Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-06-09
THE VICTORY IN VIRGINIA.

THE VICTORY IN NlhGlNlAs
II has now been nearly two weeks since the cleo
fop, We have furnished our readers regularly will
\ the returns as thsy have reached US. And now tina
thew have been received from almost all the counties
in the State assuring Of an undivided Democratic
delegation in Congress, and, as usual, an overpower
ing majority in the Legislature it may be neither ill
timed nor inappropriate to revert briefly 10 the cam
pagn and its consequences.
There il nothing novel in victory of the Virginia
Democracy. But ii il always an important and In
etructive event.
The dangers inherent in our system OF government
Ike all other alloy nssparable from human in'''tu
fiona ara IN bs .pprehended as the results rather OF
excess in the exercise of the enjoymens and prefog
stves which republican institutions confer than IN
abuses of the authority oonfded to the represen
tatyes of the people, This fact has been atested by
the whole history of our country, from s origin as an
independent power 20 the present time; and it ID still
illustrated more forcibly than ever, in the daily re-
currepce of such acts and scenes, seriously threat
On overthrow to the Constitution and the
Union through the agency of unprincipled dema-
gogues and an Infatuated popuace. And it is the Pc
ouliar province Of Virginia to exert an Influence in
favor Of the repression of this spirit Of license in the
guise of liberty, which, with impunity from any
imputston of invidiousness may say eau be ex-
srosd by no other State in the Union to the same ex
tent. The historic associations of the Old Dominion
halowed in the heart Of every patriotic American
North and South and East and West, her early set
Element her colonial recoections, her participation
IN the revolution from its inception to its end the con-
seryatlye character of her citizens, her liberal dona-
tions TO the country of territory, PATRIOTS statesmen
aud soldiers her uuwavering adherence to consttu-
tional principles all combine to invest Virginia with
an extraordinary influence the affairs of this nation,
which her position enables her to exert
with the additional advantage of an almost centric
situation IN the confsderscy 1t is for this reason,
that the election. in this State attended with an
importance higher than that OF the vote OF Viz
gna in the Congress of the United States or in the
Electoral College.
The moral weight of the decisions of our people,
In all matters pertaining to the politics Of the coun
try is essentially effective upon other States. Had
KnowNothingism proved successful here, who can
doubt that the whole South would hare yielded to
its sway, Had tho dangerous doctrine OF dissrou'
ton produced division among the Democracy OF
virginis, and enabled the opposition TO break into
our ranks, with what confidence could we anti
cipas the results Of the elections in Tennessee, North
Carolina, Arkansas, Alabama, Kentucky and Te1asi
Had the voice Of Virginia been heard on the 18th
May in condemnation instead of the approval Of the
administration, and the principles to which it is
pledged what hope would We have for an united
South in the next Presidential csntestf Had the
principal pillar of the Union trembed on its base
with what certainty would the lovers of liberty look
to It for support when the country is convused
again with terrible test of strength between patr
OTIS and traitors But it 10 not so. The consistent and
conservative people Of this old aud unyieding cita
del OF Democracy have declared again their devo-
ton to the Union and incorporating adhesion to
the Constitution aud sister States of the South
will doubtless be encouraged to emulate the e1-
ample.
Before the commencement of the Spring campaign,
II was difficult to determine exactly the character of
the enemy should encounter, upon what ground
and with what weapons We should be met. The ad
vsnturoas SAN, it was we'll known had disappeared
almost suddenly, if not quite 30 mysteriously as
be came. And the few of his former followers, who
sti struggled through the State without lead
or, without object and without a hope. The old
Wing party had been honored with eulogslic epitaphs
throughout the country; and the Presidential cleo
ton had left the Democracy in Virginia, to all prsct
osl purpose, sole occur.'ts of the arena But the
war.ory raised in due time, and distribution re.
sounded in the ears Of the peoples followed rather
accompanied by dsafening flourish oftrumpets over
generous taxes" and the deporabe condition of
our internal improvements. The States were
pointed to the recipients of the public lands, bat
tenng upon the bounty of the Federal Gov
eminent, and old Virginia was tainted, de-
rdso. wept over and importuned, on account of
her refusal to lay claim to and accept portion Of the
public lands. But it was all cloves labor lost"
upon the patriotism and infe1ible principles of her
people, The day Of election came, the marshaled |
troops deployed. the battle oughtand splendid
victory won again by the unadulterated and indomi.
table Democracy Of the Old Dominion. The effect
will be felt in the elections in Arkansas Texas, Ten.
nessee, North Carolina Kentucky and Alabama in
August, and seen again when the cohorts of Black
RepubicaDism charge upon the Constitution and the
South in 1860.