Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-10-19

wherein 1t exists so intimately, luat d Ho
destiny awaits alike the planting and the iar1n-
ing States.
Our contemporary, doubtless, has gooa anu
sufficient reasons for the opinion that Virginia
would not resist Abe Lincoln when Constltu-
tio,allv elected. In this we differ from the
"Whie." and would point our contemporary to
the almost unanimous voice oil Virginia IN
1850. for resistance to Frcmont's election. We
would remind our contemporary, that the call
for the meeting Of the Southern Governors was
approved by the people; and that John Minor
Bolts was the only man in Virginia that, in
1856, had the hardihood to openly oppose re-
s~istance to Fremont
porary can doubtless furnish the evidence OF
such error.
In 1856 no l~Iarpcr's Ferry raid had reused
Virginia to the consideration Of her Imminent
peril no "irrcprcssiblc conflict had been nm
nounccd by the leaders Of the Black KePupll-
cans; but then Virginia, as far rs she COULD
SallCllOIcu tlle dcSiul lllOIl VI Z
resistance. And if so, why should her people
now abandon their position then:
Has she received any assurance that Lincoln
is any more conservative than Fremont: hoth
were Southern born; both nominees oil Il sec
tional party. John Brown has shown The ex'
tent Of the increase Of hostility 10 slavery
Fremont was opposed to slavery in the Terri
tories; Lincoln announces ali "irrepressible
conflict" in the States. In our opinion, resist
ance to Lincoln is doubly demanded over re-
sistance to Fremont.
The Wing says:
.'The position of Virginia is, that she means
10 stand bv the Constitution and the Union 10
the last, and demand all her constitutional
| rights in the Union, no matter who may DC
| President"
Has not Virginia demanded ''all her Constl,
tutional rights in the Union" for forty years,
and is she not farther from obtaining them now
that she was at the outset? But how Will she
enforce her demand when the Cotton States,
by withdrawing from the Union, have left her
"rriendless and helpless in her ~voiceless woe,
a prey to the malice, and n dependant upon the
mercy Of Black Repuhlicanism: These are prac'
tical questions, which no silly cry Of Disunion
can prevent men from asking themselves,
and their answers will decide the State, in our
opinion, for resistance, and a common desti'
ny with the Southern States"
We regret our contempory could not exam,
ine so important Il subject, without endeavor,
ing to make party capital out of it.
Our contemporary says,
.'ln conclusion, we invoke the serious atten'
ton Of the people Of Virginia to the pregnant
extract which we have copied from the edito'
rial in Mondays Enquirer Let the mall be
admonished in time, that the single and only
issue in the present canvass is the issue Of
Union or Dtsuni0n! And let them remem'
Der, also, that if Breckenridge should carry the
State, and Lincoln should be elected, iRinedl-
ate Disunion will be upon them with all ITS
terrors and horrors, if the Breckenridge leaders
in Virginia can possibly bring it about. Even
if Lincoln should not DC elected, 1t is over.
whelmingly important that Virginia should
cast her vote against Breckenridge and the Dis
unioniSts. But if Lincoln should unfortunately
be elected, how transcendently and Infinitely lu'
portant-how absolutely essential It ls-that
Virginia should vote against Breckenridge, and
in favor of the Union candidate, John Bell, by
q tremendous majority If Virginia votes
against Breckinridgc, the advocates of 'resls'
lance will abandon their present purpose OF
prccipi,ating revolution and Disunlon. But
Should Virginia unfortunately vote for Brock
inridge, look out for Disunion, revolution and
civil wal in sixty days herealter-for such is
the programme Of the reckless breckenridge
leaders at the present writing.
people of Virginia, do you not perceive that
your rights, your interests, your very safety
call upon YOU to save the State from BrecklIl-
r lge, and carry it for Bell and Everett"
reckinridge and Bell, will contribute t6'pfs'
serve the Union, could only have resulted from
that jaundiced view which party passion al
ways takes. Will not Black Rcpublicanism be
encouraged to hasten the covert act" when a
divided South, so temptingly invites to its easy
and speedy conquest: Will not the Black
Republicans believe that the men who now adj
vocate a delay for the covert act will be the
very men who, when the covert act comes,
will question its Suliiciency, and use the same
arguments against resistance to the first covert
act" that they now advance against immediate
resistance. But, should the whole South,
in the approaching election, present Il solid
front, will not Black Rapublicanism rccoil
at such evidence Of determined resistance,
and thus the covert act" be delayed, if not
abandoned? So that sound policy, whether
Lincoln he elected or defeated, dictates
that unity upon Breckenridge is the only hope
for the preservation Of the Union. The united
vote Of the South for Breckenridge would be an
argument with the cotton States to delay ac-
ton; they would see in such united vote q great
moral rs well rs physical power for their pro-
lection against Black Rcpublicanism, which
might induce them to remain in the Union and
await the revival Of conservatism ut the North.
But should Virginia loosen from her moorings,
and by voting for John Bell create immediate
alarm throughout the Southern States, every
consideration Of safety would demand Of those
States the speedy dissolution Of Il confedevacy
in which their ancient ally, Virginia, had be-
come a neutral in the war that is waged against
them.
TO vote for Breckenridge is the duty Of cve-
ry Union man, whether he deems Il common
fate with the South to be the best policy for
the State, or whether he would wait for the
covert act before resistance. Voting for Brock
inridgc may defeat Lincoln, while support of
John Bell, if it is not neutrality, is aid to Lin
coin. Voting for Breckenridge may postpone
the covert act" while voting for John Bell in
vites ii. Voting for Breckenridge, by uniting
the South, may defeat Lincoln; but if not, it will
be regarded as the last act of n brave and de-
termincd people TO preserve the Constitution,