Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-11-06
au NJ IEnIs1h LeHlOsL.

signed "Brock's Cap and the other LIZ.
Wills Creek" (both Of which wlll be found
n to DAYS Enquirer calling upon@ttie Doug
las Democrats Is vote for the Breckenridge
Electors. The Register says:
"In this connection, speaking of chivalrouS
friends who have, although differing from US,
entitled themselves to our respect III this can
yass, VIC will not omit reference to our friend,
brooks Gap" whose communication appears
in another column. Had we the space, we
would respond chccr(ully to the intcrroga.
tories propounded. AS it is, we have only
room and time to say, that upon the issues
presented, VIC think generally as Brooks
Gan" does. We need scarcely repeat that we
arc a States Rights Democrat Of the s%trictest
sect, and a Southern man in every sense OF
the word. We have battled too long and too
earnestly against cncroachments upon the
Rights Of the States by the General Govern
ment to shift position upon that subject now;
and we arc more than ever persuaded taat inc
South owes it TO herself to present an unoroken
front to the enemies Of the Constitution anu
the integrity Of the Cnion. But We nave not
tho space TO elaborate the points presented IN
the ilterrogatorics OF Brooks Gap"
And, again:
"IIencc VIC have said, and now ~reitcrate
,.bot wo have said, s'we had a thousand times
rather GO. Virginia 20 for Breckenridge and
Iane than for Bell and Everett with whom
We have not now, and never had, one principle
in common.
ca,sc Of their blind zeal for breckenridge, or
for Breckenridge because Of their blind Zeal
for Douglas, are not such Democrats as We are.
We believe that either Of the Democratic call
didatcs is preferable to Bell and Everett, the
candidates of the party against whom We have
always varied
The Democrats of Rockingham who prefer
Douglas, like the Register" esteem Breckin-
ridge as far more preferable than Bell anu Ever
cit and such Democrats will not iaii to vote
for Breckenridge and Lane.
Read the communication signed Brooks
| Gap" and vote for Breckenridge and Lane.
from the Rockingham R~eSsterl
FEleSp WARrMASS You will, no doubt agree
| with us that there never was 4 period IN our
| history that demanded u more untaltcring au-
hcrencc to true Democratic principles than the
present. That Virginia is a sovereign State;
that "she is not united to her sister States upon
the principle Of unlimited submission TO the
Federal Government; that the Federal Govern
mcnt was not made the exclusive judge Of the
powers delegated to it; that a State has n right
10 nudge for herself of infractionS Of the Con-
| s~titution, and Of the mode and measure OF re-
dress" are the doctrines for the times you
must admit. They will serve as Il pillar OF fire
to guide us-if we 80 out; they will prove 4
rampant against federal aggreSsion--if we re-
main in the Union.
Are we pursuing a course calculated to keep
alive these principles? Are We preparing to
place ourselves in Il position to maintain them:
or can il it be possible that we are about TO re-
| pudiatc them at the moment the necessity is
| likely to arise for their practical application :
| The Democrat who votes for Stephen a.. Doug.
las rcpudiates them. The Democrat who votes
for Stephen a. Douglas, with a full knowledge
of his inability to carry even a respectable mi
nority vote in the State, repudiatcS them still
more by giving a whole vote to half a federal
ist. and half 4 vote to Il whole lcdcraliSt.
If Lincoln must be permitted to take his
seat. let the resolutions Of 'aS and 80 be sus.
pended, like the sword Of DamoclcS. above his
hcad. Let him understand that Virginia at
least deems herself a sovercign-that she can
and will resist the acts OF his administration, II
necessary-that she can and will, upon an act
of aggression upon her rights, Judge of the
mode and measure of redress" and that she
places no higher value upon the Union than
did our fathers, who sealed it with their blood.
Let him not be encouraged to WELD the feed
cral arm to our destruction, by an acknowledge
ment at the ballot-box, that we are ready to
submit to his bidding.
Ic I;m.;,;o o,cfc la- vptp fpr .iDh0 RpIl If
must be such an acknowledgment, and must
be SO construed. Virginia vote for John Bell
Espouse the cause of Federalism, strengthen
the arm of Federal power, when she should lie
preparing to resist its cncroachmcntS. Slr.
ginia vote for John Bell, belonging to Il school
OF politicians who have attempted to abrldge
the freedom Of the press, who have fettcred the
limbs Of freedom and shut them out from the
light OF Heaven for daring TO %criticise the con-
duct Of officials Virginia vote for John Bell!
the uncompromising opponent of her cherished
principles; take him-rankling in Federalism
to her bosom after having refused the poor
compliment of a marble bust to Patrick Henry,
for daring to oppose the resolutions OF Us and
so! Virginia vote for John Bell! who believes
that Congress has the constitutional power to
abolish slavery in the District of Columbia,
VINO lcaSlS anu uTllhS III Dl'IS 1lCpuoliS1Li
banqucts, and who is now regarded as likely
to be 4 member Of Lincoln's cabinet. Can
Virginia do this and keep her fame Can
she so tarnish her record, and take the lead in
maintaining pcace-if peace be possible; or in
war-if war be inevitable?
And yet she will so destroy her influence,
her own selfrespect, her prestigc-all that she
has been and yet hopes to be-by voting for
John Bell. 1t cannot be possible that your
iournal,-.thc old Rockingham Register -
which for years has been 4 faithful sentinel
upon the watch,tower, which has grown with
the growth and strengthened with the strength
Of the States.rights Democracy, will longer be
found in u position calculated to bring about
this result 50 much to be dcplorcd. You know
that Stephen a.. Douglas is, this day, $4,000
votes behind Breckenridge in Virginia; you
know that the efforts made in behalf OF Doug
las can have no other effect than to give
the State to Bell. Then why-as Il Democrat,
as an old campaigner-do you still float the
Douglas flag at your masthead? Twist it,
turn it, torture it as you will, the answer must
be to give the State to John Bel.
We must defeat Bell in Virginia. Let the
Presidential election result as it may, the old
mother of Commonwealth must be placed in
4 position that sue can make DiacN INePuoi'CtH
tyrantS tretnble, and at the same time be able
to restrain the fiery impetuosity Of the South
eru States. Who dcfied the assumed powers
Of old John Adams and consigned his alien
and scdition laws to the "tonb Of the Capu-
LETT Virginia. What was it that, upon two
occasions in our history, caused South Carroll
ma to pause and rctracc her initiatory steps TO
break up the Union? Not the threats of Gen.
Jackson, but the earnest appeals and wise
~counscls Of Virginia. But let her, at such a
time rs this, cast her vote for John Bell and
the "sccptre' will have departed from Juda."
tits to be hoped that you and every other Doug
las Democrat will begin to reflect seriously up
on the consequences Of allowing the State TO
be cast for Bell. Better ten thousand Douglases
he defeated than Virginia repudiate the resolu-
,.,>,,. ,c 'uS ,.I 100