Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-09-14
The Wide Axynkes.N


ger, at any moment, to enact John Brown
raids, and forays, Of poisoning and arson, slmi-
lar to that which was lately consummated in
Texas; and that these men are only restrained
from present outragc by the existence Of con-
serratiee and national Standardization, milling
and a6ic TO employ the arms Of The Federal
Government 10 rrprc@ ias~rrectioh and TepeI
inrasion.
Senator Douglas has most insolently and de-
liantly proclaimed from the stump, in Norfolk,
his intention to advise and assist Abraham Lin.
coin towards the forciblc coercion Of any South
ern State which shall refuse TO submit to Aboll-
ZIONIST domination.
Thus itappears that, whether the South shall
submit to or oppose Abolition rule, we are
wayncd that We are to expect invasion, in any
event
Indications of this state Of feeling at the
North, much more serious than the boasts OF
the press or the threats of the stump, are crowd
ing fast upon our attention. Among these is
the numerous and efficient organizations Of
wide Awake" clubs.
These organizations are OF mixed character,
civil and military Each Club has a civil con.
stitution, and "utticerS to regulate purely busl-
ness transactions" Each Club is also regularly
divided into companies, uniformed and drilled,
and commanded by military officers.
The name "Widc Awake was the tlesigna-
ton by which John Browns company was
known in Kansas. and was adopted in colnpli-
ment to that ''martyred hero
Several months ago, the New York "Tri-
hnnr" informed us that already more than
100, 900 able bodied Young men were enrolled
in the "WiGlr Awake clubs. From all ac-
counts. the number has greatly increased since
this announcement was made
So largr body Of men, composed Of the
rowdv materials Of Northern cities, rejoicing
in Such & nomenclature, and compacte,l in mill
tarv organizations, drill and discipline, will
doubtless furnish a very ready arm, either for
coercion under the joint command Of Messrs.
Douglas snd Lincoln, ur Tor detached fnravs
under "Wi,le Awake" leaders Of the Redpath
stripe
From these and similar signs, it is apparent,
in case of Lincou'S election, We have tough
work cut out for us. Rowdies are like dandies
in one particular They will fight when an
opportunity offers, and fight well. Those Of
our Southern men who are disposed to sncer
at Puritan courage, will find themselves mis-
taken when they have TO encounter these wide
Awakcs." 1t will be no childs play. We
must do our best. And the best VIC can do
notr is to pre"re Moroughiy for the work be-
fore us. Let us have no more threats, or "last
extremity resolutions.
1t will bp more than difficult to convince our
enemies at this moment, that any threats on
our part are more than idle vaporing. Indeed,
the attitude itself Of determined resistance 10
oppression, will be regarded Us a mere threat
intended only to influence the pending election.
y few months ago, such an attitude would. OF
the entire disorganizaton Of the Black Repub-
lican party and the repeal Of every multiplying
statute from Vermont to Iowa. But the LeglS-
la,urc cf Virginia timidly permitted the oppor-
tunity TO slip. Prcvcntive-tha is, thorough
" preventive measures, on the part OF the
Southern States, are now out O! the question.
If the conservative men Of the North are not
earnest enough and strong enough to save US,
there is no hope Of safety in any reliance on
the fears OF Northern rowdies, fanatics and
agitators. Nor will it serve any good purpose
for us to wait, wranglng with each other on
hypothetical questions about ultimate. What
wc have to TO now is simply what our enemies
are doing. We must organize, arm, drill and
discipline with all our might-not in ''clubs,"
but in bat.alions formed according to the pre-
scribed laws ofour several States-not Tor bra
vado or parade, but calmly and faithfully, like
men with sad prospect before u.s. and deter
mined to be prepared for the worst. DELHI
crate promptitudc" is now the watchword.
In Virginia, the work Of organizing and
rqupping new volunteer corps has been pro-
crossing bravcly during the past twelve months.
We trust that there will be no relaxation in
this respect We cannot have too many conf
panies formed Besides, many OF our well
drilled companies are still altogether unSupplled
with camp equipagc This should be attended
to, and can be, to 4 great extent, rcmedIed by
individual contributions, and a careful husband
Ing Of company funds. Every citizen soldier
can find something useful to du Let each 80
to work in earnest for it is very probable that
all may lave, before long, earnest work to do
Who Follows the ipostntef