Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-08-10

justly claim to be o sterling and consistent
Democrat. The earnest tone OF patriotic self
denial which per7ades the article, cannot fail
to please even those who may object TO the
line o. policy which it advocates.
For tic Enquirer.
TO Patriots OF all Parties.
I have never filled a political Office, nor made
e political speech, and this IS the first political
paragraph that I have ever written for the pa
pers; so ! aa no politician. But am one of
many thousands who see, with feelings OF dis
may and deep Indignation, that the "old ship
Of State" which has weathcred so many
storms. is rapidly drifting upon the breakers,
willis: the crew is not only incapable of avert
ing the Hanger, but seem utterly unconscious
Of tine ruin to which they are so rapidly has
tcning. l ain one Of many who believe that
''the conservative element is sufficiently strong
10 save the country, Vqt could only he con-
esntratea but that unless it can be, the dis
solution Of the Union is inevitable; and L can't
stand By end see the glorious legacy left us by
our fathers passing from our hands without
making one effort, however feeble, to retain It
The calm and rejecting men Of all parties
admi, that there is great danger that the cot
ton States, ut least, will secedc. i'll case OF the
election Of Lincoln, and many think that they
would inevitably do so. The recent mani
festo of the Chicago Democrat" (thc organ of
Lincoln,) "tha: the States mast be made
aufres," that I'VE (the Republicans might as
vel! mako up our minds to fight the battle now
as at any other time" IS not CALCULATED TO al
lay this feeling. 1t is folly to discuss this
INSTRUMENTATION they will he justified in
breaking up the Union-the probability is that
they will do it right or scrong, and it is this
danger which we must face if we can't avert II.
In view Of this deplora5lc state of things
what do we see? The conservative strength
Of the country frittered away upon three candi.
my are marching to an easy victory under
their black banner inscribed with the motto
".he States must be made all free"
The Enquirer" is writing able articles TO
prove .ha; Bell is not sound upon the Wilmot
Proviso; the "Whig," not less true to the
South, is engaged in the profitable employ
mcnt OF '1c~ntiLuting the rscor&' Of Breckin-
ridge; the EXAMINER" ever ready to battle for
what it believes to be the best interest Of the
South, is pouring hot shot into the Douglas
ranks; and the Index" yielding to none in
love of country, is about to show, as it thinks,
conclusivciy, that the Seccders, despite of their
pro!estations to the contrary, are disunionists.
And this is but q fair specimen OF the inimical
feeling which the ardent friends Of the differ
emf candidates are showing 70 their opponents.
Is it not enough TO make the most sanguine
patriot despair Of the Republic when he sees
such discord and strife among those who
should be standing shoulder to shoulder" in
this hour Of need
What earthly difference does it make what has
been, or what is now, the position Of either Of
those prominent men, while the large majority Of
those who though 10 politicians, read both sides,
are entirely satisfied that neither Of them stands
any more chance for the Presidency than | do?
Lincoln would run either OF them to the throat.
latch, ii there was only one on the track, in any
Northern State; but With his opponents divi-
ded into three factions, he must sweep the
North, and at the same time smeep cat the
Union. Tho only instance in history which
rivals the madness Of the course we are pursu-
ing, is that Of the Jews, who were fighting over
the offices of honor and profit, in Jerusalem,
whilst the Roman lcgions were battering down
the walls.
Is there 10 way to escape this awful calam-
ity? Can TO plan be devised to save tho coun-
try? think that there can; and it is this
The Democratic Conventions which arc to as.
semble q. Charlottesville and Stanton, instead
Of wasting their time in the hopeless and PROF.
ttless (even if successfully effort to unite upon
n double ticket for Breckenridge and Douglas,
should unite upon some prominent men for
President and Vice President, true to the South,
true 20 the North, aud true to the whole coun-
try. They should appeal to the patriotism of
Douglas and Breckenridge to refuse to allow
their names longer to be used in connection
with the highest Office to which 4 freeman can
aspire; and they should call upon the Wings
who sympathise with such G movement, to
make o Similar appeal TO Bell. believe that
of all politicians; and l don't doubt that each
of these distinguished men would willingly
sacrifice his chances for the Presidency, even ii
they were much brighter than they really are.
if by so doing he could ensure the defeat Of
Lincoln, and the safety Of the Union. And if
either Of them should be so blinded by ambi-
ton, so utterly dead to every feeling Of patriot
ism as 70 refuse to withdraw, the loud and
deep curses of an indignant people would
follow him to au iguominious grave.
Let them do ,hat-let them appeal TO the
patriots Of al parties 10 rally to the rescue
and let tae.n appoint the best speakers in the
State, Wings and Democrats, as electors. Let
JIG l0Olko W " 'Is.1t tCttG MIL tEC GOUH~
try and send them oei to battle Tor the
country and not for tie party. Let them do
this, and the country will be safe. 1t is worse
than folly TO talk about concentrating upon
either Of tho candidates now before The peoplc.
The friends of each have said things about the
others, that. can be forgotten and won't be for
given. So we must take 1eW men, but men who
have made their mark. There is scarcely time TO
call another National Conrention-besidcs Eve,
the people" have become distrustful, to use the
mlldest term, Of all such bodies. There would
be too many ,rickstcrs to struggle for the spoilS;
and, by such c course, wo would emily have
" confusion worse c~onfounded."
Lei them give Us good AMI true men--one
Democrat and one WhiG-one from the South
and orc from the North-and with such 4
ticket We could lid defiance to the dingy CO
horts OF the Republicans. | know the feelings
OF Wings and Democrats, who hava no politi-
cat aspirations; aud believe that such a ticket
would sweep the country like a tornado, from
the Aroostook 10 the Rio Grande; from the
Lakes TO the Gulf; from the Atlantic to the
Pacific.
If the papers in Richmond could lay aside
all party ~ouarrels .for q more convenient sea.
son." and, with an eye single to the good of
The country, would nail this flag to their masts,
they might save the country from incritaJle
ruin; or, if they should fail in the glorious
struggle, the patriots Of all parties" whilst
overwhelmed BY defeat, would feel grateful to
them for having struck the best and boldest
blow fl- The Union and the Constitution"
On OF TEE PEOPLE.