Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-08-17
From the National Journal.
THE PRESIDENCY.

ia"y oi inc most JudiciOus and best informed
nen' IL, every part of the country, are utterly
, "s'""'shcd at the confidence. expressed by the
CAUCUS party, in the election of their cbieffa;n.
{ ne necessary distinction seems not to be made
, uct"een the acts of a small minority party and
es'eat BODY OF the people. A party few in
.u"'oers' by their unceasing exertions, and hav-
r i"S III their control small number Of presses,
whose papers circulate extensively, may give
an appearance of strcngth far beyond what thew
really possess. And it is more than probable.
mat tins appearance is now taken, by MANY of
'ne caucus party, evidence of the nonuIar;tv
Oh VIZ Crawford, and justfyine confident
expectation of his election; it is believed. how
ever that the most intelligent of this party are
not thus deceived; but knowing that they are
SascH In desperate struggle, they are un-
wiling to yield, though they have no hope of
success.
his disposition is not peculiar to this party
IL IS seen IN thousand instances, as well i'm the
walks OF private life, as in more public transact
tons. The=gamester stakes his last dollar
against his successful adversary, with firmness
! partakin5 Of desperation. He has no ground IN
hope, that this stake will be more fortunate than
those which preceded it; he is convinced that
| he cannot compete with the superior skill of his
| opponent but still his fortune may change; if
IS at least within the limits of possibility. And
he hopes by his hrmness of purpose, if he eau
not in'iinidate his adversary, he may at least
|
are the efforts of the caucus party and like the
unfortunate gambler, they will find that the last
| stake will seal their ruin.
There are but two states in the Union in
which a majority of the people arc in favour o.:
the g s,at,onal candidate" strange pcrvcrsion
of terms
| Georgia and p1rgiaia may support the eau
Gus candidate. Ii is only in these states, that
he can hope for support by the people. Indeed,
there are men Of Intelligence who do not believe
| that a majority of the people of Virginia are in
favour OF Mr.. Crawford. Ii is, however, fair to
presume thatthe vote of this state will be given
to him.
AS this seems to be the only state, out of his
| own, IN which he has much popularity, it may
not be improper to assign the cause. And in
dong SO it will be somewhat h,IlniIiatine to
Virginia. and will touch the pride of her die
tators.
Against the people of this state, / entertain
no feelings OF hostility They are, indeed a
! "noblc race" There is much of hospitality
among all classes Of the people, natural kind
ness, and genuine benevoence.
But I'll a fact, that the great mass of the peo-
/ pie IN Virginia, are less in the habit of reading
newspapers, and especially those printed in
other states, than the people of any other sec
ton oil our country Speaking of them gene
rally, they know little Of our domestic affairs.
| except what they learn in the columns of their
own papers. Audit Is misfortune, that one
! paper III Virginia has greatly the ascendency of
All others. his does not arise from the superior
talent shown In Its management though yyould
not be thought to the underrate tile talents OF the
Editors OF the 6 i'icitns0nd Engniyeg.n They are
very respectable In the columns of this paper; we
not unfrclnentlY the traits ofgonius, though
they are seldom chasfeDed by correct iude-
| inent. There Is often enthusiasm which de-
| fies restraint. When this is the case, facts are
totally disregarded, and all reasoning in vain.
! Any impartial person, who will read the
numbers of this paper for three weeks past, will
| he convinced that by these remarks I do the
Editors no Injustice. Several papers might be
! named in Virginia, whose Editors are not infe-
rior In talents, to Messrs. Richie s. Gooch
But the Enquirer has the most extensive circu-
iation; it has been long established, and has
become the oracle of Virginia Its oracuIar
Recommendations are viewed with less dread than
formerly bat still its managers are lords of the
ascendant.
This paper is the soul of the caucus party
And IT devotion to the interests of this party,
in defiance of all other considerations entitle il
to such distinction, will dispute the
Justice of its claim. To this paper are the
friends of the caucus indebted for their ascen
dancy in Virginia. If the people of Virginia
could see both sMes of tie question: the caucus
policy would be as much detested there, as in the
| other states.
Statements often repeated, without contra
| dctioD, are received as facts. Statements have
been abundanty furnished by the Enquirer and
no other paper is read; of course, to such rea-
| dcrs, they remain uncontradicted, and have all
| the effect of established facts. It is true. q
! keen observer, by comparing the present with
the past, might find cause to doubt The infalli-
| bility of this oracle. He would see that now
the highest strains of eulogy are paid to the
| President, who, few weeks ago, was in the
same paper, spoken of in terms of the greatest
Ob!oquy. But those who have not been accus-
toned To doubt will seldom examine.
| Wonld the people ofthe other states believe.
that the Editors of this paper did not be state to
declare to gentleman, who stands high in the
estimation of his country, sat an early periol of
the Presidential contest, that as Mr. Crawford
was the eldest son OF Virginia who was named.
they would give TO him their most active support.
At the same time, remarlSing that Virginia
had long had the asCendancy in the Union, and
| must not now relingusll it. This was relied on
as an all 81 icient reason for the course to be
taken. The Editors are challenged to denial
OF this fact if they deny it, their memories shall
be refreshed.
| This accounts for the violent and uncbarita
bic course pursued by the Editors of this paper.
The effect has already been shewn. The whole
| may be resolved into this. The ascendancy of
Virginia must be sustained; Mr.. Crawford was
born in Virginia, he is older than Mr. Clay, and
must therefore have the preference in our sup
port. Such is the course of the Richmond En-
quirer, which is the principal paper in Virginia,
and controls the state. Wonder need not
| therefore be excited that the caucus Ca n5date