Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-01-10
E,.ct,on OF Virginia Senators,


Election OF virEinia Senators.
We ,eoret to observe indications Of s grow
ipg aceIbity in connection with the coming
election of Senators from Virginia to the o0n-
federate Congress. The people OF virginia
have elected their Representatives to Inc otner
House of Congress with 3 remarkable eSo'o'.
ton Of good feeling and patriotic oisintefest-
sdnsss and ~sasacity. The gentlemen among
whom the public selection was MADE were OF
the choice men Of the State; ana sl'nough
the preferences Of many voters were not grail
aed| and while il is not necessary to maintain
that the best choice vas made in every instance,
vet al concede that Virginia has perhaps never
had. AZ a whole, or at least for many years, so
able q delegation IS that which the people have
sent to the House Of Representatives OF the
Confederate States.
It remains now for the Legislature to com
pIete our representation, by electing the two
members to whom we are entitled in the Con-
fedsrats States Senate. Much has of late been
said of the advantage Of electing high officers
by the Legislature, instead Of the people. 1t
has been maintained that the Legislature will
make wiser selections. Hence amendments
to the Constitution have been presented to the
people, asking them to confde, in this respect,
still larger trust to the Legislature than here
tofore.
The Legislature will soon furnish the people
with an opportunity Of judging Of the expe-
diency of thus adding to its present preroga-
tives. For ourselves we shall be content il, in
the election of Senator'S it shall do as we1l as
the people have done in filling the seats OF the
other House. Let the members look alone to
the demands of the public service, and, re-
%nounciDg all mere personal psrtislities and
prejudices, select the best men whose services
can be commanded. They owe this to the
psopls of Virginia, and they owe it to the
whole Confederaey. Gentlemen who have
been deemed worthy to represent large and in
t~elligeut constituencies in the Virginia Assem-
bly,, will, Of course, form their own judgments,
and under their responsibilities. We would
not seek to bias their decision by dlsgaraging
the name or claims of any Of those from among
whom. the selection will be made. We should
pay a poor compliment to their intelligence
and frmness if We supposed we could thus
influence their choice. But we have no such
disposition. The talents and the fame of our
statesmen, though they exist in different mes
sure, are yet all a part Of the Common.
wealth's treasure. We are proud CT the array
Of able men whom Virginia can point 20 IS
her " in this great exigency. We
besr them all good will, and gladly render the
need Of praise due 10 their services in their
respective stations. In choosing among them
those. who shall sit in the Senate, and assist
in laying the foundations of the policy, and in
guiding the councils, Of our new formed Con-
federacy, let the legislators, to whom this
duty has been entrusted, call to that high post
those who offer the-best promise Of q bensfi-
'cial discharge Of it's duties. This is proper at
all times; but in times like the present, when
our independence is at stake, and when wis
dom in the council is as vitality essential as
skill and courage in the camp, men are but
eiphers, and their personal fortunes and ambi.
tions but as the small dust Of the balance,
compared with the sacred duty which the ap.
pointing power owes to the country. In Feb
ruary next, the present organization Of the
Confederate government will cease. The Pro-
y~isional will have passed away, and the Perma.
nent will take its place. The present Congress
will dissolve, and give place to one composed
of two Houses. Official tenures will IN many
cases cease. The Cabinet will have to be APP
pointed and confirmed anew. The present
system will give place to one more complex,
and our government will start sfresh. Let
Virginia man the various posts assigned her,
With her ablest sons, as becomes her duty and
he. fame. No State outshines OR dear old
mother in the campbell none surpass her in
the Council chamber! This is the spirit in
which the people have done their part in the
organization Of Congress; let the same pa
trlo,is spirit rule the Legislature, and let the
successful aud the ursuccessfulaccep the result
with the same equauimity which marked the
elections before the people-and all will be
we'll.
President Lineoln's Message In England,
The London Post" one Of the organs Of
the Government, commences it's notice Of Mr.
Lincoln's message, byremarking upon its mere
inferential ~allusion to the case of MessEs. Ma
son and slidell. 1t deems the message as in.
dicating hostility to England, and says that in
. view Of the system Of fertilization and defence
along the Canada line, which it recommends,
the English Government did not com mence
their warlike preparations q day too soon. 1t
then continues: