Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-01-20

The FIrmness OF tho Black Republicans.
The country is fast losing its interest in the
proceedings of the House Of Representatives !;
indeed, we believe that if affairs there do not
soon change, the popular voice will demand Mr..
Miles proposition-resign and refer the qucs-
ton to the people. This would satisfy the peo
pie, who would most certainly see that the
high position of peoples representative should
not bc prostituted us it has been by the present
House.
The determination and persistence of the
Black Republicans in theirsupport ofthe Helper
Candidate Of Northern sectionaliSm, is conclu'
sive of the spirit that pcrvades the Black Re-
publican party The selection Of Sherman
was made in obedience TO the demand Of the
anti-slavery sentiment of the North, and
the continued unwavering support he has re-
ceyed, has met with decided and firm appro.
val from the Northeru constituencies. Before
such potent facts as these, the rerlring conser-
vatism of the North d,cinaieS into insgniii-
canoe, and the folly Of trusting to its power to
stay the approaching storm is too apparent 10
require exposure
The determined lirlnncss Of the Black Re-
publican organization, alarming as it is, pre-
sents that party to the South in an entirely
new aspect; resolutions and speeches no Ion
ger form the staple commodities Of Northern
abolitouism, but resolutencsS Of purpose, i
strength Of organization, u bold and unwarcr-
ing determination, too plainly show the South
the stuff whereof our opponents arc made. The
Democratic party in Congress, with the Southern
Opposition, have utterly failed to make any i'm
preston upon the ranks of the Black Republi'
cans Firm and united from first to last in
the support of the endorser Of the Helper book,
they too plainly eyince the spirit that will sc-
tuate that party in enforcing the tenets of their
Helper faith upon the divided and distracted
South.
Will not the spirit 81 iTluncs1, ruanlfeStedh ny
our Black Republican enemies, arouse at least
as much spirit at the South? When Northern
fanaticism arrays its supporters III the solid
phalanx presented to the South by the Repub-
lican organization of the House, it is time for
our people to be considering and csnterrlng
with each other as to the best mode Of meeting
and repelling the assaults preparing by this
fanaticism.
1t was hoped that the wickedneSS Of John
Browns raid would have opened the eyes Of
the more liberal Of the Black Republicans, TO
the crime Of longer continuing an oAsan-
zation, which had enersised the passions OF
the Northern people to actual warfare upon the
South; but this example Of the wicked ends
of the party has only infused into the orsaniza-
ton the dogsed irlnncss Of old Brown,as well as
adopted his purpose and objects into the faith
and creed Of the whole mass of Black Rcpub-
licans. John Browns frmness has been Illus
trated and repeated by the Black Republicans
on the floor Of Congress, from the I'd OF De-
cembcr, the day of his execution, to the pre-
sent time, and the same persistence will be
carried out in the approaching Presidential
canvass AS upon the floor Of Congress,
Abolitionism has determinedly refused all
modification of its platform and all compro-
mise as to men, so upon the theatre OF Pre-
sidential election, pure and unaduterated Hell
perism and Scwardsm must form the platform
and constitute the candidate.
The conduct Of this party in the House oil
Representatives should convince the South that
it must close up its columns and by conference
compose all differences, and with the resolution
Of "a brave and determined people prepare for
contest, which it now appears can neither be
averted by Northern conservatism, nor prevented
by the Democracy or Southern Opposition
The American Sculptors, Crawford and
Rogers.
Yesterday, Crawford's bronze statue OF Geo.
Mason was securely placed on its pedestal be-
tween "patricl Henry" and Jefferson" 1t
is n beautiful work Of art and, it is sufficient
to say, is fully worthy Of place by the side
Of the other splendid creations of Crawfords
genius. In some respccts--the delicate and
rich embroidery of the waistcoat and the lace
cuff:-it is more perfect and elaborate than its
fcllow.statues. The noble and handsome face
is full Of bright expression, and the speaking
ewes seem to sparkle with joy, as if the states
man felt conscious of having just done great
deed in psnning, in 177G, the Virginia Declara-
ton Of Rights, the .frst in America. Inc right
hand firmly grasps pen, with which he has
inscribed his immortal paper on a book which
is held under his left arm. The whole figure
is gracefully beautiful and grand, and it is SO
regarded by the thousands who have Hooked
n admire it. From the "Whig" we extract
few interesting facts, furnished by the ac-
complished John Estcn Cooke, Esq:
George Mason, son Of George Mason, fourth
Of the name was born at Dogs Neck, on the
Potomac, in Fairfax county, Va, in l!20. Ills
earliest literary essays were embraced IN vol
u,oe entitled Extracts from the Virginia
Charters with some remarks on them. lie
was the author Of 'Articles Of Association
aoninst importinc British goods, upon the dis
solution Of the House Of Burgesses, in lI6a,
and drafted the resolutions passed at the Far.
fax meeting in l774, which were carried by
WaSnlHEIol, loHe vi 'nS S'"S>''o' "
burg.
He first sat in any public body, in the Con,
ycntion of 177G, when he drafted the Batt cf
Rigkts and the Virginia Constitution Jetler,
con- who was then in Philadelphia and had
inst written the Declaration of Independence,
drew up "preamble and sketch" but Masons
had been already reported to the Convention
and Observation-Disclosures preamble being, as he
said : lacked TO the work Of George Mason
Mason supported Jefferson afterwards, in l777,
ST. sea. in his great innovations in the laws
cutting of entails aLolishng primoSeniture,
and oycrthrowing the established church,
though he (Mason) was one Of the "aristocrats," "
and member Of the Episcopal church. In
conjunction with Patrack Henry, he opposed
the adoption Of the Federal Constitution, in the
Virginia Convention, believing that 1t would
tani to the conversion of the Government into