Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-09-23
PRESIDENTIAL sTUMP-sPEAKING

Ncs.rs. Editors the Enquirer ut yoSi"r-
iav has Just reached me, and am pleased 10
see that, in anticipation of having Senator
Douglas in the field as an independent candi-
date for the Presidency, you suggest the iui-
portancc of popular oratory and arsumcntative
ability on the part OF the true Democratic can
diiatc. In conversation with gentleman YES
tcrday afternoon. | expressed the opinion that
in the event o: an independent candidacy on
the part Of Mr. Douglas, and the nomination OF
Gov Wise by the Charleston Convention, the
Governor ought to canvass the North West III
person. why should the Presidency be cx-
allied above popular discussion YOU ask
There is no reason. This Government is the
peoples Government. From the highest 10 the
lowest and from the lowest to the highest Of.
iiccr ought 10 he devoted TO the rights and the
interests and upheld by the intelligence and in
tc.rity Of the people. 1t would be ahtigniHeJ.
We NAV hear some silk stocking gentleman say
for candidate for the Presidency 10 be heard la
rangun. Il promiscno's mHHH"tt. No, sir
NJ. Their. Is 10 more ennobling. clcvating, or
encouraging. custoa. i'll our country, than this
SAME stump.spcaking. There is no prouder
illustration of the genius Of our Government,
no nollcr cxempilicatlon OF the spirit of our
institutions. So take little of the starch out
of YOUR lour-storicd c:avat. Mr.. Silk Stocking,
and snuff the same air that fills the lu>ty
lungs Of the common peoplc--!t will be good
for Won. The ONLY sclnblancc Of respectable
reason that can be urged agains, stump speak
ing. on the part OF Presidential candidate, it
seem, 10 me- is one somewhat similar 10 the
reasons usually offered against all games III
which there i; the slightest chahce, against
theatres and other places Of public amusement,
Il IL oU,nt y,nHs. hy some strict church-mem-
bcr> and other rigid disciplnarlans in morals
and mannclS-and that is, that they are abused,
and are apt to lead to vices not leSltlnateiy at
tac,in. 10 them per 50. But whatever may be
the plaIi>ibi!ity or proprctr OF such an arsl-
mcnr. in the instances we have just suggested,
1t j. altogether idle and absolutely un;enabc
with reference 10 stnmp->Peakins
1t is, indeed, too true that there are hundreds
Of dcma.osucS in the country, who supply the
place q; argument on the hu>ting> with vulgar
gaSconade. reckless assertion. and sometimes
ribald Jest: who descend from the rostrum to
the gro..>hop. and attempt to persuade with
wh>kev when they have failed 10 convince by
logic. But it is equally true that there are
Christian ChurchcS-tmp{,s ~ God IN has
yodiy ia5d, whose pulpitS are proianed by
ncre>;cs not unworthy of PaganS, and, by i'm
precautions and counsel not iii 10 fall upon hui
man ears, unless they are being prepared for
the liturgy Of PandcmOnium But because
men, calling themselves ministers of the Cos
pei. preach Of assassination and the incendia-
rvs torch as agencies Of chriStianiZatlon. and
recommend rifles aS instruments for the cx-
pungation of niquity and SIN there is ~ rea-
son that churches should be closed and minis
tiers should cease 10 dispense the truths of the
Bible and the holy light of religion from the
pulpit And because dcinagogues prostitute
the true mission of the eXpounderS and orators
to the vile means of their miserable arts, there
is no reason that 4 great man should not adj
dress free people ID a great cause. and as Ma.
turc ordained that the human heart and head
shall communicate in feeling and in thought,
independent of pen and ink and printers types
Yes, gentlemen. if Douglas takes the field
against Governor Wise, ~ the nominee Of the
Charleston Convention, Ia Harry of the East"
the re,loubted Knight Of Accomac, repair at
once to the North INVEST Let him reason with
that gallant people. Let him remind them of
their duty to the Union, to the Constitution.
10 themselves and to the South. Let him M
r,ur, the web Of the great Senator's sophi>try
rs he can. Let HIM explain the great qucs-
ton now in issue between Democrats Of the
North and the Democracy Of the South. And,
my word for it, the rallyins-cry of the North
West wing of our party, in 1850, will not be
The Douglas The Douglas but the Con-
Stitution the Union and Henry y. Wise"
.rGAEF