Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-09-28

The g. Wide Awnkcn.5

Not the least significant feature in the pre-
sent canvass is the organization of Black Re-
publican Clubs in the Northern States into mi
litary companies under command Of marshals,
captains, and suh.otficers, some Of whom have
distinguished themselves in the Mexican war,
and all Of whom arc selected with reference to
superior qualifications as martial men. This
organization, or chain Of organizations, known
us "Widc Iiwakes," are said to reach already
row huMdred Ho"mn,l men, thoroughly drill
cd, and ready or any service Which their lead
ers may demand al their hands. They had
their origin in that traditional nest OF traitors,
Hartford, Connecticut; and, near the very coast
where the blue lights Of the second war Of In
dependence were burnt us signals to public
enemy, the rcd torcl.lights of Black Republi-
can incendiarlsm are lit in the present canvass.
Is there no sigEicancy in these things? Our
Northern friends are men Of action, not OF
words; they organize, drill, march, and file,
while we speak and talk-they do privately
and by voluntary associations, what we debate
in debcrative bodies, and hesitatingly perform,
if at all, by legislative action. Their organza-
tions ARE not yet armed, it is true, at least not
that outsiders are aware of but they are drit-
led, uniformed, md prorided eiM rails, ors'-
coat. and torches rtaly .,or marcdmg!
1t will be remembered that the front.doUr Of
John Allstadt, Of Jefferson, was broken open
by Browns party with Il rail; hence we learn
TO interpret the peculiar equipment OF these
abolition cohorts-thcy parade at midnight,
carry rails to break open our doors, torches to
fire our dwellings, and beneath their long black
capcs the knife to cut our throats.
There can be no mistnking the meaning ofmil.
itary organizations, nor does it need any suspi-
cous acutcness to point 4 moral to such names
as "ZOuare Wide Awakcs," and "Rail.Splitters
6attuii0n." Are there no Brown Avengers,
or "IIarpers FerryIiaidcrs" among them? OF
the Presidential candidates three arc agreed
that Stale has no right TO seccde, and on that
issue occupy the same platform; and the "Wlde
Awakcs" have tier authority for believing
that in the event Of the secession Of Alabama
or South Carolina it will be not only pretcxt
but duty to march into Southern territory
Now these contingencies, Of Lincoln's election
and State secession, are imminent and why, in
the day Of trial and danger, should We he dis.
tracted in council and paralyzcd in action by
division among ourselves? We hope and trust
that no Virgnian can reconcile himself to the
thought of an armed invasion Of Southern
States through her territory; and yet this is
the crisis to which affairs are tending and
which we shall have to meet What We will do
in such contingency is question outweigh
ing in importance all considerations OF mere
party triumph, and it will be too late to respond
to it effectively when the crisis is upon us
Our only hope is to unite and present an undi-
vided front nor As far as Virginia is con-
ccrned, the contest will be fought not out Of the
Union but for States rights and State soTe-
reignty in the Union. She will have to stand
between the power Of the Central Government
anu the assertion OF sovereign authority by
some sister State Let the first armed invader,
whether A Federal ,ninon or an abolition drill
ed lnccndiary, who violates the sanctlty OF her
territory, find her citizens not only wide
awake, but prepared to meet him.
4 History of the Brown Invasion.
The Historical Society of Virginia have ap-
pointed William y. Mcdonald, Of Frederick
county, TO write the history Of the late Brown
Invasion. a better selection could not have
been made. Mr.. Mcdonald is a native Eir-
rinan, and an 4. ~ Of her University. He
filled the place Of Professor Of History in the
University OF Louisville with great credit to
himself and the institution until lie resigned
the position, influenced partly by declining
health, and partly by desire to return to his
native State. lie was present during the trials
of the Brown party, and elected many facts
! from frequent conversations with the prisoners
| themselves, to whom he had free access No
one else, perhaps, has the same amount OF ma
terial collected from sources now closed for
ever, and certainly no one could bring to the
task more impartial and sincere devotion to the
eternal truth of history. Mr.. Mcdonald is now
in Europe, but will soon return, we hope, Win
renewed health and vigor to the execution ol
the task assigned him.
We hear with sorrow that JAS Barbour, Esq,
the able delegate in the General Assembly
from the county Of Cupeper, still continues
dangerously ill. We trust that he may YET oe
s,ared to give his eminent abilities to the SER
r;co of the Commonwealth Gazette