Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-03-13
From the Chambers (Aiahamal Tribune.


as our choice for the Presidency, ',n, hrcarl>
Of any peculiar preference over many oi!,c
distinguished men Of the South. whose "a:.c
have been mentioned in the same curnrc:icn
but because, whilst his principles are right, J..
embodIcs in our Judgment more than any 0
his competitors. the great Leading impEi.csan.
ideas Of our people, who, willing 10 preScrv,
tue Government. are yet determined 70 sGhr,i
no longer 10 perTer>inn> Of the tousti:itIU.
and aggrcSslon> upon sacred rights. N"r iiav,
we placed his lame Il! OR masthead from ai!;
disposition 10 compliment him for services
however great. in the past, hnt because sc he
lleve the country needs his services nov IN ir>
great rXigcncy. This is 10 time for compii
lnrIIlS and courtcSicS. however willing Tc INA,
be 10 bcstuw praises where they are dug
and however grateful they nHr br
even TO the llnalititioiIS. Cur couutrv is If
peril-thc inestinable blessings purchased hy
hlood-by the struggles ri cur revolutionary
fathers. arr about to hr lost and sacrificed 10 4
base partisan and fanotical spirit. We want /;
statesman at the head of aii:iirs WHO has tho
genius to comprehend the difficulty and pro
! vide for or eXtrcation -w:cse patriotism j.
large enough to embrace the Whole country. anu
whose will is stern enough 10 resist aggression
even at the hazard of liz ovcrtiirow-who viii
have the courage to stand hy the right with !
! firm rran'. upon that Providence who viii
take care nf the cOnsequrnces--wh is not afraid
to risk life and limb an! 4 popular reputation
in defence Of the injured Wc want 4 mir.
! ;rho is ercry inch man equal 10 The cmcrscn.
| cv. Such VIC believe Henry i. Wise 10 be, an;l
! for this reason we have placed his nanlc At tie
l H.
less the just demands Of our people arr met by
! the Convention at Charleston.
We behold. AMI it encourages o;;t hopes iu'
| the country. the citizens OF illc pr";!ri Old
Commonwealth rallying TO his standard. She
appreciates his cxcrllencicS, ani will present
! him to the Democracy Of the Union ~ ne:
choice for leader in the srca: battle to be fought
| for constitutional equality, and will not Ala
ba,na. her proud daughter. respond that she
| accepts the boon and help to make the name
oI Mise the watchword in III. battle with
Hlnck Rcpuhicani<rl. There is 4 charm.
| laiSrnauir power in that Inono$yliabie which
will inspire with hoineSS courage and hG?e,
cvcry true HAN in tie niou, which will strike
terror into the hearts Of traitors now coiIspriac
for the overthrow Of our institutions, and com.
hinr the whole conservative power OI tho Union
| Ia protect and preserve the constitutional
rights 0r sections. His name will bc more
potent than platforms. however cunMingly
wnrdcl. 10 insure confidence that guaranteed
rights in States and Territories will be pro.
tcctci; for his lie, stern, aislltiorward and
honest. leaves M room to tlor!b. Ills fidelity
His promise made tp the ear. will not be bro.
; ken to the hope"
Upon the great question Of the right OF the
; South under the Constitution to expand, he an
tagoniscs Mr. Douglas. and has written by far
the abrSt argument to sustain this right, aIid
the duty Of every department Of the Federal
Government 10 see that il is not impaired or
hiidcre, He fully appreciates the importance
Of lis recognition at this junciurc, when the
Mexican States must 50 soou cnlarsH orr public
,lamain lie feels tho necessity In inc South
Of It's maintenance for the safety Of her lnstl;u-
iinns ttro.gii nil time. For this constitutions!
right he is prepared 10 fight, in the Union Or
cat Of the Union. AS orr enemies may deter
mine: hut in or ont he will maintain il Us long
aS there remains Southern courage 10 AID htn
in the caiiSe of her constitutional rights.
We believe that Il mere party triumph ignor
ing this vital right, would, in the end prove
more disastrous To the South than even Il tenn
porary defeat. with its full Importance realized
ty our prnplc. For this reason, rs much as VIC
; lave heretofore respected Mr.. Douglas. all!
admired his high Qualities Is statesman, TIN;
South will never support him, whilst he occupies
position which in its effects forever excludes
Us from participation III the enjoyment Of the
common territories, and shuts up the South 10
hrr present narrow boundaries. Let lis. in the
: vigorous language of Wise, "dc hcalth(nl
'iralh hr blond and fire, rather than by The
intid dissolution Of decay" Make the issue
HOW, both in the platform and the nominee
it is Il great and vital onc--it cannot bc naSni-
| lied; and let us know definitely whether wc
can in the present Union expand under the
broad and equal principles .! the Constitution,
Or whether by narrow and sectional inlcrpre'
! ration, enforced by the power oi numbers IN
der the forms Of law, We arc TO he surrounded
and suliocatcd- whether in the chastc cruelty
of language once employed by Senator Sr,:n-
| ncr VIC are 10 lle like spider under "n
exhausted receiver, hy iuanition:' nr rather
| fnll in an open, manly struggle Tor life:
Better perish in the shoes
Than mOu!3er pi-cc.Inrni pn III" rock:
and We hope that our people think alike. /! Is
1T all events high time that ttis rcxaic,'s COLI
troycrSy about our plain rights under - c"r'i-
! mon government, was brought To = cie"e u
we are going TO submit. lei Us col! our reg''
! ,ncnials and clolhc ourselves in ihc garments
which lrclpng to the "hcwcrs 'i w"Gd AMI the
:irawcrs ofwatrr To this conclusion IL must
come a, least, if delay all Issue ior the sake
Of formal party triumph, regardless Ola sre"t
! AMI lvir. principle Hence w% arr for Wise,
| hccan<c he held!y asserts uar 'isht$, ana
stands ready to fight for thcm--hecaHsc he Is
willing to make Tie Issue, anA heeausr ne Is
! representative man, who enho,!Iei the True
IDEAS Of Southcru rights conservative ol t"Hst'-
turional Union With Confidence thrn, vein.
woke the aid Of all friends o; ali constitutions!
liberty to come {" til" rescue. and t" :cnd
| hrlninc hand to elevate the man Tor the tIm' :
to a place ul power. where his great tacu;'
may BE- successfully e;np;oyca L" save the coun.
trv and pcrpctuatr "rIr deer h"u-ht privileges
and ilnmrmitc>.
Scnsibiiity, how CharminG!