Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-21
"PUBLTUs."
To tie Editors ~t the Enqvirfr::

! BY INV own. II has never been set to an TN
patriotic sentiment II has never been set tC
any opinion in conflict with the principles o
the Democratic creed With sorrow sometimes
il has been in the array OF a forlorn hope against
the Democratic nominees II has once been r
the array which swcllci out into triumphant
majority in the United States against the ther
favorite of the Democracy Of Virginia for re
election to the Presidency. Il stood up then IN
its pride. before the election. and veilcd itScl
afterwards in fears strongly felt. but gently bo
died forth in expression, that the defeated De-
mocratS' successful competitor would be swerv'
ed in the federal administration from his ante
ccdentS and run into all the cxccsscS OF the
American system, unlcr the influence OF Its
impcrious leader The lamcntcd death Of that
President, in ono short month after Inc was i'll
stalled, relieved those fears, when the robes OF
Presidential authority mantcd the shoulders of
John Tyler, who wore them so gracefully and
so strongly, as. without 4 party to give ASST
rance ola man of the oldcn time, and to stem the
torrent of the opposition of the then combined
host Of Presidential aSpirants for the success
sion-and with tho aid and comfort of few
staunch friends to write his own and his coun-
try's rcnown and wcll-doing in the successes
of an administration. than which no other that
had gone before will be handed down on i
brighter page in history to adinring and CRATE
full posterity.
This well known name Of mine has been set
in opposition to some few measures Of Demo-
cratic policy. It was in the array with Thomas
Rtchic against the sub-treasury. The Demo
cratic Convention. in ls39 in the address Of
the party of that year to the people Of Eirg-
,,.o nj mn
measure test of political orthodoxy, or oppo-
sition to it ground of political prescription.
But, as soon aS the Slh-trcasury scheme was
adopted "Pubius" proclaimed his willingness
to give il 4 fair trial. and said, that if he were
dictator. considering the eXigcncicS of the
public service and the most thorough invcsti-
cation the subject had undergone in the cruel.
bic of political polemicS, and the difficulty Of
mastering fiscal agent, faithful and efficient
in the operations Of the Federal treasury.
which had staggered the wiscSt statesmen and
the purcSt patriots of the aye, he would not
rcpcal the measure short ot trial OF thirty
wears. And, again. have walked in the Sha'
dow of this name with steady step and I'M
blcnchcd face. IN opposition, but in support Of
the peculiar institutions Of the South in op-
posing the whole Kansas legislation and its
conscqucnts. such as l.ccompton, until almost
rs one man. the South must say. and do admit,
that We have, in this controversy, gained no
material advantage have jeoparded the pros
pcrt Of slave States out Of Texas, and have
ONLY Won 4 moral victory, which would have
been only the more radiant in its glorics, if
the South, as Senator Hammond has lately said
he thought she would. had kicked Lccomp-
ton .out Of Congress
will not further rctracc the humble walk
of Publiris than to say that he has opposed the
caucus, in its essential characteristic, that he
who docs not implicitly obey all its behcsts, is
traitor or renegade Nobler spirits earth
has not seen, nor trucr Democratic Rcpubli-
cans i'm the advocacy Of the genuine articles Of
the faith. than not few who have re-
bcled against the dcspotic will of King Caucus.
He will have to be somewhat brought
down from the memorable exactions of his
iron will, or he must he dethroned For
the good Of the country, the mildcr reign Of
conventions must supplant him in the atIec-
tions of the people. Such concentrations Of
the popular power as will freely and without
rrpru,ch canvass the merits Of competing ~
vorite> for posts of trust in the public service,
and not deny diSscntcrS decent burial or the
more valuable privilege ofan unSpotted rcsurrcc.
ton at the next general Judgment. II Is not
right-it is not wisely mcrcilul-it is not pa
trotic--t is not judicious in our complex Sys-
TEN Of governments and rnultilOrn interests Of
vast magnitude; nor does an effective scheme
Of party tactics require that men who have
done the State some servicc-who have barred
their boSoms to the battles rage. in struggling
for tho asccndancy Of great principles-who
have acted in concert with their party in the
gcncra--shall be thrown abroad in after times,
because, in the recttude Of their noble souls,
they have not been able to support every can
didatc and every measure Of their party in
time past. As for myself, had rather lay
Inc down in such cold and narrow, minded oh
S,ructions to promotion. and rot in obscurity.
than to give up the privilege Of opposing my
party when think it is not serving my coun
try 1t is full OF mischief in this way, when
every departure from the line Of party is jottcd
down as mortal sin; that men Of ability and
independent modes of thought and conduct,
who alone arc likely to make mark in their
country's march to greatness, will be put
aside for less able men who have that ability
in larger measure with no less purity OF mo-
tive. which prompts them to stand firm in the
politicians high appreciation of political con-
siStency.
Ny vicw Of the late nomination Of Mr.. Let
cher under the influence Of the political princi-
pies by which have been invariably governed,
is this: II had been acting in the organization
Of the party. | would not have supported his
nomination. because mon Of cleaner records
than his. and of equal capacity and public ser
vice. might have been found, and were nomi-
mated for the candidacy. expect to vote for
him now to hc next Governor, although his re-
cord has that blcmlsh; and in this view Of the
subject. that have never believed il right in
itself or wise in our sectional relation TO the
aboliionists Of the North, 10 make the question
raised on his record test in orr domestic clcc-
tons. Whatever differences Of opinion have
existed. or do now exist amongst US. in the
moral or politco-economical aspect Of negro
slavery. there are points on which all men in
the South do agree. These points in chief are
resistance OF any and all manner Of foreign
interference. and the desire To extend the lnSti-
tuition. by all lawful means, into the new in
coming States \ difference Of views. or how
best to effect these objects ought To he toicra-
ted amongst us. The North should have no
rrlmb of comfort TO feed on. that there is any
man AMONG us. as they might infer there are
>omcl from the contest and elimination which
| dcprccatc, when in truth there is Tiu man
among lis, who is untrlStwor,hy on the chief
points above specified PrHIit>
Fer he Enqvirrr
TO THE DEMOCRATS OF HANOVER
Our present able. energetic and worthy dele
gate having declined to become candidate Tor
seat in our next Legislature, and the time being
not far distant for nominating a suitable person
TO supply his place, | take this carly occasion
to suggest the name of a gentleman cminently