Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-10-16
VOLUME LVII.-NUMBER IS.

We publish. by request Of Col. Rutherford
the following letter Gon. james L. SAi:iuc.,
Esq. containing lucid and able rc:i.~ c! tie
present attitude Of the Douglas p::;v n Viz.
ginia, 10 which ~ invite The attention t.! or
readers:
ScArNToN October it'll 1850.
J"nS RrTnsnYongD, ESQ, Chairman Demo":H,;,
State Executive Committee:
Ny Dear Sir: The extreme illness uffnv acc
father precludes the possibility of my attending
the meeting Of the State Executive Ca!n!ni::,e,
which you have called for Tomorrow. >!...
ccrely regret my inability to mcct and confer
with my respected colleagues o.; ;hs, ,!ya>e
assure them.
1t seems % be understood that there VIII ilc
proposition before You tha! tic Dc";c2ra:o
Committee and the douglas COMMITTEE. ''>!:ail
Withdraw fifteen Electors from the ticgi a.
now constituted, and have but ouc common
electoral ticket. pledged TO chs: the ;otc O.:
Virginia ratcahly and a.rcea:ly 10 tf2 ro:", t"
wit: each Douglas vote counting the Sa:i.c =.
each Breckenridge vote
The first enquiry which | would susccS: i,
Us to the competency Of the committee 10 ai.c.
or modify The electoral ticket adopted tya coz
vention Of the delegates Of the pcoPl at Char
lottesville About this have grave doGb,s
The next enquiry is rs TO the cXpci!"ncy ri
permitting The electoral vote of the Siair 10 5r
divided The proposition inr co::.:Eon elrc-
toral ticket Is based, presume, upon tte idea
that We arc al! Democrats, and lha; there is 40
vital difference in principle between US. Con
ccding this to be so for = InOmcnt let ne ak IS
it not the established principle ahd usage ui oTg
organization that the n;jorty shall govern
But next, IS there no vial difference between
us and Judge Douglas. which shonld prc"cftour
aiding and giving him any portion. OF the cl@ctn-
raj Vote Of the State: | cannot ciHhnratc--put
upon the fundamental doctrine OF State i;:.h;s.
he denies the right ot pcaccaLIc secession a%d
advocates coercion should il b. exercised. H."
We? Upon the question ut the rights Z. ;i.c
States iii The Territories hc maintained the doc
trlnc OF SqlatlcT Or popular sovereignty. DO
We: UpcI, the ,arii! question he liinf.s :l.c
mineral resources Of Pennsylvania require ;;.e
fostering hand o! Government Q: Course he
means to Il greater extent than at present. D'
We? Upon the question Of the disposition oi
the public lands he G.yors the homestead poll
cy. DO We? Upon the question CT internal
improvements he !avOrs the Pacific rare:;i -
DO We: In fine, is there my lyin: v"r-j!uH
of public policy or constitutional right, EXCEPT
the acquisition Of Cuba on which he squares
with our ideas | know o: nouc Do his
supporters coincide with him in opinion; !:
so do we and they any Longer constitute one
party: II they do not cair.cCc with hin', why
can they not. and why do they not unite with
us, or a, the very least give their assent :" a
unit vote upon the majority principle.
L.. ,f,1t
me rIn>pcaliablc pleasure tn see the honest ma>-
scs OF Judge Douglas supporters in tii:., Sat.
once more united with iS ~ Il common n!t.I,
and lighting under one banner; and II The to;r-
mi.tec shall bc ui opinion that an arrangement
can be made. without too grca; sacrifices. hy
which they may be brough, to cooperate with
us, | shall be happy to hear CT the result; 1t
is because sincerely desire cooperation uron
honorable terms, that have given the subject
no little thought, but frankly admit ina. :lc
obstacles in the way ScriII 10 i:ic OF very :svc
AMI mOmcn;ouS character.
vi course. do not desire ny vote to l,c cola
ted upon any proposition that may lac b:o"sh;
before you; even If it were allowable, >Howd
be unwilling that my voice should hc t2ke;; I"
decide anything, without having the priT;lccc
myself. OF hearing the subject fully discussed
Rcitcratiag my regret nj not beng anic 70
take counsel with you. ! arI.
Very cordially. vDu.s,
JAMES II. SErSsER.