Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-02-23
4 PORTRAIT OF wHlGGERY,
From the Penca of a Whig :

Yesterdays Whiy contains a letter from WllIoughby
Newton, Esq, ihenber OF the H. OF H., from The
county Of Westmorelard of most singular cha'ac-
ter He had been invited by the Committee OF lnvita
ton TO attend "the Wing Convention about to as
semtla in Richmond, one of whose most important
duties you inform me, will be TO embodv and pro-
null gate in the form OF Address TO the People OF
Virginia the political principles and measures of Co
vernmeBal policy, upon their approval OF which, the
Wing party intend to place their hopes OF success at
the next Spring and Fall elections" Mr.. y. declines
The hoaor: and place o. attending IN person, sends
on t, the Committee let'e: OF advice, which the
Whiq is pleased to publish in its yesterdays number.
Well might the hg preface it with the remark, that
.sTha reader Will be amply repaid by perusal AM
NV indeed will every Democrat be repald-for, we
have never seen more extraordinary revelation mace
even in these extraordinary tmes-n document 50 rich
IN discovery we'll calculated TO support the charges
which the democrats made upon the Wings of 1870
and TO EXPOSE the devices of this motley multitude, TO
the whitening rebuke Of an indignant county We do
not ELAINE Mr.. Newton for writing such lelter-but
we leave il to him reconcile his past octs TO his
,rssent professions. We esteem him i gentleman
hut we know his entire, (he will excuse us for saying
his) .ab;d devotion to party, whose Federal primer
nj he would have thoroughly sconed md repueiateo
in % Our IS not, however, with It's worthy
author; is il with the committee, who have been
plsased in their great discretion to publish an article,
vheh astens such outrageous charges upon their own
marty But il is in the capacity OF witness that we
come forward notice the revelations OF MI Newton
and hich we now tell him and them, Tor their own
comfort, Will do more u unmask the movements oil
their party during the last campaign than any other do
cune which has lately The light of day Little DID
we dream that such torrent OF light was about 10 pour
upon the country. We have been IN search OF their
celebrated address Of 1870 We shall obtain copy oil
it, and publish both the address oil that 70,
1s4O,) and of this Convention (of lS44) We shall
let them speak for themselves to the ears OF an IN
lgb,ened people. 1--WE proposed to the Richmond
Wig, the other day, if he weuld publish these two
addresses, we would publish their last address OF ie44
and indeed dispense altogether with his publication o
opr OWN But little did anticipate such com
menary upon the address Of 40, infinitely more impor
,ant than itself, has since suddenly burst upon US VI
the following pquant extracts from Mr. Newton let
ter -
,oo reviewing the events Of the last four years, no
impar,iol observer fail perceive that the d'sas
tors which have befaen the Wing marty, and cast q
bvht over the prosperity of the country have resulted
in treat measure, from the want of candor and TAR
ness in avowing and maintaining our principles, esPe-
ci,,lv in Virginia. We commenced the canvass OF
Is40 under mcst dscouragng circumstances lhe
Wins proper were a small minority throughout The
Tnion:-a party had been formed out OF the dscoFdan
lenen,s then opposition to the administration OF
MIR yan Buren Our eagerness for success induced
ne n extend our nets to embrace birds OF every
feather We not only asked no questions OF those VINO
offered themselves allies Tor the war-but oni
own Convention at Richmsnd actually repuaia'e
the leading principles and measures oil The wing
marty We thus entered the campaign, ciscor'
dant mass, some fighting for principle ond others
for freedom and animated by but one common prin
cinle-that Of opposition 10 the administration o.
Mr. Van Buren,. We bad long and arduous contest
and achieved what we supposed TO be glorious tr
nmnb But what advantages have reaped IRON
onr labois, The fruits of all tolls have turned I;
asbes on our lips and may truly exciam WIN Fyrr
| hus. zone more such victory aud we are undone. =
The tteochery of the present Executive, and OF some
of his prominent allies derived countenance ana sup
mort from The Wing address OF le4o-snd 'mpafua
history may find difficult TO determine "he'he' ut
Convention is most to be censured lot us iho'sce'o'
in putting forth such Address, or those very scrupn
lous politicians for avalIng themselves OIL IL as pre-
text for abandoning their party.
| 1--WE enter the canvass of lo44 under lar dteren
and higher auspices In lS4O we were weak anc dis
cordant. We now strong; and not only united ~
purpose, but in principle. We have been purged by
Tho fire of persecution of the dross that dmmed OUT
BRIGHTNESS; and Tue Wing party is now pure metal, Sc
rem times refined in the furnace.
uLet me udnre the Convention not TO repeat the err
ors Of 1910 which have been the fruitful source of all
onr woes. Let them remember, that honesty is the
hes, policy, both in public and private life. think
| know something of the Virginia character. Our
people are liberal and ingenious; they will tolerate an
honest difference of opinion, sincerely entertained and
cand,dy expressed; but they abhor the appear
nnce of dissim,laton Let the Convention, therefore
boldly ayow the principles OF the party advocate q
National Bank co no,nine and without circumlocu,ion
Tariff with proper discrimination for the reasonable
nrotection of our great domestic interests and such
other measures as they may deem essential TO the pu
rity Of the Government, and the prosperity Of the
! country,