Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-05-20

consistent with the plighted faith of the nation
and must diminish its growth and prosperity
Gov. SMITH FAILED TO VOTE. Why was this,
Will the Sentinel take "glance" at this
and give us an explanation why Gov. Smith
failed to indicate by his vote what his opinion,
were OH these resolutions?
If he was sincere in opposition to Know
Nothingism, it was his duty as Il represcn
tatiye to have voted in favor of the motion tc
suspend-which was accepted as a test vote
But does not this failure to vote indicate at leas
timidty unbccoming representative of vir
ginia?
We have witnessed with no little amusement
the effort of the Sentinel" to create the in
preston that Gov. Smith is the accepted Dc
mocratic Candidate, but we have in vain ana
Used the reasons advanced to find any thing
conclusive.
The Sentinel first assumes that Governor
Smith is such by virtue of incumbency, but
wholly fails TO tell what number of Opposition
votes made him the incumbent We presume
if he was elected by Opposition votes, even the
poor plea Of incumbcncy will not apply in this
case Next, all the arts of circumlocution ART
employed to make it appear that Governor
Smith is stronger than Mr.. Shackelford. Such
may be the fact, but there is no evidence to
support it save the assumptions of the "Senti
nel." But why is Governor Smith more the
Democratic candidate than Mr. Shackellord p
The relative strength of the two men cannot
enter as an element into this question. Has
Governor Smith cvinccd more consistency to
Democratic principles than Mr.. Shackeltord?-
The Sentinel" will hardly contend that he has,
when the desertion of 1855 is remembered. -
We challenge the Sentinel to point out any
conduct OH the part Of Mr.. Shackelford that
tended to the overthrow Of the Democratic parl
ty.
If the result of the election should be the
triumph of Mr.. Thomas at whose door will
the consequences lie The advocates Of Mr..
Shackelford are the opponents of Gov. Smith
apon principls: they are now contendng for
the same principles and the same organization
for which they fought in 1856. These men will
never, and ought never to desert the principles
for which the whole Democracy of Virginia
contended in that memorable contest These
principles have received not only the approba
ton of the Democracy of Virginia, but they
were embodied in the Cincinnati platform, and
have received the sanction of the whole nation
To desert them now, and advocate the election
of Gov. Smith, would be to abandon the ma
tional platform for the triumph Of an individual
This they can never do. But cannot the sup.
portcrs of Gov. Smith rally to the principles o
the Cincinnati platform, as sustained by Mr..
Shackleford, and thus secure not only his cleo
tlon, but the triumph of the platform of the
party:
Gov. Smith can now have "by-gones become
by-gones" and ''old sores" healsd by retiring
from the canvass; Democratic representative
ensured; and he may then claim the reward o
disnterestcd patriotism-and to such course
We would advise him. But suppose Gov Smith
elected, what would be the feelings of the con.
stitucncy when some Black Republican, in
searching for insults to Virginia and the South,
should shout for "thG Walker letter." and Gov
Smith replies that prominent Democrats" have
advised him not to show it. The reply would be,
"you have solcmnly promised your own people
to explain it, and you have not kept your pro-
mise" We think, therefore, that 1t would be
best for the District. the State and Gov Smith,
for him to retire, return to the ranks, and work
himself up to n commission. by faithful service
that may cause the past to be forgiven and for
got.
That the party in that District may under
stand how they will be going counter to the
platform at Cincinnati, we cmbody the resolu
tions
And whereas since the foregoing declaration
was uniformly adopted by our predecessors in
National Conventions, an adverse, political
and religious test has been secretly organized
bv 4 party claiming to be exclusively American,
it is proper that the American Democracy should
clearly define its relation thereto, and declare
its determined opposition to all secret political
societies. by whatever name they may be called.
"ReSovcd, That the foundation Of this
Union Of States having been laid in, and its
prosperity, expansion and prc-emncnt exam
pie in free government built upon entire free
dom in matters Of religious conccrnment, and
no respect Of persons in regard to rank or
place ef birth: no party can justly be deemed
national, constitutional, or in accordance with
American principles, which bases its exclusive
organization upon religious opinions and acci-
dentai Jrth-ploce. And hence q political cru.
SADIE in the nineteenth century, and in the
United States of America, against Catholics
and ioyeign born. is neither justified by the
past history or the future prospects of the
country, nor in unison with the spirit OF tolc-
ration and enlarged freedom which peculiarly
distinguishes the American system of popular
government
If he will not retire, but, by continuing a
candidate, causes the election Of Mr.. Thomas,
upon his own head must rest the consequences.
We hope that no Dcmocaat will abandon Mr..
Shackelford because Of fears Of Mr.. Thomas
election. Let the consequences rest where
they belong be true to principles, true to the
organization of the Democracy, and, if defeat
follows, it will be no fault Of the supporters Of
Henry Shackclford.
THE DISCUSSION ON MONDAY NIGHT.
MeSsrs Tucker and Preston, the two best
debators We have heard, discussed the issues
r xt