The Madisonian., 1840-02-18
SUDDEN CHANGE.

From the utmost extravaganza of JOY and
exultation at the defeat Of Mr.. Rives as U.
S. Senator,ihe "Richmond Enquirer" has sud-
denly descended into the greatest depths of
sorrow and mourning at the election of Mr..
Gilmer as Governor of Virginia.
After all It's cajolery and fattcry, MIR. Gil
mer is Wing Of the most determined and
inhexible character; and after all its "sof
sa,oder" and laundering denuncia,ions, the true
Conservatives would aid to make MIR. Gilmer
Governor, in preference to James M'Dowell,
the cameieon loco-foco candidate of the "MINr
DROP" school. What terrible sin, and how
heavily does the calm, the dispassionate, and
''consistent' Enquirer, pour out the vials Of
its wrath, upon these rebellious and contuma-
cious subjects Surely it will be as destruc-
tive upon the Wings and Conservatives, as
were the fires from heaven that consumed the
ill-fated Sodom and Gomorrah. The prating
Of the Enquirer about its consistency, is loaih-
some and disgusting to every man Of COM
mon understanding, who has watched its way
ward course, for more than year past. If
consistency consists in an undertaking adhe-
renee to the fortunes of single individual, in
despite of his heresies or in an unqualified
obedience TO the dictates Of closeted "Jun-
to-" aspiring to control the deslines Of a great
and enlightened people; then is the Enqui-
rer the very pink of consistency, and the We
ry paragon of perfection. For Mr.. Richie,
with pertinacious grasp, clings to the fortunes
of Mr. Van Buren,, notwithstanding his unit
ring efforts to fasten upon an unwilling peo-
pie, measures, which Mr.. Richie himself
processes to regard as dangerous to liberty
as tending to monarchy and yields ready
and prompt obedience to the dicta,ion of
miserable squad, about Richmond, who as
sumo upon themselves the high prerogative Of
prescribing to the people of Virginia, their
own miserable system of corrupt and destruc
tiue policy. But if consistency consists of a
firm adherence to principles Of constitu-
,ional law and sound national policy, then is
Mr. Richie's egotistic vociferation of de-
termination 10 adhere to :" principle" enough
to provoke a smile from the melancholy ST.
| lence of the sleeping dead. He must TO
gain credit for such an asseveration, suppose
that the credulity and guiiibilty OF the peo-
pie are Increasing as rapidly as their currency
and prosperity are decreasing and that they
are perfectly blind TO the prominent events
now passing before their eyes, and his con-
necton with them.
What are the factsl Mr.. Ritchie has
set Of political axioms, which he repeats ev-
cry week in the year, with as much felicity
as the well-taught parrot repeats the cry of
| fre--fire. To these axioms, Mr.. Richie
processes as devoted and undying an attach
ment, as the christian who is ready to suffer
lnartyrdom for his faith. Yet, with the pro-
fession Of these principles upon his lips, and
the asseveration of an unchangeable and un-
varying devotion to them Mr.. Richie, in IL
lustroti6n Of his sincerity is, day by day, tor
turing his mind, and racking his brain to find
some pretext-some colorabe apology for
prostrating and unarming one of the most
able and prominent politicians in Virginia,
whose only sin is to agree with him in all the
essential points of his faith.
What amount of odium What measure
of indignation What sum of contempt
does man not dsserpe, who, maintaining a
system Of opinions, and an undying adhesion