Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-08-31

of my country that should Go.
l was for many years Whis. and after.
wards an American; and an not ashamed Of
having been either. Looking back aiong the
path Of my life, see many things 70 regret,
much done that could wish had bec! left un-
DONE much omitted that could wish had bcCu
performed. But am not sorry TO nave ree!l
4 Whig and afterwards an American. By the
side Of SO many gallant and true gentlemen;
am proud OF it, and OF the not unmlnly or TN.
generous course that pursued On the field CT
political warfare. am Wiser to-day, think.
than was yesterday; and hope to be wiser
tomorrow than am to-day. Ny Judgment i,
more mature, end my opinions. hope, :acyo
accurately formed, than when was scnle
years younger. Some | luvc changed. auL
others hare developed themselves and expand.
ed but in the main think stand where al.
ways did. lfmy motives are impugncd and
unworthy ones sought to be assigned ioi my
| present action, shall remain entirely silent;
for am less than nothing in this present great
cXigency OF the country, and the value of what
I have written does not at all depend On the
motives that actuate the writer.
Permit me to add word or two Tor the .ick
ct. know the candidates well. GcDc".! Lane
is a frank, fearless, upright, honest unprctcnd.
lllR IlllIl, htlUSc lOIlOI - SUUt'Ss S.S ItS
sword lie is no orator, no lawyer, bu. plain
man, possessed of al ample fund Of co::;nci
sense. do not know how familiar lie may be
with the rules Of photography, bet think the
Mexcans and Indians have never complained
that he could not make his marx. 1t was lis.
covered, I remember, that General jackson
could not spell, and the saIc objection faS ecc'.
since made to others, whom tic nation has
loved to honor. hope the General IS posses.
sed OF that accomplishment; bu; il unfortunate.
ly he is now and then guilty OF mistake, we
will forgive the old soldier, in consideration OF
the glores that, in large measure owing to
him, cluster around the flag o.! our country. and
blaze on all its folds. lie has at least, tjygHt
like soldier for his country. and if &c a5d !al'
len on any one Of his fields. and ct amy moment
Of the fight, it would have been "w'itl h:; back
to the field and his feet to the Zoe: ard the
whole Republic would have nomrneG !cr him.
as one Of the bravest of her sons
Only four years since, John {. Bvcckinri'ge
was nominated bv acclamation 10. the Vice
Presidency and bis whole party received the:
nomination with singular gladrcSs sii,: 22t5u
siasln In the Ashland district, in Wli;c;! tho
great Wing leader had his home, the young
Bayard OF Democracy, without fear and with.
out reproacl, had before then Inc: the Wing
array, before that great party had been taught
elsewhere to lower its crest; anu hc had con.
qucred-and, what was moro 20 his honor, had
gained the esteem and admiration Of his oppc
nents Kentucky has lately had no noIcrs ta
bestow that she has not Thought kim tie wo;.
thiest to bear None anywhere rcvilcd him.
and few men, at any time, have so united and
.lsscrrei the good opinions Of their country
men.
None wondered at this, ncue seemed 10 envy
him. none couid deny that he deserved his
honors and that lie wore them with rare ard
admirable modes;y. Young; handsome, brave
and eloquent, with a large and cultivated incl
lcct and much dignity Of dernearor, nc is etai'
nen,ly unaffected frank. generous and genial.
so that none, think, have been much witir
him without coming to admire him and 10 lee!
for him an aitectionatc esteem haze never
seen a person who has seemed 20 hare .n;ger
charity for the foibleS and shortening; o!
others. That he has been magacd since lis
nomination for the Presidency is il !: 10; Hn-
usual, so it is no: worthy OF his or your notice.
Whenever new national party is organized,
If it would command success, it must iiiscrbo
uDnn its banners an undying hostility t1 that
system of corruption by which the treasury IS
plundered to reward par,isans TIE offices Of the
country are used as brides, and free thought
and an independent vote are punished o. loss
of employment and want Of bread III ,h2 house.
One Of Il certain delegation to Charleston, who
was in the market, he and his fellows said. Oh
leaving Washington to attend the Democratic
Convention, remarked that he never saw . !n"a
like Breckenridge; 'for," said be, 'hc viii roi
promise anything." ] know 0! no o;h"r inan
in the Union, and there certainly IS 40
other cnadiidte, who has the popularity.
with the inclination and vii! and the
freedom from the lrammcIs Of pledge Ghi
obligation, that will enable HIM to initiate
4 reform which is rapidly becoming in'iispenS:
Bile, If We would not haze the republic die and
rot. believe that since he has been Nic2 Pre-
s;dent he has never ntcrlered in any case, {"
ask for any one, contracts patronage. or place.
lie has made no promises tf Office III tho event
of his election, for he has had no party u cahal
insisting on CT intriguing for his nomination. !
know him to be an ardent lover Of the Lnion
sober and rejecting statesman, opposed TO
the practice Of prescribing men for their of!n
ions, far above the tricks and chi"anc o: fac
ton, and hating and scorning all tlIa. savers oI
corruption and makes Of the State 4 carcass 10
be proved upon by the hounds. ] am sure tha;
he has never been in the least degree rcSpoEs-
bic, even by approval. for the remcTal from Of
flee of the friends of Mr.. DougaS--a course,
indeed, in taking which the President is iar
more likely to do him injury than service.
am content with these candidates; and for
the PRINCIPLES which they represent earnestly
hone for their election. That depends upon the
Soutl,. 10 maintain the Constitution and
thereby pcrpct,,atc the Union, is htr task.
srhc Constitution, as compact between
the States and 10 which the States alone a:c
parties The Union of these perfectly ecaa'
States, treating together as peers, and as c:cs.
ted by that Constitution; this Confederation Of
Republics, which is also, i9r certain purposes,
that one nation at the same ti'ue: E ,in!o:
Of States, and not of some States n.iG son1c
provinces: the equal rights Of cTery State.
cvcrywhere, and not less in the Territories,
which are their common estate, tran elsewhere:
the right Of every State TO demand protector III
the Congress Of the assembled States Vi ihe
rights Of their citizens and their own N t!'2se
Territories; and equal opportunity i9' ";Sa
State ard every section, fairly anu heI9rae!y
to compete with each other III t:'c e:"rE 20
people the young Territories, hE'd 50 10 riol'1
their institutions rs they grow and .Pen nto
States.n if the South nscTlbes these .sS End
equitable principles or al her hoEnc;s. 4nh
swears her children TO their maintenance npon
the sacred affairs Of the gods, she will ut Last
succeed in obtaining their recognition every.
where: and then it will no longer be uHwise in
her to consent that the CEion shall still e1'
pard, and new stars in the South end ~ :he
North be lighted up in the sky.
IL these principles are not true, ,sIa. e ::st
wisc and it is also not WISE If, being true, they
are to be trampled under the hooss of Arrogant
power, bounded on by sleek Hypocrisy ard
grim Fanatcism II she is true 10 licrsti', 81!
will be well. But if she yields one j:' "7 ORG
little Of the truth, she yields tho w:"'' S"1 a!
her glores fade. ..,,,,. a.,
Forgive me tha: have grown sa:fil@nS' aAa
will endcavur to forgTe myself.
have the honor to be- ccrT respectfully
49, ~ S',Io,r citizen. ALBERT PIKE.