Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-03-04
AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE OF THE SIXTH
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

AN APPEAL TO THE PEOPLE OF THE Sixth
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
The present condition OF affairs in the 9th
Congressional District, calls for the serious at
tcnlion Of Democratic voter. Now an impor-
tant duty devolvcs upon you, Il, tic ycomcn Of
the culIntrv-thc vanguard of Democracy
the sovereign people When politicians admit
the supremacy Of the popular voice, and are
willing To submit Ia its authoritative dictates,
and when they have called upon The people
and obtained from them an expression OF OPT
non and act in accordance with the will Of
the majority. then does it become the duty Of
the minority to rally around the acknowledge
head. 10 waive personal preferences, and, II
need be. to make small sacrifices for the gene
raj good
But when political aspirlntS and party-lcad-
c,s. - lar forget the sovereignty oi the people
a, 10 arrogatc to themselves tctatorial powers,
and require the party talncly AMI >nbmi>sivcly
to follow in whatever direction crafty leaders
pull the party-no>c. then it becomes the duty
OF thu people to fall back uuon their high pre-
rogativcs. and rise in the majesty of their
might" to assert their primal rights When
politicians sIiltr their Zeal, for the party and
the COMMON gopd. to m-iYe i'll the still more
whom We have bc,n accustomed To look as the
true and orthodox cxpoundcrs Of the faith. and
whose every word we had once learned to drink
in, as the pure IL law and gospel "r the Demo-
cratic party, have set TO work To helabor each
other and devote the whole Of their energies
10 the stirring up of strife, discord and d;S>cn
sion in the party; when the Opposition are
laughing in their sleeve, at o,m folly. and
making Icrculcan effort, founded upon or
domestic i:rl'ls. utterly 10 overthrow and de-
moli>ll u> upon the State ticket. then it be-
comes the imperative duty Of the people 10 ad-
minister Il proper r"buhc to these crralic
leaders. by p!acin. their authoritative veto
upon AL -uch d>orJc:ly proceedings, and
teach them that. under Democratic govern.
,nrut. the representatives Of the people are
their s.'rc"nts. and no; their mas.,,', and that
their own individual wishes must still! bc sub.
icct To the vet higher hcl,rsts of the sovereign
people.
With these facts and these premises, and
these acknowledged u>agcS and doctrines Of the
Democratic party, before Us, and staring us in
the face, what are we to think Of the present
condition Of our congressional district: What
are we to think when We see q brother, hand
raised against brother in deadly conflict and
faction drawn ont against faction in hostile ar
ray. and amidst the mouthings and grumblinsS
of rnalcontcnts We hear the occasional NUT
tcrin.s Of bitter contest, war to the hilt.
swapping votes and such like out-bursts Of
bitter acrimony: How can We expect aught
but ridiculc and contempt from our political
opponents: What will our brethren in other
places think Of us2 What will the great
masses of the people think Of party whose
leaders and officials are always in wransc
over the '.cmoumcnts:" Shame, shame upon
the party that would tolerate such miSr'llc.
Will Mr.. Powell and Mr. Lcakc submit to
these things; yea, not only submit. but Use
their influence to keep up this distraction i'll
the ranks, ard thereby bring disgrace and i'll
flmv upon the party? Will they, or either of
them. Willingly deprive the Democratic voters
of the district Of an opportunity to vote Tor
other Democrats whom they may prefer, be-
cause those other men are too solcitou, for the
good Of the party, thus 10 disturb its harmony
and divide il, power: Will they drive oil all
competition for congressional honorS. coming
from those men vino aro,e their unwilllnGneSs
To bring mutinv in tho camp by Such al un-
natural warfare: Would Mr.. Powell or Mr..
I.cakc hold n seat in Congress, gained by sucn
4 departure from Democratic usage, and the
true spirit of Democracy. gained by driving OIL
conpctition from men whose first care Is the
go,{ Of the party, and gained at such r,llnou'
lo., and disgrace To the party: Us Demo-
cratic voter in the district, ask the question,
and rs Democratic voter, ! am entitled to an
answer. The people Of the district are entitled
"a on answer. The Democratic voters Of the
district are cspeci"Yy entitled to IN answer
The poriu within and ont Of the district is en-
titled Co an answer Then answer frankly,
answer boldly. answer the question in the same
randor in Which it i asked. and Il" not dodge
The ISSUE.
But such is the condition Of the district, that
if the candidates now in the field will do no.
thing for the party, then the p:ollc cannot iili
to see the absolute and imperative necessity OF
their Immediate interference. Even now it
Lchooyc, YOU to Use vor sovereign power ard
bring together, for & common adjudication,
vou,. respective differences and prcjudiccS ere
they widen into irrcparablc breaches and grow
into in-urmonntabc barriers. The opposition
,r,. ,narshalns their forces and drilling their
troons with an almost unhcar,l-oi Zeal and en-.
cr..r. And while We are worse than wasting
orr ammunition in intestine warfare and turn
inc our weapons TO our own breasts, they arc
making The liIn>l pI'l'''''''' ''' y"
dcspcrate sir,lsgl. Then let Us arrange oiir
domestic matters in as spccdya manner as pos
>iilr. and oil to the common defence. Already
tIre people have had to decide these family
o,arrel- in other districts in the State, and dnow
OILY one other besides this remains in a state
Of confusion Let us not he behind orr breth-
rcn in fidelity and devotion Let the ptcpi'
demand an audience and let the psoPte dcfi"f
upon the merits. not only of those now before
them. but Of all others in the district. Then
will the people get their choice. Then will we
restore peace and harmony 10 our common lire
side. Then can brethren meet together in
unity" with one aim. one purpose. and one Oh
iect: and then. and not till then, we will be
nr.r.,r,i 10 enter the g,ibcrna;orial contest.
\ NorrE ~ HE Dr>rmC7.
F"y ne Enquirer.
TO ROBERT A. MAYO. ESQ.
Dear Sir r:-is il seems 10 he determined that
a Convention ofthc Democracy Of; this Senatorial