Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-09-29
RICHMOND DAILY WING.
Van Bren'S Weakness.
FRIDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER 90. is4a.

Van BAen'S Weakness.
When n nation is very powerful at sea and land,
she has no need TO make use OF refined diplomacy,
in any of her relations with foreign powers. and
she comes out at once, shows her hand, and SAYS.
we will, will not do, or refuse To do thus.
There is occasion for subtlcy, when strength is
abundant.
But the weak nation, which is indebted for its
existence, TO the forbearance of its ncighbo $.
which has not strength enough to assume or SUP
port an Independent position, which must receive
benefits, though they were conferred through
charity, such a nation always depends upon the
tricks of diplomacy, in its hour of need. The
, subtest dipomatists, of whom there is any re-.
cord, were generated IN the rank soil of the weak
and degenerate Italian States, during the 18th and
18th centuries.
II is with parties, with nations The party
which is strong, per Sc, has no need of tricks and
discards them unworthy ofits dignity and of the
cause it advocates. Its policy is open. frank and
manly. Confident of its own strength, it has no
thing to fear in fair field, and is always prepared
to meet any emergency which may chance TO arise.
If it goes into Convention, there is no shufTlng in
the ranks. 1t plays The political game fairly and
never stocks the cards upon its adversary.
Packing Conventions, is fatal sign for the hopes
of any political party in this country 1t is as GER
tainiy an evidence of weakness, as the death of
the leaf is of the decay of the tree 1t is proof
that the party is acquainted with its own want of
strength, and is afraid of the people.
We are induced to make these remarks from
the fact that the late Syracuse Democratic Con.
vention was the representative of some nine thou
sand Democratic votes, out of population of more
than two million and that the Calhoun portion of
the Democracy is in vain striving to have the mat.
ter brought before the people in their own sove.
reign capacity. Mr.. Van Buren's friends will not
and dare not, put it upon that issue. They know
that such plan would not only defeat, but would
utterly annihate. his prospects. They know that
ne was minority candidate at first, having no ma
i've strength, growing up in the soil Of Jackson
ism, fertile IN the production of noXious weeds
and voted for purely to CRAFTY General Jackson
They know that, when he came 10 be tried OH his
own merits, he was found deficient i'm all the qua
litios, which go to the formation of n Statesman:
! ard 1t will take them many years to forget the
storm his administration of the Government raised
about his ears. They must necessarily feel how
vain is the hope of prevailing now, split and div
ded as is the Democratic party, since he failed.
Il
has any strength, why not show it! If his friends
/ have confidence in his popularity with his party,
/ why not place him at once in Il position 10 receive
their voteS 1t is by those votes that he must final
/ y be elected if he be elected at ali and why not
let him try IT now, TO see whether his calculations
are right or not The reason is as obvious as dav-
light. His weakness is too well known, TO VEN
ture on such an experiment. His friends are as.
sured Of the fact, and they in vain attempt To con-
ceal it. that if MIR. Van Buren,, and any other of
the Democratic candidates, were put before the
party tomorrow, he would he beaten by the very
fccbcst of them.
The Enquirer may rail forever against the
people for selecting their own candidate, and
voting for him they pleascd-it NAV pre-
vail on its Romans to write letters from
every county in the State, procaiming the popu.
larlty of Van, and the enthusiasm of the majority
in his fivor--it may instigatc its naughty Scinn.
ours to assume the Censor, and lecture the crowd
upon their ProneDess TO corrpton-it may threat.
en- the third party, and promise mercy to the Re.
trcaors, but all its eloquence cannot persuade this
nation that Van either is now. over was, or ever
will be, popular in these United States. The at.
tempt is too plainly and palpably rcpugnant 10
standings of the people. What n man lust beat.
en- 10y 10 States, and $4,000 majority, the most
popular man in the Union
lflhc editor of the Enquirer be really sincere
if he believes, in good faith, that Van is more DO
pu'ar than any other man of his party:-if be- be.
IN truth, sick of discussion, as he SAYS and as we
have no doubt he u.s. why does he not propose the
only plan which can possibly heal the breach in
his party! Why does he not propose al once 70
carry the thing before the people, as the Petersburg
Republican is anxious TO do If his f,yoritc can
dldate be the stronger, there is every reason to be-
hcyc the other wing of the Democracy will nc.
qucscc IN his nomination and if ne bc not sure
y such patent Democrat as the editor orthe En-.
qurcr does not wish him Ia receive it Shuflino.
dodging, and packing Conventions, il surely NOT
the way 10 recommend Mr. Van Buren, 10 those Of
the Democracy, who are now disposed 10 vote for
one Of his rivals II is calculated To cxaspcratc.
more than any other course it is possible to pursue
Bat the fact is, openncss does not answer the
purposes Of Van Buren, or his supporters. Man.
agcncnt is all they have 10 depend on, and if that
fails, the game is lost with them. What chance
will that man stand before the whole people. whose
friends arc afraid 10 trust him before his own
party
W. We5'ters Spesch-Proi,ehou Of the Agriepluyai
Interest.
We invite the attention Of the county reader to that por
ton Of Mr. Websters speech Which touches upon tho pro-
lection Of the Agricultural Interest.
II Is truth, clear az any truth can be- tiat the aQrcu
iuraI interests Of this county requires far protection
than the manufacturing, and that tariff which H. beno