Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-08-31
What 4. the Duty of Patriotic Democrat.


WHAT'S the duty Of patriotic aud conservative Demo
Gratis in the present mOmsntous political eOntests Fer
which one of the Presidential candidates in the field
should they deposit heir ballots, the approaching eec
ton in Noyembers iWhat course does pure and uu-
selfish patriotism counsel ard urge them to pursue.
These are questions, which each member of either
wing of the Democratic party should put to himself and
calmly ponder and wisely answer. The present is no
time for the indulgence Of mere party prejudice and party
passion The contest in which we are engaged is one
tlares infinitely above and looks downupOn unSOrthy
party feeling Il contest involving not only the ad-
minssfatve policy Of the government for the next four
years. but the very existence Of the Government itself
Never before were the safety Of the Union and the peace
and happiness Of the people in such fearful and immi
nent peril There elements at work, North ana
South which threaten the country with general and
consuming eonfigaton. The peace, the happiness, the
prosperity Of thrtyse millions Of intelligent aud indie
pendent eemen all at stake in the present contest
In yord the great and OyershadoWing question nov
pressing for decision the hands Of the people is whe
Their the Union shall be dissolved pre5eryed-Wheher
As nation and as q people, shall continue to live In
peace and eontentment prosperag and TO prosper or
whether VIC shall encounter the unimagnabe horrors Of
Revolution and Civil War;
lis well known thai the leading supporters OF Brock
inril,e-those men Who nominated him at Baltimore,
and Who now have him in their special keepng-hayng
disrupted the Democratic party, bent on dis-
ruoton Of the Union itself This the position OF Yaneey
and al bis Gulf State coniederates and IS the position,
also Of many Of the supporters Of Breckenridge IN Nr-
gnil, as Mr. wiOughby Newton's dsunion harangue at
the Charlottesville Convention abundantly proves. This
later geateman took the bold and daring ground in bis
public speech al Charlottesville speech that was ap
pauled 70 the echo by the members Of the Breckenridge
Convention there asembled-;hat it time that the
miads Of the people ef Virginia shOald be amilarizet
With the idea OF dsunion In other words, Mr. Newton
looks upon dsuuoa "a inevitable event, and con-
sum1aoa 100 devouty be wished under all the Cir
cumslaces Of the case and Ike Yancey, be desires to
fe the Virginia hear. and instruct the Virginia mind in
the gospel Of duaou so that he and his political
eltss NAV. AT fitting moment "precipiate the people
iu.o a revolution'" That is the purpose Of the great
blk.of the Breckinriige leaders all over the South
Tlsir obisc. Is TO dissolve the Unon the event Of
LacQns election, and their secret wish is that Lincoln
NAV be elected and the efforts Of many Of them are d.
ree,ed 20 the accomplishment Of Liucon's election
thus siding in the election Of lincoln and at the same
time avoEng their purpose to break the Union in the
event Of bis election In short they indirectly
working for Lncons election intending in the event Of
the success Of their work. and account Of the
success Of their own work. precpiate Virginia and
The South into a revolution, and inaugurate fearful
civil and universal reyouIionl WiIl the people Of
Virginia and the Souh encourage and sustain them ~
carving out their reasonable and ncendiary pro-
grammes VIII Conservative, PATRIOTIC Democrs,s-the
homes; rank and Gle Of the party-ad them in their
holy and damnAble work,
mo. We cal upon men Of all plrlies-we invoke cor
s,yaty, aud patriotic DemOcrats-o pause and eonsid
e. dspassiona;ey and deliberately before they conclude
toc,t their votes for Breekadge the Yancey preeip
intng" candidate for the Presidency Besides there is
no chance on earth for the election Of Breckinrdge-
Hsiskept in the field simply to divide and distract the
rsople Of the South and aid in the election Of Lincoln
The results Of the recent elections demonstrate that
Rr,ckinridge is really not in the contest He has no
certainty OF carrying single Southern State ezeep, the
r,bi Disunion state Of South Carolina Aud at the
North be viii not be supported by more than eorpo
r, guard Of voters and these all Federal oceholders
and their dependents What chance is there, then
10 hope for h election under any eireumstaneess To
vote for hn therefore, can do him good and will be
equivalent TO throwing your votes away, and throwing
them away a. time when they should be honestly and
psrocay concentrated upon TIA. candidate who sands
the best ald oaly chance Of defeating Lincoln, And
the candidate, who stands the best and only chance Of
defeating Lincoln, IS John Bel This Is a demonstrate
fact, and no fair minded man, Of any party will for
moment eontrOvert IT,
What then, Democrats Of Virginia and the South, is
your solemD conscientious and imperative duty, uuder
existing eireums,ancess If you desire the defeat of
Lineoln in what possible way you defeat him,
eep, bv voting for John Beug Taere nOne other To
vote for either Breckenridge or Douglas, is simply
thro1ing your votes away. And We invoke you Vir-
gnans as Southerners lovers Of the Union, and as
intelligent and disinterested patriots dismiss your
unmanly party feelings and rally, unisedlY and en-
Enthusiastically, to the support Of Bell and Everett
Bright aud cheering indeed the prospects Of the
Constitutional Union ticket! In the North and the
south in the East and the West the indications are
ali auspcous and gratifying in the highest degree and
from each and al Of these points the encouraging
intelligence daily reaches u.s. We believe indeed that
Bell and Everett will be elected By the people, aud
elected rumphantly if the people of the South they
should do without respect Of party, will come out aud
announce their purpose sustain them. We appeal 10
our Wing and American friends in Virginia to organize
Thoroughly and systematically form clubs in every
neghborbOOd aud press the great work of the
vAss with I'm ring zeal and energy-and all VIII be we'll
AFaet 10 be Remembered.
Lett be remembered that Hon. WIN. l. Yancey, when
In Congress voted for the admission Of Oregon with the
WlmOt Proyiso attached. John Bell has always voted
against that P,oyiso James Buchanan has declared
- ,1 oyer sy,io that Con0rasa nossessad the mower