Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-18

was sound on me MT II VAS, in his view, a mere tos, III
r ,rhish .b" "u he elected. Hishatred to Democracy induer'
Nh 70 pref ,rocreded next to review, In strong terms, III
~, eonings OF the Democratic party In the management
Of federal Affairs, and charged upon their leaders that The:
Wing candidate, while they had done more TO break dow
the rights OF the South, and lis peculiar Institutions; thai
the Black Republicans could have effected In centuries =
come, II left to themselves. He reviewed the acts OF tn
present Administration, polluted out is alleged vasciliation
and its extravaganza, and declared that, as an individual
he desired TO See no more Territorial annexations. satisfied
that II Cuba and Mexico were brought into the mon ~
slaveholding States. Virginia, North Carolina ana Malsaan.
would have TO be drained OF their slaves, and mus peeom'
free States, TO supply the demands OF the new aequisnions
or the slave trade would have TO be refi'eu-.,ennt :. y
which alternatives he desired to see. ae cnrsrnor. nsip,
John Letcher, the Democratic nominee LOT uon ond cnn
ed TO his course on the subject oil emaney " " nhn
trastcd his public course with that OF Geo. " "a. a.
when a candidate Of the Wing party for Gorernor. a ue
nounceS nv The Democratic orators and the press as un'
sound and not to be trusted on the slavery aue,'Un. Mm .".
N, ne ; rvm"sas.lssiion Of his regret that no whiss or Americans
were in The places he would wish for them he hoped III"
, good time. was coming for his party.
When he closed, Col. Eonduran,. from the commits az
nolnted TO nominate permanent officers, presented 'he ~
lowing report, which was UNANIMOUSLY nH" oppronerr
vIcg rpeSrs-Richm 7. Lacy, New kenl; JAM
C. White, Norfolk county; Vim. Townes, Meskishonrr' , OH"
cc,, Wi;chcr, pittsylvania: Vim. c. Scott. Powha'Sh' 3ohn
A. Carter, Loudoun: Or. Terrell, Orange; John Lewis. I'oes
inrham; Waller Il. Staples, Montgomery: u. r Mysnr, lu
iasri. A l.. berkshire, Monongalin: John 4. hu1cnrsom'
WSss Henry ". Thomas. Fairfax; Or. Mccorkle. cabelE
VIM. ii. Macfarland, Richmond. o,,, p;c,.
SKcRKrARlEs-Ro Riigway and jas Mcl""Ir,, -
mond; J. D. Bingham, Wheeling: Jno. + Scruggs' tauqu'e,
A. X. Moore, Petersburg: VIM. VI: semple; Lynenuus' "a ~
fonro Smith. Lexington; Richard Mauzy. REss,nsn34: hn'
gar Snowden, Jr., Alexandria; John :. Gai!ahef' eha'ie'
town; John A. Kelley, fredericksburg. ~.
The President, Hon. v. Il. Preston, was eseor'en 20 'ne
chair by Messrs. Bondurant. Of buckingham, anu sen, u,
rauquier, and addressed the Convention upo" ~ Po"''e"'
topics Of the day.
Mir. Preston, taking the chair said II tender to yon my
most profound acknowledgment for the honor thhl! ou n",e
conferred upon me. | am happy. after long years OF alb
srnce, 10 come back, and In this hall and before TINS Assem-
bis. and with these hearts, and In the old purpose, anu am
mated as before, in meeting this grave body OF my virginia
! coun,rymen. We come here to-day-and l came 70 nus
city-supposug there was a great WORK oe'ole oA;ns
all our MISUNDERSTANDING the cai'nes'' most deci'ise
and mos, scruiinizing examination. not only as 10 the
means 10 govern ourselves, but Us 10 those means anu pIi''
c;plrs tina, will result from the action oil this assemo'! on 'hi'
,lny. I shall not ,etain you now, except merely to make an
smen, for the honor thai you nave leh"eIeu me
But there Is "a remark or Two that l cannot refrain rom w
t.rinc nj this time. What Is the character and what the OBJ
ject for which this convention has assembled -; ltis not pfims-
rily, although secondarily connected with n-a ques'
ton OF the Presidential election. II Is TO me u dearer,
A higher and more hear.-stlrring cnusc-it Is 3 qurs-
ton OF organizing this Commonwealth OF Nlrginia.'his
strong and independent State-for the purpose OF de.
veloping all her power. Of illustrating al her glory aud
preserving all her unity, and perpeiuatng them forever;
(Applause.) Everything Is secondary 10 That; but iee'
the there are other things that | will say n word OF. which
are auxiliary and consequential TO Il. What, then. has con-
volei us, and wha, Is our mission? II Is 10 put, not the
federal household in order, b, 10 put the Virginia house
hold in order, and TO exercise this sovereign power, upon
which. Us State rights and Southern wings, We ieel that W.
