Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-02-08
Delegate meeting Of the Civ and County, Bank,
FoR PIE Watn

In the Madison and Greene Congressional Dis
tret, flor so It may be called since the unanimity
that prevails among the mountaineers Of those little
counties, enables them to give to the whole district
its political complexion,) we have now two compe-
titors for the honour and the psot of representing
us in the councils Of the nation. When have
named Col. Banks and Mr.. Smith, need describe
them further7 Both 10y their own aceoun) of the
same political fath-".9readss GmBo, ei aaBo
eaniare par0hr-each of them finds IN the person
of his rival the only in the district ca pabe OF
approaching himself, in those points which render
them alike superatively obnoxious to every genu-
ine Wing. In these eircumsta noes, | am not sur
prised TO find some impatient spirits Of the Wing
party earnestly endeavouring to bring out from the
ranks OF that party third candidate for the sura-
ges Of the people. But, with the utmost respect
for their motives, and with no thought Of imputing
to them desire to crafty their own ambition or to
advance their personal friends, beg leave to offer
a few considerations that appear TO me decisive
against any such course.
At present, there is large majority in the dis
riet opposed TO us; whom, for time, the recent de-
feat OF their party elsewhere, will only keep the
more firmly uLited It should be our policy TO ac-
quirc an ultimate and permanent ascendancy, by
an accession ofstrength which can come TO us orIy
from that majority. And the means Of accom- plish.
ing this cannot be better indicated, than by refer
ring to the contest between the wind and the sun
for the travellers cloak, as the same IS cravely and
instructively set forth by The wisdom Of Rsop.
II the Wings set up a candidate Of their own, the
most rational calculation is that he will be defeat.
ed, by the opposite party concentrating their
strength upon that one Of the candidates at present
in the field, who shall be pronounced by a caucus
Tor perhaps by Mr.. Ritehe,) to be the most avail
able. But, IT, contrary to all reasonable e1poela-
ton, there should be much dissenson among the
Loco Focos, merely about men, and not about prin
eipi, Of any kind, as to enable the Wing candidate
to obtain plurality Of votes the event will be al
most equally disastrous TO the Wing party. Per.
/ haps Il will be more no. Heated by contention IN
either issue Of the struggle, and in the Latter e1as
porated moreover, by defeat, the minds Of the Io
co Focos will be as impervious to reason and srgu
ment, proceeding from Wing, as the very rocks o.
the Ragged Mountains, where both rocks and 10
co Foeos so remarkably abound. 1.-THE Wing can
didate Is defeated his successful competitor will
overbear oil opposition, and he absolutely certain o
rs.elecion ut the end Of his term. And il elected
he defeat will be equally certain 1T the very mex
election-if, indeed, he is not forced, even bsfor
that time, upon the alternative Of disobeying in
struc,ions-unwbigging himself by yielding then
: obedience, or resigning his se,t. And then lon
farewell to every hope Of making this district wha
oil true patriots, Of enlightened understanding, ar
IDENTIFY desire il 10 become,
But u, on the other hand, tho Wings Of the di.
trict practise, this OCCASION so much modera,io
and forbeSranee as to decline any participation OF
party character in the strife, such conduct mu,
have the most beneficial tendency, Let them stan
slooii or, Il hey vote at all, vote at random, an
without anything like party eoncert-and bsfor
another election they wilbhave gained the sseendar
ey. The minds Of our honest, but prejudced or
Pohents, will be thereby soO,bsd and softsned nr
state q. lsas. aPPrOTimaIing 10 candopr, whiC