Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-11-09
A SEVERE REBUKE.

Ii has not heretofore been our lot tn read 20
severe rcbukc aS that administered to the
LetchcritcS in Yesterdays Examiner, and
which we reproduce to-day. The democratic
papers throughout the State will please copy =
"Gracchus by so doing they will advance
the interest of their party.
Most heartily do we agree with 'Gracchus,
that there is All "attcmpt, on the part of the
politicians and press, virtually 10 take this
power tthe election of the chief officers of the
State out Of your Uhc peoples hands, and AS
sumo it themselves" and it is against this e at
tempt" that the Enquirer has waged its
war.
The first intimation of this attempt appeared
in the violent organs of Mr. Lctchcr. where the
inSinuation was made that there was no nc
eeSSity for the iormality Of Convention;
these politicians and press having picked
put the man whom the people m"st elect. This
was the proclamation of one of Mr.. Lctchcr's
organs. An indignant voice soon caused it to
be explained away. but now the rest seem to
be looking forward 10 the Convention. As an
assembly which will only meet together for the
purpose Of ratityins their decree$ The pco-
pie, according to them, must he called together
merely to register their cdictS.
Well may "GracclluS" ask, "is not the pow
er of election thus virtually departing from the
hands of the people" when the man is die
tated to the State by the politicians and press,
and the voice of the friends of every other
Democratic candidate Smothcrcd by the noisy
clamor Of the factiouS..
'ln view of all the circumstances, we with
'GracchuS) ''call upon the people to 20 to Pc.
tcrsburg on the Cd of December, and rise in
the majesty Of their strength and rcbuke this
spirit" All that the Enquirer ever asked
or desired was that the voice of the peopfe
might be hcard-that those whose duty it is to
elect, should bc heard by the body that
selects the candidate That Edmundson
should not be crushed out, because a
few factiouS politicians and press have
purposes of their own to serve, and are
using the name of Mr.. Lctchcr to accomplish
their ends That Judge Brockenbrough
should not be ostraciscd from the affections and
sympathics of the Democracy Of Virginia
because the ''politicians and press "have
worked themselves into a perfect phrcnzy over
this work, which properly belonged to the peo
pie" That Tucker should not be ignored tc
advance Lctchcr; that Hopkins and Floyd and
Faulkner should bc heard through their friends
and that the peop'e should say which one OF
Virginia'S sons they preferred for the nominee
This has been the work of the Enquirer" for
doing this work. for standing by the right o
the people, and against the schemes and
Vaccinations of the politicians anu press,
we have enraged our contemporaries until they
have lost all sense of propriety in decent
Journalism.
Then LET 1.-THE Democratic papers throug houi
the State please copy" the subjoined from the
EXAMINER :"
Tror the Richmond Examiner.
AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE oF ihGlNlA
Fellow Citizens: In view Of the approaching Dem
ocr.tic Convention, and the course which has been
pursued by the politicians and the Democratc press
Tor the last few months, the writer one OF the pco
pie of Virginia, begs your attention while he offers
few reflections and suggestions:
And first, let look closely ut what has bcei
tr,nspiring before our eyes. The chief executive
offices OF the State being to elect next Spring, this
duty, according TO the Constitution OF our state,
dcyolveS upon the people: bu; | ask you TO look
closely ut what has been tnnspring, and see whether
there is not attempt, the part Of the politicians
aud press. virtually TO take this power oni cl your
hands and assume it themselves. Is not nomination
equivalent to election: We suppose none will de-
ny this. unless most outrageous selection should
bc made. And does not the signs OF the times in
dcatc that the nomination is virtually 10 he made
even before the people have assembled i'll Con
ventlon, IL far IL the politicians and the press
can effect ii. Some have gone far, if We mis-
~ even for the formaty of Convention: they
having picked ont the man whom the people mgd
elect, and the rest SEEN 10 be LOOKING, forward Ia the
Convention Us an assembly which will only meet to-
gcther Tor the purpose OF 1tiiyiiS :her dcYees.--
The people, according TO them, must bc called from
their homes, merely Ia rcgistc their cdicS. Is not
the power OF the election thus virtually departing
from the hands OF the people: Far better would it
have been if this power had remained in the lcgiS-
lature; the peoples representatives, who
sponsblc to them, could more legitinatclv exercise
tan the politicians and tie press who have worked
themselves Into II perfect phrenzy over this work,
which properly belongs TO the people; and as Il re-
suit of the Whole, the sad spectacle is presented OF
the leaders and the press of the Democratic party Of
Virginia having made trnce with the enemy to
play out the game OF The Kilkenny among them
selves.
We ask again. if, under this policy, the power
which rightly belongs to the people is not passing
ont Of their hands. True. portion OF them will
A.. IL. 81, al. -.,.i