can alone repOsc that -upersiructure that We nave reared
ADrulu. lutn. SIT. tLI NaihN Ns'SN' ""s
10 the selection Of such men. 10 the designation Of such
measures, to the adoption Of such counsels' to the examples
abroad, TO the feelings nj home. that interest US. Whether
In peace or WARM a happier, glorious union or IN = SAD
d;sunion-our Virginia standard shall aoat forever 10 me
breeze. (Applausc.) Then, sirs, l invoke your attenloh
TO what I regard as the great paramount question hero
not, sirs, that | am now announcing principles, but refer
ring merely 10 the magnitude OF those questions In the
order In which they present themselves to my humble
mind / know that we are here upon the union Of parties
tina, have ben temporarily disineinbered. Some stand
as the old wing party, some as the hnoW Nothine1am pro
f--.nx tic 80 ,an NNtpm nrllclnles- and all pf0-
fessiug opposition TO many common errors. What then,
sir,s Shall We begin this contest in any other spirit than
tha, true spiri, that invokes, by our having selected u true,
proper Virginia ground, Il call TO our aid, not under The In
luence Of dictaijon and violence. hut that strengtn OF POSI-
ton, that manliuess Of purpose, tina, unity OF ms common
wenlth-,hat illustration Of this commonwealth that lie ut
the foundation o. all: (ApplIuse.l Then see, gentlemen,
for one moment. Look, sirs-lsay II, and | shall innu'sein
no remarks Of asperi:y 10 any, party SPEAK u more IN
sorrow than in ang-r-ihe whole aspect OF America makes
m.!tremble every hour. Tie Wing allies OF the North have
Ief. US; our black republican opponents are painting Tor q
new contest; the Democratic party Itself Il crurnbling 10 at
ons: We are attempting 20 organize the fragments OF our
own party: so that the earth seems everywhere snhkinH.-
Let US sclec, n sound spot. Whether II be a spot OF isar,os
doubt. let IL be a spot o! honor and OF justice. tApnlause>
Then, sir. where shall we put ourselves? Upon our Virginia
principles, TO which l propose for a moment TO direct your
attention. Tile particular operation OF this government
nav. b..n widely different from that which Was an
,icinated by many OF the wisest men engaged IN
IL formation. They supposed that the government
would not have strength enough. But let US make
n practical illustration Of il. These States, sovereign
and nlependent-ihese States. with power 10 protect them
selves. with power TO preserve all except tntlT loIeisn luHc
;ion. and certain other guaranteed powers to the Fedora!
Government. have dwindled practically to absolute pro-
vinccs. Has not the Federal Government ABSORBED IN ,ne
worst form all this power. that gave US state sovereignty.
and made Its action free and selfsus,aining? After referring
TO the cent, alizing Influence Of the Federal power at Wash
ing,on, he goes on TO say Now slrs. what shall We DO
Do we NOT anticipate and feel in this very contest. in It's
most pollu;ing and Injurious form, the effects OF this fede-
raj concentration? A Governor Is susTeste, J., n"t IN view
OF the Interests OF the Commonwealth oil virginia, u upon
the services which he has rendered to the stnt.-a Govern.
or is suggested in the per,onof a gentleman VIII" never shed
one drop Of sweat or lent any aid In opening your rivers. IN
promoting education, In regulating your banking ana mon
e;sry system. l say nothing disrespec'ml OF the gentleman
(Mr. Le,cherl have grea: respect for him. speak OF
the political tendency and operations OF the government H.
self. say. * II not an imperial Austria debating to the
free r puhlics OF Switzerland, not only The men nut me mea-
.uress ! say that instead Of being q mere Innchina;ion for
far III. purpos. Of sanc,ioning the government, at Washing.
ton. II has gone into the lower depths OF "A mere dependency
OF that government, which has degeneratea TO the position OF
representative OF aspiran,s for presiden'i al honors and sta.
lions. Now in view Of all these things, what is your duty to-day?
Lei u, have "A Virginia ~policy--a Virginia expression Of that
poIcy Lee, us have a man who has served the State In the
councils OF the State. Let Us, by our nomination. give a
man to the people who looks primarily TO Virginia, and
who looks wisely 10 all our federal institutions and relations.
Then. sirs. what have We 10 90! We can say nat t"e,e =
principle Of truth aud ju;,ice that will. in the end: call back
our coun,rymen from their errors. We d" not Know mat
there is an %exiseney in The Democratic rary. me nasn, IS
doned them. Our Democratic friends come BACK now 10
the very principles that you are Illustrating. lfere Is
sl ~ NV mod .ra,inc or oualifyin. in some form, or uniting
in som. quarter. with those who do not propose union with
them ltup,ause) Let every one Of us clean himself Of
hin ambitious motives, and sublue ~ much n, he can all
patriotism, We can 20 on nobly in the glorious work which
We are about to consummate in par, to-day.
The speaker made 4 brief reference 70 the postioh OF 'he
purity on the slavery question. eNhortlng me parry 10 a
strict fidelity on that important Sou'meIn l"rs'pon. neus
avowci any purpose to unite with the BLACK hepnbicans,
remarkine thut "a union would only ce possible upon 'he
Virginia wuir platform. II they united upon that, they
would he welcome. but not otherwise.
Mr. John Minor Dots then rose in lbs place In the church
and said In reply TO the calls that have made upon me,