Litchfield enquirer., 1839-07-18
THE ENQUTRRR.
LlTCHFIELD, JULY 1s, 1889.
VIRGINIA POLITICS

lowing address of the State Central Committee of VIRGINIA to the especial attention of our readers. It is able, eloquent and patriotic breathing spirit and indicating determination that cannot fail to vindi- cate the fame of the Old Dominion and restore her to the commanding position in relation to the other States which she occupied in the days of WASHING TON and JEFFERSON. Ithere s any State in the Un- ion which circumstances have placed in false posi-. tion that State is VIRGINIA. All her doctrines and all her tendencies are eminently Wms. Where else should we look, if not among the fellow citizens of PATRICK HENRY, for resistance to those Executive en- crOachments which have threatened during the last ten years to make our President our King?''
 One sentiment of this address cannot but meet uni. vesal approbaton is that which indicates the ne- cessty of UNION, of foregoing preferences and lay ing aside personal partialities and preiudices We are contending for principles not men and the only aim and end of the party should be to select a man representing our principles and identified with them by long service and gallant conflict. It is idle and worse than idle to hope for victory under any other leader:. sL.
 To THE Wmes OF vIRclNIA.-The Central Commit tee, appointed by the Whg members of the last Gen. era Assembly of Virginia, deem it duty which that appointment has imposed upon them. to suggest and Tecomlnead to the numerous body of their fellow ct
 
 o Mr Van Buren to the Presidency, proper measures for producing concert of action among themselves at home, and concert also between them and their pot ical friends in the other States of the Union.
 Aswe now address ourselves only to those who concur in the opinion, that MT. Van Buren is wholly unworthy to fill the office of Chief Magistrate of this great people- is. therefore, part of present purpose to enter into an examination of his official character and conduct those of his immediate pre- decessor, whose principles of government and policy gerous faults and equally pernicous folles they have committed. The h0lowness of all their professions the dishonest arts they have pracsed countenan- daring pretensons to powers never before claimed or heard Of-ther corrupt and coTrupting abuse of the Executive patronage.-the balefnl principles they have ,nraS9esa n llt9 the administration and the yet
 government of laws, which they ha propagated or encouraged others in propaeating and the fearful change. which, by all these means they have wrought in the character, the morals, and even the manners of the Federal Government, and by consequence, in its probable 'estinies-these are topics which may be
 the theme ot future discussions addressed to the good
 Neither is it purpose here to recommend the mo- imitation of any particular citizen to be supported by the Whg party as their candidate for the Presidency Our strong and decided preference indeed, points to the Statesman, to wh0se benignant influence this nation stands already indebted for the healing of the two most fearful dssensions hat have distracted Is councils; from whose practical wisdom the result fgreat experience in public affairs, ability and virtue, we may expect prudent and prosperous, well as just administration; whose large and liberal views him. whose patriotism will impel him, and whose frmness will enable him. to bc the President of ton. and not the President Of . faction; and from that the Executive patronage, in his hands, viii lnnger be an instrument of av0r Of revenge, of am bition no longer he degraded to the vile purpose of rewardlng the selfish zeal of furious partizans, and punishing the independence of honest opponents ot continuing power in the hands that hold i:, and per petuatng the domination of party. But the great hOrA hnmR EnNvr sH,m ton of the gentleman whom prefer is that concert and cooperation in efecting nomination, which will secure undivided and strenuous support the dldate who shall be selected. being ready 10 iorego our individual preferences, lift sa be required of us, m deerence to the opinions and wishes of the party with whom we must act in order to make our strength
 The propriety, or rather the indispensable necessi- ", o such concert seems so obvious, that it is hoped hardly any thing but the suggestion can be wanting m any measures fair in hemseIves, and adapted to the accomplishment Of the end. without embarrassing the cause with inquiries. whether other measures might not be devised, equally and even perhaps more convenient than those proposed
 is right. in this case to learn prudence from political adverssries They have been indebted for convinced, not so much to their strength, their unity of design combination of means, and concen- iraton Of all their energes to the execution cf their on all occasions which it can promise them any ad. vantage. We have seen them holding General Convention this city during the last spring, and el purpose of effcctng and controlling our then ap- preaching elections. by force of party management uriting directing. and stimulating their cxertions No attempt of .he same kind was ever before made in the State. Strong as was the temptation to follow the example. and talr as would have been excuse f we had followed ii, we rejoice that it not fol- lcwed for we think contrary to the opinion of the ex- elusive Democratic Republicans, as they presume to ca themselves. that 1t is but poor manifestation of respect for the intelligence cr virtue of the people, to suppose them incapable of choosing their immediate representatives. without the aid of Conventions and Committees Of Vigilance, tO nce. instruct and direct them. But the election of President and Vice Presi- den n it's very nature, requires the agency of some and such assemblies have accordingly always been hed and while the election shall be conducted in the manner it now is always must be heid for the pur- pose.
 We sensible, that the partisans of the adminis- traon have peculiar facilities for party organization, in the numerous regular any of office holders enlist. and the party discipline they have established which t0lcrates no individuality of character independ ence o thought or aciion ofdiscipine founded in and nents. which the President in the exercise of execu. tive patronage admnisiers without scrupIe, without ehame. and without moderation. O these advanta- nor can we deprive them of them. Bnt as they them selves avow, they rest their hopes of success. not 30 much on their own strength. or the judicious comb- visions and dssentons which they fondIv believe to exist among us, their opponen,s and which they Ia. hor by all means tc nflame This ground of hope is in power to take away from them, # we are only true to ourselves and our cause If the maintanefs of the Presidential domination right in the opinion they entertain; if neshing short o the Executive pat ronage actively and steadily employed, is of sufficient force to combine and hold together any party in this country in reference O the Presidential election, then it is obvious that the President will always have the power of dicfatng his Te-appeintmenf and of ap pointing his euccessOv, % long as the appointment to the office shall continue to be made in the form of an election.
 Signed by B. W. LEIGH, and II others.
 Richmond, July 1. 1889.
 Lischfsld MMssol Ere Insarance Company.-At the