Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-02-08

the spirit land could not, in the present dellrl-
um of the public mind, lead them to give US
our constitutional rights.
This system has put the Government INTO
the hands of demagogues We arc ruled oy
the demon Of party. The calm honest and
sterling patriots Of the land are driven from
the field. Bufoonery, anecdotes and abuse arc
the reliance Of many politicians of this day.
If man can tell 4 good story, and make his
opponent look ridiculous, though he have but
little sense, and less moral character, bat can
raise n laugh, he can get elected, and can 60 to
the Legislature, and often to Congress; and
when there he is like an infant-bound hand
and foot-knows nothing and can do nothing
This, surely, was not the case, to this extent,
in the days Of our fathers.
So far as can see, the Constitution needs
no amendments. 1t now provides all we want;
all we need. The difficulty is, it has not been,
and is not now kept inyiolate. The philosophy
which is made to underlic and interpret it, is a
false philosophy Not SO in the days of the
fathers. With them the achite was the supe-
rior race and the equality which they claimed
among them was the equal right 10 ''life, liber
ty and the pursuit Of happiness" whilst on the
other hand they maintained las all their record
shows that there was often an absolute, or an
accidental inequality, which utterly dsquali-
fed many for the privilege Of political sove
relgnty. Hence they required It permanent
property interest in tie rouatry, on the part
Of rcery roter. And, true it is, that this long
tried, tilne-honored princple--the property
teSt--is the only reasonable guarantee we can
have Of that intelligence and patriotism in the
voter, which makes it safe 10 commit to him so
sacred Il trust.
The good sense Of the country Cat no period
of It's history greater than it is today knows
this as well as their fathers knew il. Every
departure from it is step backwards In the
hands in which our fathers placed the Constitu-
ton it is as safe an instrument as it was the day
it came from their hands. But alas for us We
have, in all tie country, taken that unfortunate
step backwards, and transferred the custody of
the Constitution to other, and incompetent
hands. The amendment required therefore,
must 90 deeper, and quite beyond the Constl-
tuition The fundamental laws Of our political
philosophy must be amended. The root Of the
matter must be reached The error which has
warmed and nursed into life the prevailing
demagoguism Of the land, must DO uprooted
The country must be wrcStcd from the hands
Of party and placed under the guidance OF pa.
triutiSln. For the great question at present
among our proicsSed statesmen and Legislators,
is not "mhat is best for my country; TIT achat
mW pleGse or strengthen my party" Success
10 party is the watchword. In such 4 state OF
things can the government stand?
ILL., consider, lastly and briefly, the conSe.
qucnccS growing out of the present condition
Of public affairs.
l. I'm presenting to your minds the preced-
ing thoughts, ! have felt sad, and your counte
nanccs tell me that gloom is hanging around
your hearts; and now as we contemplate the con-
sequences we feel willing 10 stop and weep over
the fate Of our native land. A civil war stareS
us in the face Perhaps this day, on which we
meet to appeal to the God Of Nations, in solemn
prayer, blood-thc blood OF our fellow coun-
trylncn-has been shed, prcsaging Il fearful
storm not to be hushed for years to come
Would to God, could point your thankful gaze
to one bright spot in our political sky. But
which ever way we look, all is dark. | will not
seek to harrow up your feelings, my country
men. by re.hearsng the horrors Of such strife.
Civil war is ar untold calamity anywhere, but
in this country, spreading over a land so wide,
among people so braye-who can tell its
ravages or when it will end? In this, our day
Of trouble, God is our only refuge, and TO Him
let us flee for succor.
o The destruction Of the present government
and the formation of Others is another consc-
qucnce. That this conlederacy is about to pass
away, seems to ho inevitable; and, whether
there remains wisdom, foresight and admins.
trative ability among us, sufficient to organize
new and better one remains to be tested.
When our Conference set apart this day for
fasting and prayer among Methodsts in Virgil
M. nd IN vn6 no
gestion and appointed it for all Christians
had not commenced The difficulties thickcn
know not where or what the end will be. One
Of the objects for which this day was set apart
has been settled. The ship Of State has al
ready struck the breakers, and, like an electric
shock, CONSERVATION and dread have spread
from sea to sea- The God to whom we pray
can call out and direct the administrative abl
ty, adapted. to meet the crisis which is upon
us; and may We not hope that lie, whose
Providence is seen so strikingly in our past
history, will answer the prayer OF an as
scmbled nation of Christians, offered this day
and so guide the conflicting elements rs to make
the result, whatever it may be, tend 10 the pre-
servation of our rights and liberties and the
promotion Of his own glory in the happiness,
prosperity and peace Of this once great nation.
The questions before the country ought to be
settled without blood. There arc ways in which
they may be settled. 4 civil war is 4 disgrace
to any civilized people.
This Confcderacy, the work Of our fathers,
may be about to pass away and, if so, our
interests, our homes, our religion, demand that
il be pcaccablc separation. If civil war be
pressed upon US may God protect and defend
the right Let us pray God to preserve our
people from the crime Of political lratricidc-
the poluting baptism Of traternal blood Our
Heavenly Father will hear the prayers Of the
thousands Of his faithful people in this nation,
and preserve US from dcsoating war; and,
although lie may reconstruct our government,
it shall be for the better. Mark that
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Meeting OF the Southern Conrederacy
Congress In Montgomery, Ala.
The Southern Confedcracy Congress met on
Monday last, in Montgomery, Ala. The Con-
gross was convened pursuant to the invitation
OF the Alabama Secession Convention, who en-
tended the invitation to the Southern States in
the following preamble and resolutions
"And, rs it is the desire and the purpose Of
the people Of Alabama 10 meet the slayehold-
ing States of the South who approve Of such
purpose, in order TO frame provisional or n
permanent government upon the principles Of
the government of the United States, be it,
therefore,
Resolved, by the people of Alabama, in Con.
vention semblcd, That the people Of the
States of Delaware Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia,
Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Ten
ncssee Kentucky and Missouri, be and they
are hereby Invited to meet the people Of the
State of Alabama, by delegates, in Convention,
on the 18th Of February next, in Montgomery,
in the State Of Alabama, for the purpose OF
consulta lion with each other as to the most cf-
fectual mode Of securing concerted and har-
monious action in whatever measures may be
deemed most desirable for the common peace
and security. And be it further
Resolved, That the President Of this Con-
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