Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-01-18
For LIE WHIG.

MIR Edi,or-A writer in the Richmond Wbir.
over the Signature OF Nelson, in descan,ng unon
the Greenfield dinner, has come to the conclusion
that II vas a most wonderful afTir-"wonderfuI in
its beginning and termination"
Now, Mr. Editor, do not pretend TO be possessed
oil The woodworking fancy of that gentleman.
consequently, could not perceive any thing won.
derfu IN the matter; but there are those who mi,
only are possessed OF the faculty Of discovering won
deTS unseen to those OF DINNER vision hut who are
IN ruth wonder themselves TO the res, of the hu-
man family. To the perception of an cratic and
eccentric genius OF this cast there may have an.
peared something wonderful in The nssembloge of n
portion OF the citizens OF Nelson Tor the purpose nj
expressing their appreciation of the course of their
Representative IN Congress; but TO the sober and
rejecting persons who did assemble nothing won.
d-Hul appeared, nor was there ncy thing wonderful
expected: nor IS II at all wonderful 10 them tho,
"Neson" should have made such "A wonderful ntT n
OF The things that lie saw; for it may be that he
has but seldom seen such n mass Of pcice,b'e CHI
zens assemble, and 10 so quiet and orderly manner
nationally and reasonably, unita around the festive
ooird, Tor the purpose OF expressing their npproba
ton Of the political course Of one who regardess
oil party ties, dared IN net IN accordance with his
conscience for the good Of his country Surh an
effort Of orbeaTancs and independence may he above
the comprehension Of "Neson" and. therefore bc
deems II miraculous indeed; but Ia those who ,r.
iimUHr win SUCH scenes, and are ever willing re q.
g'rdless Of soIn,etc. to advocate those ptncioles
which they conceive to bc truly republican there s
] % btf nh
mas venaoie wrter This wonderful affair so far ms
! have been able 20 ascertain" was "perfcrtlv
harmless IN It's results" Wonderful indecdi ,bo,
the aw.loying people OF Nelson can pe,cesblv os
sembie themselves at Grecnheld without setting Mt
-hCuce the rules Of deceucy and prOprie,v and re-
sirdiess OF social order, carry havoc and desoaton
among those whom they may have regarded rs no.
lliIcal enemies Do this writer suppose that ;he
nSsemb'age nj Greenfield was TOR tho purpose Of %
iabllshing an imposition 20 torture those who de-
I fHfH II fNa tenn fuHf "a a L.
point of the bayonet, from the heights they ,yonld
nave been summoned e. surrender all their riph,s
| privileges and immunItics rs irccmenl It he did
he was vastly mistaken. They assembled on NJ,
~arlikc occasion They did not desire to di,
semln1te the tencts OF their creed with fire. and
sword. They mingod together, in peace. for the
pm pose 81 a mu uiI interchange Of sentiments in
political matters, which arc ever productive Of tf1th
nnd which tend more thnn any thng else To 0bIte
rate that party rancour from which their com
mon country so gflevOusy suffers. /, i, then.
wonderful, that this wonderful afiir should ho We
passed OF 'prnccuy harmicss7' truth Eve, tu,,
cfinl IN ts effect and mild in IT, operation wns the
only weapon desired To bc used on the occ,sion-
but II 10 said that truth is stronger than fiction and
/ II may be that some faint ray Of light, emanatinp
from that source mny have found us way to the an.
Outstanding Of "Nelson," ard produced such nov
eriul ELECT on his disturbed imagination that he fan
cied the eighth wonder of the world mad been 10.
/ yeact to him, in the "wondodul afTit" of the
! Greenfield dinner.
| Now, MIR Editor, am not prepared to sny wba,
/ preparation was made TO usher IN the coming 'ip1.
gtant;" nor do | know that moro WIS n great
'hOuush OF trumpets," preceded by all the "pride
and pomp and circumstance Of glorious war ~ bu,
an dspO5cd 10 think that the world Is indelted In
Nelson for all tho fuss tina. has been made in re-
l1uon 70 the whole matter II Is true TINT several
distinguished genflemon wcro invited 10 nttenI
and but icw Of them attended, and In this sup.
pose, consisted the splendid failure Of which Nelson
spoke. For Nelson's assertion to the contrnrv
I'm prepared 10 say, that believe there was be.
tween $50 and 800 persons pfcsontl This by
some, may 10 considered splendid failure, but 81
lar us numbers arc concerned, should consider il a
signal triumph. But DO not suppose that tho in.
dependent people Of the mountain rcgon-the fl
I abode 81 hbeuy-ero dependent on foreign aid fni
me support Of the true principles Of Republican
, ilberiy. In the true spirit Of Virginia hospitality
the whole world, without distinction Of party, wa.
5 invited to attend and freely participate. The e1
p'nded noble and generous feeling Of those on TIM
occasion, nt whose instance the dinner vas prepnrcd
could not have been contracted 10 the ddrrow com
pass o. tho views Of "NelsOn" Intcnt only on ia,
4 dissemination oftfue and virluous pinclpes fpr tn
guidance Of heir friends, they were willing thu
, lhcif enemies might hear and bc convinced An
o w. ns NELSON snys, there were but few change
wrought Il may he accounted for from The fact thu
y ~ Inc injependent and republican portion OF lh
n county as touching the matters then and Their
stated, there wefo but few who denied tho faith o
Y Their laihcrs; and those who did, were like Eph
. faim Joined TO their Idols Letthem alone.
d Whatever might have been the supposed excite
= Ineni NJ NELSON" among the people, at tho pros
peet OF seeing any Of the distinguished character
Is mentioned by him. ] am sure that none really eE
n sted. The degrading practice of man worship,
nope, has been swept OF by a fetuTnloss tide
= MEASURES, and not men, arc now looked 10 as III
o polar STAR for the government Of those in pot
lie The empire Of reason now fegns predominant