Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-29
FOR Tie Enquirer
To the Voters OF Prince Edward.

To the Voters OF Prince Edward.
Ny Friends and Fellow. Ci.izcns:-I make
this appeal to you. No matter how humble III
life your position may be, the time has arrived
when you and each Of you should cease 10 fold
your arms and remain silent spectators and
not speak, demand and act your full parts by
expression Of sentiment, and so forward and
ma intain your wants, and seek your every right,
and be prepared to meet crisis which suon
will be upon us all and if submission be Ion
ger INDUCED in, and the hour for immediate ac'
tion be put off, the result will bring inevitable
disaster and defeat and cause scene 10 be en-
acted here in our midst unknown, unhcard o1
in the annals Of history.
In presenting my views to you, with regard
to secession, immediate action On the part o
this people, surely, my friends, | will, by you
at least be excused on the ground, if no other
that seek not, neither do aspire, or ask Gle
vation, in anv way, at the hands Of the people
Of my county; but, on the other hand, um
prompted by motive, Of sincerity to act my
part, rs nhc OF you; and come veal or come
woe, my lot shall be cast with you and yours
And, in all candor, should my position nnt
views in the approaching election for member
to the Convention be adopted and carried into
effect, and found to be wrong, on whom will thai
wrong fall most wcshty, and result with tho
greatest fury Ia? Surely with no man in Tho
county morr 50 than myself. ! ask yOm, then
gentlemen Of all parties for what purpose die
your County Court, on Monday last by 4 unan
in0us vote, pass an ordinance taxing tho
people OF the comfy $500 to raise means, al
this pcrlous hour, when the monetary affairs
of the county are so perfectly dcransed? Is il
no. obvious to us all the Court had an eye to
your best inteIcSt, safety and welfare, backed
as the Court was by the people, approving thcir
act without 4 dissenting voice? Yet that levy
would never have been made but for the
emergency for prompt action in placing your
citizens on safe footing with arms in hand to
repe any aggression on the part Of our North
c-n enemies. | make the assertion, sixty days
ago that n tax bill in the county Of Prince Ed.
ward could not have been passed, mainly upon
this ground Men then who folded their arms in
submission and failed TO see the inroatls and
threatened dangers, were srgcd and are likely to
be urged upon the people Of the South by our
known and avowed enemies, the Black Republi-
can AbolitionistS, who openly uvow before God
and the nations of the habitable earth, slavery
shall cease to exist; and in case any Southern
Suite shall sccedc, and draw off from the pre-
sent onc-sided ncgro.cquality Union, such State
shall be cocrccd and driven back ut the point Of
the bayonct in submission and yield to North
ern fanatcism, misrulc, and inequality; and
your SONS and daughters, my sons and daugh-
ters be made hcwers Of wood and drawers of
water for all time. Seeing OUT position, critical
gloomy and dark, as the threatened cloud that
now hovcrs over and howlS around us induced
your court to make the appropriation it did. for
aTmlng and cquIpping your people, and placing
them in position for self-preservation. Why
then, should there be dissenting voice against
voting for candidate to represent us in the
Convention to be held in the city OF Richmond
on the 18th of February next, whose views are
and should be for immediate secession, and after
Virginia, in Convention, shall decide, as she
must and will do. Tor her own pr cscrvation, as
other Southern States have and will in few
davs carry into effect. And after universal Sc
ccssion on the part of the entire South, should 4
proposition on the part Of tho North, be
presented to the South. as presented it will
be- why should it not come from those
who for the last forty years have been dis.
turbcrs OF the peace, anu the aggrcsSors,
having sought in every conceivable mode,
to wrong and suhjnga,e the people Of the
South After which. il their proposal be
in accordance with our views. giving us am
pie guarantees in every particular, would be
one Of EirginiaS first voters, with the whole
South TO meet the people of the North in Gen
cral Convention, and re.cstablish the present
government. with ample guarantees 10 the
whole South, touching slavery, public lands,
All and everything pertaining TO our just and
equitable rights In order ogo forward to con-
sumatc this important act, secession on the part
of Virginia is inevitable. Let, then, every voter,
not only in Prince Edward, but every county
in the State vote for the men to meet in Con-
vcntion, who will boldly and fearlessly meet the
Issue, and 70 for immediate secession. OF the
three candidates before the people, We have OF
that number one who has avowcd 10 the world
the open and independent course he will pur-
sue, and ne will use his influence, if elected
to that Convention, to bring about that act
that the people so much desire Let, then,
every voter in the county rally to the polls in
defence Of their rights, and cast their votes, TO
n man, for Branch J. WorSham. Need | ask
the people of Prince Edward who is Branch j..
WorSlam or whether Ire is a stranger to her
pcopc: or is he, or has he ever sought or gone
forward rs an nsprart for Office? think not.
As man, in all canlor, admit, and think,
with some Of you, ut tiucS there are men in
the county, as companion, whose presence
would seek sooner, il desired 10 have or spend
an idle moment with-but, before my God, and
the people Of Prince Edward, there is no man
living or dead, more pHre, more reliable, and
in whom you, myself, and all who know the
man, would sooner submit my all, and cspe-
caly in this hour Of need and trial, than TO
him-B. }. WorSham Yes lie will 90 forward
clothed with WISDOM proper discretion, sound,
rood iudgmcnt-and in Convention, Or in battle
array, nc is the man, the whole man, from the
crown of the head TO the sole Of the foot; who
will, with vigiant eye, watch over, guard and
protect orr every interest never once conceal
ing, in the slightest degree, by means of elo-
oucncc Of argument, CT otherwise, his views.
lie will 90 forward in discharge OF his duties,
if elected, to tie Convention, never once ialter-
ins or looking back, until the last act or move,
for our entire preservation be consumnatcd
and carried.
Voters Of Prince Edward, stay not at home
on the 18th day Of February-go to the polls,
and If you see any petty faults, or have any
objections, to- the man, cast them aside, and
give your vote for him who will shield you
from the assaults and nroads of your bitterest
enemies.
II. G. RICHARDSON.
%.-o3-r--
Public Meeting la Amherst.
To The Editors nf The Enquirer: