Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-10-30
why SIumber the People ?

| for our country and against us enemies
Wings and Americans Of virginiA-TO THE POLLsl-
To THE PoLLsl To THE PoLLsl
why sIumBer the PeOPIeP
On Tuesday next, the 9th Of NOvumber, the freemen
of Virginia and of the whole country will be called upon
to exercise high and solemn prerogatvea right guar
anteed to the same extent to other peOpe-the right
Of casting their votes for Chief Magistrate whom they
are willing to invest with the desnes of this great ma
ton.
Hitherto, as our contemporary OF the CulPepPer 20
server Justly remarks when the soveregns of this Repub-
lie at stated periods prescribed by the constitutional
compact solemnly entered into and ratified by our fa
TIERS have been called upon exercise the privilege Of
choosing a chief ruler, great and important issues
have been involved-issues which excited the coun-
try from one extent to the other, but Of char
acter far different from those which now distract
and startle US. Hitherto after we had passed through
these animated contests and after the smoke Of the bat
tie had cleared away, the people settled down calmly
and peace regned supreme In the past trials through
which our beloved country has passed. there has been
sufficient patriotism in the land to heal all divisions and
to calm all discomfort The grounds of division which
have heretofore excited country were not as Po-
tentous and deepseated those which now so unhap-
PLY threaten This fact and the fact that the coun-
ellis of our nation not directed by the wisdom
of those great statesmen who have passed from the stage
of action admonish us when consider the deep root
ed anmostes and vital AntAgonsm which now pervade
the whole political atmosphere that our country is pass
Jog through crisis more fearful than any which has
ever afflicted it.
Formerly when our peace had been nvadedby intestine
| and NAT me
had the wise counses Of Clay of Webster and many
othcrs-iuteectual giants whose hearts burned with
patriotism and love of country aud whose eloquent
voices heard pleading for concilatory mea-
sures and striving to pour oil upon the troubled waters
that the tendencies of sectional animoses might be
averted and the peace of the country restored. But
now the places Of these great and good men are filed by
sectional agators whose counses tend to exasperae,
Instead of calming the two divisions Of our country At
the commencement of the administration Of Gen. Tay-
Tor and during that of the iusrious MlArd Fillmore
the councils of the nation disturbed TO an alarming
degree growing of the slavery ISSUE and the stout
est hearts were made to remble for the fate Of the
Union. Even the confidence Of the immortal Clay was
Shaken and though his clarion and eloquent voice WSs
heard in the Senate Of the United States, urging his
countrymen listen the voice Of and compro-
mise he heard to say during that eventfn period,
that sectional conflict between the North and the South
under the heated state Of the then public mind would
not surprise him. Fortunately for the country, wise
couuse prevailed the angry pillows Of sectional excite
ment were rolled back and the retiracy Of Mr.
Fillmore, the last Wing President that the coun-
try was blessed with, left in peace and prosperi
y. Under the Democratic administration Of Franklin
Pierce the negro agitation unfortunately renewed.
great and dangerous party nimca to the South, has
been formed and built up at the North, which, like dark
cloud continues to grow and spread, denong the most
fearful omeus We would not calm the fears of the South
by declaring that we do not consider this the most dan
gerous party with which our country has ever been
cursed We believe that the success of this party like
terrible plague, will blight the fair prospects of
happy land We pray God that in the event of the
of this black party may be mistaken in the evil
Influences which we believe may be excepted
Whilst Abram Lincoln is leading on his black and IA
natca forces at the North and marshalng them for the
decisive battle, which is to be fought III November, we
have a sectional party the South under the leader
ship Of John C. Breckenridge, who honestly believe,
are seeking break up and destroy the general govern
ment, as constituted by fathers.
These two parties flaming the flames of discord,
already existing 70 an alarming extent hoping 10 SO e
bitter the South against the North that disunion will
follow These facts too familiar and evident to our
readers to need any subs;antation.
When we contemplate the future, We are filed with
fearful forebodngs The triumph of either of the sec
tonal parties would be ominous Of everlasting evil to
the country In this hour Of peril, would ask Why
sumber the people? Why the people Of the South
so indIarent-so inactive when the dearest and most
precious rights that were ever vouchsaled to man.
menaced with such imminent danger? But may be
asked what can be done TO stay the hand Of de-
s;rueon and to avert the dangers which threaten
people? The path is plain one, and if the conservative
people in the whole country could be sufficiently aroused
tread therein the country could be saved The ex-
remsts in both sections of country be rebuked
and the slavery agitation stifed To do this We must
vote for thvse tried and able Statement John Bell and
Edward Everett who in favor Of the Union and op
posed to slavery agitation. We must set our faces
against those men who seek pull down the pillars upon
which the of American liberty rests, by the
eternal cry Of negro! negro!
II the sage Of Ashland were now upon the stage of
tou his eloquent and inspiring voice would be heard
in days gone BY when he thrilled and electrified listening
Senates, admonishng his countrymen to vote for the
Union candidates those patriots who have been present
ed to the country peace-Oaring to all sections of
the country.
Will the people Of Virginia evince their devotion to
their country by casting their for the Union cand
dltes We believe they will In the meantime, we say
God save the country