Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-12-17
England and virginia.

cannot refuse to call attention TO the fact England is
Arming, is Virginia. The in both countries
general and is less the nsgaon Of the government
than the spontaneous action of the people In the one
country, in the other, legislation to be not in
advance Of popular sentiment as Is usual in times of
peace, but behind it, In England in Virginia there
would appear immediate need Of many thousands
OF armed men. The apprehension of a rupture with
France may be, and perhaps is altogether Visionary
The enormous expense which England is mourning in
putting herself in state Of defence may be entirely
necessary. In like manner the danger of dsunon and of
civil war here may be, devouty it is entirely
unfounded and the debt which Virginia has already in
Cured and the much heavier expenditure which she is
about assume, may be needless But the English and
vrgnians do think For satisfactory to
themselves, they armng and arming heavily Come
peace, they do not think waste of money to
put their respective countries in fighting trim. They be-
believe that is wise for State at all times TO he pre-
pared for any emergency.
The arming in England in Virginia is confined to
particular class Every grade OF society represent
cd-Sll men able to shoulder musket are enrolled in
the volunteer corps In few weeks VIC are told more
than half million of young and active Engshmcn
Welshmen and Scotchmen will be pcrfecting themselves
in the use Of the deadly rifle In a few months fftv
thousand Virgnians equipped with the best arms the
world can produce, will be in readiness to march at
moments warning wherever danger ancied or real NAV
call them.
If go back half century will find what wisdom
there in the maxim of Washington-n time of peace
prepare for war" In the year 1904 when Napoleon the
First denounced Great Britain and Numbered forth his
hostile Intentions and published long lists of the gun
boats and troops with which he about to invade that
country, the people almost one man TO repel
the insolent bravado, and three hundred and eighty
thousand men in England and Scotland formed them.
selves into cavalry and artillery companies and infant
~ regiments to defend their country We will not saw
that this martial exhibition prevented the Napoleon OF
that day from attempting the invasion of England since
many politicians during the last quarter of century
and of the present day. insist that he never entertained
any such intention. One thing esrtdinhe made
The attempt And of Virginia may profit by Englands
example.
The London &" Times" abiding to the war movement
now going in Great Britain in anticipation of
French INVASION almost precisely the language
which Southern papers have used of late whenever refer
ence was made to the North change of single word
would make every line of the following citation pertinent
To the case OF Virginia. regards the invasion
Harper Ferry, and the present aspect OF the Northern
masses who sympathse with the ruIian invaders.
I'VE advcrted few days ago (says the '' Tfiass,'l
though not think poinedly than the case re-
qgirss to the singular position which the Government;
wan our PoiocfI HsigHOUr - a. .,,,
"OD,indiiy at least Of cordial frieadsLiD and
close alliance, whiis erery instrument that can -ork ON
public opinion is being employed raise rioent shirt
Of luminosity against Tie clergy dsaouncs u.s. the
press i5eis rs, sh ineonsdcaie fsV ,rheL Br,qE,
doom under tie eight of rs corporations and is
Ignorance. The nation at large has accustomed H.
self TO look upon with its present ally as a by no
remote event, and the army taught to look for
ward to the day when the Ddge Of country rich be.
gut its avarice. Whence, ask has arisen this sud
den fury What ProroedioH hare re giren to account
for the strange phenomenon that nation but lately de-
voted to the happy OF peace should suddenly turn
is poughshare into sword and give the loudest and
painest inmaton Of its desire plunge that sword into
breast?n
The passages which have italicized seem to have
been written by Virgnian, in behalf Of Virginia Could
language be more appropriate our own condition >
With the Times We have asked What provocatior
have We given our powerful neighbour" and no an
sWer being returned-none indeed being possible-wc
have choice to do otherwise than England is doing
70 put the State in the attitude of seEdefence to arm
every man capable Of bearing arms guard every point
and 20 prepare for the worst
Can the Democratic Party save the Countrxt
The New York Hsrald whose confidential relation 10
Mr. Buchanan affords it favorable opportunity Of nm
Outstanding the condition and prospects Of the Democrat
nc party, asserts the utter impoency of that party to
prevent the election Of Black Republican President
next year. Nor is the Herald alone in holding this CON
cluson Leading members aud organs of the marty
throughout the country have repeatedly acknowedycd
the act-and events within the Hast two years have IN
erringy indicated the overwhelming defeat Of the Democ
racy at the next election should they persist in adhern
20 their party organization and platform By common
consent at least 10 the South, the election Of Black
Republican to the Presidency will lead TO n dis
solution Of the Union. The simple question then for
the Democracy 10 determine il whether their mart,
or the coufederacy OF the States shall be dissolved
whether they shall obstinately maintain an cFrtr
and powerless and odious organization aud oct the
Union side,' or enter into patriotic alliance with all
who are willing 70 work for the salvation Of the
country and for the overthrow Of is enemies All Tbe
raj men agreed that thsis no time for pressing marty
candidates platforms No one doubts that there are
outide Of the narrow limits Of party honorable grounds
where patriots may rally for united effort IN behalf Of
the government which al desire 10 see preserved so long
a. Il can be faithfully administered We have not been
accustomed 70 look 70 the Democratic party for magma
nimy, but n the face Of peril 30 imminent a. that which
now surrounds them, in common with the whole peopa
We cannot think in vain appeal 10 their patriotism
snd sense Of solrprcseryatou
The following are the view. Of the Herald
The democratic party b. Gillette aud corrupt dpfn0raIi
zed and split into factions North and South IL has mo-
principle, and purpoe but spois II H. In state of
rapid disinteRraton. In the South large section Of il
consists Of hreeang scccssouists who want 70 see te
Union dissolved-in the North it Is tainted withbotop
I'LL this state, for instance. majority Of the dernrr,.v
y antsavery; and, for Tammany Hall IL smells more
strongly Of the Niger than coorcd church In the doc
days How, therefore, could conservative principles and
acts emauate from such The democratic party
poweress against The republicans and 10 10 enter tbe
field against DC in the Presidential campaign h. will he
defeated The ONLY existing issue b. that Of slavery and
The republican party win put that Boo such shape that
II Che democracy ucei squarcy b will lose half b. r,rE
and RE 90 The North-if DO not meet it s4usrey b.
viii loso the whole South. Bcpublcauisr Be- r4rlp,rt
just ook 40 30 boz tongcs able 10 elect %. Speak, man
who endorsed Hepofa book au1 elect him too Will.
The bloody business Of Harper, FERRY IS vet fresh boo f
public mind, sud before 900 che men taken at l, r,I
executed
What b. wanted, then, B. and vigorous party,
eprinEng from The times aud equal The rflcrganry
home ogcucous aud with single pruepi and single
purpOsc ~ ranks would Doe flied with the b.-t
men irosn a existing parties-oycn the moderate rcpuh
hcaus would take shelter under Be- wing-mru Who arc
Only republicans boz name because thcv do know auy
better party 20 unite With, and Who lo4the the mota
Iariy Tor &C. conceptions and violence aud degradation
The nev conservative party. with General Scott VI 90.