate upon The subjec OF Slavery
within the Territories Of The United states, and thai
any interference by Congress with Slavery Us It e1
lsts in the District of Columbia, would be violation
Of the spirt and intention of the compact by whic'
The State Of Maryland coded tho District TO the Un
ted States, and breach of the National faith"
By the repeal Of this sectloH-under The dem1nds
of the Nortn-eecordsd by tem disa;l-cted po
riaus in the South the coA-crse princp!e was, by
implication. admitted. And YET tine nominees 0f the
American and Wing parties, il is believed sans'to"'
I'd the repeal Of ths see!ion. and thus surrcnder'd M
oniy protectrr diure an me tirr p1to' "a. on whrh
the South roud hap 10 stand. Is it proper 10 place
the iegslas,pe poer Of Richmond, In The hands, and
at the dispusaI Of men. WIN. In such q eri's as *
;sted during the las, Presidential el.ct'"n, 'urre:de'
ed hi. principle at the bidding Of he NrthI
Beaides all this, there Is necessity for having The
most exp.renced, inf lential nnI commanding repre-
sentatves in the NIX, legislature. Men who'1 m NOR
arc maturei, whoss experience Is '1isnlrd "ho''
wisdom his b. en- tested and whose powers ere qua
20 the occasion-men who will rise superior I" paT "
and study alone the great interest OF the S'a;1 a.
blended with the developments OF The resources OF
our city.
Under these circumstances, will 1t not es the mnct
onfI1 "a ma
nnre fur of our ahl.st m-n- two Wings ana wv
Democrats Can not rlse superior To ihe narrow
conceptions ut tbs m-re party man, and IN g"''
.srn.st yrapnis with the elements Of ruin which So
Overwhelmingly STARE us The face Can We III" =" I'M"
citizens IN cling in which Ihs vince OF REASON ."l
silence :ae sens. ess C;an"r q party ani the Er'r'-
deibera. resolves Of he people Illustrate the wisdom
of popular action Csa we not forget the badge
COMMERCIAL interests o, Richmond, aud shielh th-
Constitution from the increasing dangers OF North
ern fanatici.mi
MAJ IS, 1857. v. IL. D.