Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-11-16

clection ou President Of the United States in tho
person Of 4 candidate pledged By his own com
initials and the nvoweti '!ognas and policy o
his party, 10 n systematic invasion OF the con
stItutional rights End social and domestic inSti-
tutions ofthe Fifteen Southern STATES Oft the Con.
lederacy, we have deferred comment until
some reflection aud observation, and z careful
effort TO put aside all phrtlasn feeling, should
enable us to furnish our readers with an intel
llgent and unbiased vicw Of the exigencics OF
this trying movement.
sincerely trust that, during the rapid Sue.
ccSsion OF WARM contests III which we have been
actively engaged during the past two years,
and which have formed continuous links in the
same chain Of Inseparable and unavoidable
issues, the ediloTia! course uf the Richmond
enquirer has Leen sNayed BY something far
above any mere desire for partizan triumph
Yielding to none III sincere attachment TO the
interests of the Democratic party, we have en-
ployed our mos. urgent efforts to preserve in
violate those great principles Of State sovereign.
,y and State equality, dictated by the Consti.
tion and insepsrahle from the integrity Of the
Union, which havo hitherto rendered the as
ccndeDcy Of that party so useful in the great
work of the preservation ard furthcrance Of
national prosperity. We have consistently pre-
fcrred party defeat to party decentralization;
and We have never believed that denoraliza.
tioa could be employed even MS IN cxpedient,
however temporary. 10 secure Democratic tri.
umph. That our efforts to preserve untar-
nished the political faith Of our fathers and our
party have been crowned with entire SUCCESS,
is source Of unlailing pride and satisfaction,
Of which even the regret Of defeat canno. dc.
prive ms. And while We regret the defeat, We
entertain no regret for those efforts which
availed to secure US from Generalization.
When partisan journals inform us, as some
have lately done, that We could have avoided
defeat by tampcring with Generalization, We
value their sagacity Us highly as We appreciate
their standard OF morality. We still believe
that such q grovcling attempt Mt expcdiency,
hOuIu ii1'C S'IoiiiS w
grace 10 the regret Of defeat.
For our own part, then. we have nothing to
repent and cur regret for the defeat Of our
party is almost forgotten in the emotions akin
to dsnIay with which We are obliged to con-
template the nature, the aims and the tendon
cy of that party which claims the triumph
nC
who, however crroneously has yet sincerely
endcarored to prc7cnt that triumph. We
earnestly appeal 70 Inc honest and patriotic
citizens OF Virginia, Of whatever party, now
united with US in common defeat and threat
cncd by common danger, 10 throw aside those
partisan feelings which have hitherto divided
u.s. and unite IN counsel and in action for the
sake OF the honor and the welfare Of the Com
monwcalih.
1t is in this spirit that we offer for the con-
sideration of our fellow citizens the following
reflections and suggestions. =
The uoIticolauatcal movement Il the North
mas already seriously in, a,ied our lights n'''
our safety. lis aggrcssions have not been in
termttcnt nor ftIul. They ere the result OF
the constant growth Ct fanatcal sentiment on
the one hand, and, Oh tho other, disposition
on the part Of calculating politicians to foster
and to use for their own advancement this
growing sentiment Of intolerance against our
domestic institutions. The tendency Of both
has aimed for long time at what Mr. Lincoln
has lately and openly avowcd as the object OF
his party-"thc uitimate extinction of slavery
in the United States. This has caused con-
slant "agitallon. This has denied our right
to hol slaves in the comuion territories OF the
Union. This has partially abolished slave.
ry in the District Of Columbia This has
attempted to light the torch Of scrrile in
surrecton in our midst. This has succeeded
in extirpatng slavery from Kansas by the rlo-
lenct Of massacre and Of arson. This has car
red armed invasion rapne and murder into
our own Stale. This .senes daily and hourly
among rs the fire e.brand Of incendiary appeal.
This creates constant apprehension and distrust
in many districts Of our border States, depro-
cating the value Of our landed rs well as our
personal property, endangcring the peace Of
our citizens and the lives Of our !uth!u! slaves.
among our faitlrless slaves. This nul!iiies con-
stitutiona laws passed To secure the recovery
Of our fugitive slaves. This steals from us year
", slave property valued at hundreds Of thou
sands. This has already riiectusly abolished
slavery in Il tier Of Southern border counties,
and is now employing these 10 extend the work
Of abolitioniSm into the heart Of the border
States. Is this gvod work which politico.fa-
nalicism is accomplishing by such lawless aud
violent mraris: Good nr bad, can We doubt
that it will e"cn;"aliy kin,;.e Il Game Of devas.
tating strife. il its fcarfully accecra;ing pro-
greSs shall remain unchecked by governmental
restraint: Will not this strife be FASTENED BY
the extension Of governmental encouragement
to the progress Of poI;ico-lanaticsin
Remember, the party which processes the
dognas, has adopted tho policy, and depends
for support On the Sentiment Of politico-fanati-
cisrn, and is now preparing To take possession OF
the whole executive power O; the Federal Gov
crnment Its policy is astute, and has been
already more than foreshadowcd by its most
sagacious and influential leaders. They tell US
that the "ultuate extinction OF slavery" is TO
be peaceablY" effected "Jy the co operative
aid Of tito Federal Gorcrnment Ghd the State
Government; acting uhder TIE constitution
A patriotic and conservative Northern States
man, Daniel D. Barnard, of New York, has
lately eliminated this "clear.obscure reSela-
ton Of the poli,ico fanatIcal policy. Politico-
fanaticisrn has already elected President