Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-05-08
THE RICHMOND ENaUIRER.
BY RITCHIE. & DUNNAvANT.
FRIDAY MORNING, MAY S, 1857.
uUISTRIBCTIONn

This ra!!ying cry of the opposition, for the i'm.
peudng elsctons in Virginia, broke upon the public
ear like the harmless howl of hyena over the grave
of the hapless victim, buried too long 10 afford aughi
elss but bones nr its hunSered appetite. The faint
and feeble wall of al expiring party, il has here and
there, awakened an echo within the vaults which
encoac The mortal remains OF Whiggery. The ee.
pulchral sound acccrds admirably with the hygienic
condition Of the political organisation, which strives
10 swell IL into nspriting anthem; hoping to re-
vVe in the memories OF it's old edherents the recol
lectiona OF other days by this familiar music, and
like the jugglers in Indis, who seduce unsuspectng
ssrpents and eutrap them under the charm of sweet
sounds, to tickle the tympanun Of injudicious De-
inocrats ard decoy them into an attitude OF antsgo.
nlsm 10 their own party. The cry OF "dstrbution"
has been heard before by the people of Virginis.-
but now, as the last remnant Of the wreck to which
the few survivors cling ls sinking into the sea, the
shouts OF despair are raised to pitch, which be.
speaks an agonzing consciousness Of frghtful fate.
Inc engagement in the storm Of November left the
adventurous vessel of the opposition dsmantled and
leaking, officers ell wounded or dead, with mutt
nous crew and no hosptable haven in view. And
now that tho elements are again gathering porten.
touuy, the skies darksning, and the beginning to
swell, and murnu. with al ominous sound, Hsg of
distress, with pisrRIs0Tlos on both sides, is hung
eui and the shrleks OF the ship.wrecked sailors are
waited upon the breeze ha. precedes the gale feebly
because there are few left but with ali the conceu.
trated intensity OF dying despair.
The specious arguments Of the opposition may
have Induced Democrats, TT tue commencement of
the campaign, to doubt. But they were few then,
and they are fewer now who are disposed to desert
from the serrIed ranks, whose march il always to
victory, and whose principles have stood the test of
more trying times than these There has hover been
period in the history Of this country, when political
principles were lees capable of compromise without
detrmsnt to the nation than now. The Union is se.
riousy alarmingy asssiled: the constitution is over.
ruled by State statutes the rights of the South are
denied, and the freedom Of government is abused
An iraerible adherence to principle alone can
save US. Virginia has eve. been distinguished for
her conservative character, for her loyalty to liberty
rs it s expressed in the Constitutions for her fairness
her ustness and generosity. for her condemnation
expediency at the price Of principle.
The public land trust has been abused by the Genera
Government. But Virginia has had no agency in it
And now that her peope are again called upon, tr
express their opinion upon question, which they
have 80 often and unequrocaly condemned, it i,
not to be expected that they will either reverse o,
qualify the verdict which they have repeatedly re
affirmed. and have never had reason TO regret.
Ii the proceeds of the public lands amounted t.
miions in ths Treasury of the United States, which
unfortunately for the advocates of disribution is fa
! from being the case the several States would stil
nave no more claim npon the governniti ,esch fol
| its share, than they have to remand the righ: o.
declaring war, establishing post-ofhces and post
roads, any other delegated trust authority. il
the public lands poured into the treasury annually
ten times the amount necessary for the expenses Of
the nation, the Fedora Government would bs estopped
! tssn, as it is now from appor'ioning them among
the States, end the States would be precuded frcm
claiming them in reparate portions by the same
express provisions Of The grants, desds of oession
and the Constitution. Whether they pay mil
lions or nothing, the duty Of tho trustee is the
same, to employ them for The public good Of all the
States together.
We await the elections on the fourth Thure.
| day Of th!s month, With degree Of interest far
IBore than commensurate with the weight Of the
opposition we are sbou. TO encounter. We arc as
cured Of u tremendous majority IN the State, as q
matter of course, but anxiety inctes to hope
for an increase even upon the $4,000 of November
last. The Old Dominion will be the flagship of the
Southern .qusdron in 1861 and 1t is desirable that
she should 60 into the action under every advantage
A few months ago. Catholics and foreigners were
the especial horror of tne opposition today "distr
button" is the shibboleth. What will it be in four
! weeks more!