Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-12-13
CONFESSIONS OF TIE ENEMY.

CONFESSIONS OF TIE ENEMY.
Since the triumph Of the Wings in New York.
the ingenuity OF the Government news papers, both
in and out of that State, has been severely task
ed 10 discover causes for that disastrous result, indie
pendent of the measures Of the Government, to which
thoir overthrow is intruh ascr,5abe. Some charge
to Corrupiou- TO AboiihoniSm- others to
the combined operation Of both And The I'd
Enquirer, the Flncaste Democrat, &c. &c have
busily disseminate ed Il false statements Of the New
York loco focos. who, having themselves strained
every nerve buy up all purchasrape voters AMI TO
secure the support of the Abolliionlsts, now endea-
yor to dim the glory OF the hig victor, by impung
TO that party similar designs. Even ii these inputa-
lions were true, the Wings might rest for justiGca-
ton on the ground, that in resofting these
means, they were but fighting the devil with
FIRE" But that they are false, we hive never
tertaned the s ches doubt, even before the comics
sion ofAer jdlHy appGaredin Mr.. Van Buren's lead
ing paper, the n. Y. Evening Post, few days since
A writer, of signal ability, explains the causes Of
the recent defeat of the Van Buren, party in New
York, in the Evening Post of the Sd instant. lie
by securing the idea OF bribery and corruption,
as an indirect attack upon the capacity of the peo
pie to govern themselves. There are no facts (he
says) to warrant the charge; and lie expresses the
conviction that it originates N disappointment and
irritation" He adds, with honest contempt of its
originators, e" ! dsclalm il, a libel upon the
State" VIII The Enquirer let its readers know what
its brother Loco Foco says upon this point
On the subject Of abolition, this write, is silent
which is a tact confession that he does not believe
that the Wings received aid from that
party than the Loco Focos--ior, be i, remembered,
it his ect point out the OF the defeat Of
his party. And the fact IS this writer, well the
paper in which his essay appears, both belong TO the
Abolition school-though both are leading ohat:,-
pions of the Administrators
What are the causes, then, to which this New
York writer attributes the defeat fins party We
must content ourselves with bare enumeration OF
them this morning, not having room for the ex-
tended commentary which they invite.
LIST. To the uioience Of the late administration,
conse quent upon tho rash temper of Gen. Jackson,
which knew middle ground Of compromise; and
which led to the belieflhat tho Government was hos
tile to the commercial interests OF the country
and it is only surprising (s1ys the writer that this
cause did not sooner produce its effect
2dly. To the wide spread belief that the Admins
,ation desed TO establish compulsory specie cur
rency-whicl the writer scouts as preposterous
idea, paper money being as necessary in country
! like ours as a medium ofeNchan-e, as the air we
breathe. (What will Nj. Calhoun aud Mr. Ben
ton say to ihis1)
3Jy To the hostility Of The dominant party to
bank notes of small denominations. What says the
| Enquirer to this
These causes have operated with prodigious
force, (says the writer and especially IN New York,
from its e,ninently commercial character"
But there are still other causes.
The 4th is, the system of rewards and punish
menls' for opinion sake-an " internal system,
saws this wIiter-" by which all Offices, ftom the
Secretary of State To the Lamplshtefs, are made
the reward not of honesty, nor intelligence, nor OF
long service, but of party devotion: by winch
graduated scale of brides is held out, TO suit the IN
tellectual or social grade Of every needy adveniu-
re, and by which the humble and hardworking cias-
SEES ale seduceI from their honest convictions TO sell
themselves TO the hghes, bidder" What picture
this to be drawn By ariendly hand, OF the moral IN
nuenre exeried by the cour'c Of the late Ad"In's
tta,,on foi he admit that thls icte=tablc and ~