The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-02-06
W HIN G I @ N.
TUESDAY MORNING, FEB. s. 1874.
DEMOCRATIC DOINGS IN VIRGINIA.
GRAND SHAKING OF HANDS, AMI
CONSEQUENT CURE OF THE SHA
KING OF NERVES,

GRAND SHAKING OF HANDS, AND
CONSEQUENT CURE OF THE SHA-
KING OF NERVES.
The Locofoco Convention of Virginia :" came
off" last week, and great was the shaking OF
hands of those who heretofore constituted the
harmonious Democracy" MIR. Calhoun's with
drawal was more potent than thousand saddles
Of Virginia broadtail aud Blackwell mutton, to
unite men long separated-to heal wounds that
had long festered Had Mr.. Calhoun been pre-
sent it must have rejoiced his heart, and given
him exceeding great joy to have witnessed his old,
long-tried, and staunch friends and supporters,
rallying so cordially around the banner Of, and
giving in their adhesion to the chieftain by whom
he has ever been treated SO magnanimousy
Who has never stood in his path to the Presidency,
nor come between him and the light of Gen. Jack
sons countenance How must it have delighted
him to have seen the heads of petty clans hereto
fore devoted to him, marching up and swearing
allegiance to the generous, noble, and magnani-
nous chieftain of the North, whose bosom is
warmed by Southern principles !" There were
Gordon, of Albemarle r. M. II. Hunter, of whom
Mr.. Calhoun might exclam in the language of
Henry ":
Thou that didst bear the key of all my counsels-
That knowest the very bottom of my soul
That almost might'st have con'd me into gold"
the editor of the Petersburg Republican, the gal
liant standard bearer" and others of less note
who one by one, came marching in, doffing the
tartan plaid of the true Palmetto stripe and put
ting on that of the Regency and Junto Old Hun
ker stamp!
Such trdnsmo grifying Of men the Old Domi-
Mon never before witnessed. There stood "the
chivalry Of the South" or rather, there kneeled
they:
"Whe all tongues cried-God save thee" Van
The delighted Richie, meantime, scarcely able
to contain himself, on behalf of his master:
Bespoke them thus--I thank you countrymen!"
"Alas, poor John c! where is he the while"
"Men'. eyes
Did scowl on him no man cried, God save him;
No joyful tongue gave him his welcome"
g Had not God, for some strong purpose steeld
The hearts of men, they must perforce have melted
And barbarism itself have pitied him."
"To Van are we sworn subjects now"
But to return to plain prose : Mr. Calhoun hav-
ing left the field, his former friends in Virginia,
at once acted upon the principle which ever gov
erns men who think more Of themselves and their
own safety than of the great cause they have
pledged their faith to defend-the principle of
sauve gui peM and such scrambling to get into
the ranks first, at least not to be last, never
was seen since certain savage Admiral of the |
British navy declared that the last man from the
yards should be rewarded with one hundred |
lashes to avoid which, several men jumped from
the yards to the deck, and lost their lives.
Mr.. Gordon was honored with the Presidency
of the Convention, and Mr.. Hunter, with the
Vice Presidency, and in return for this distinction
and mark of consideration, they poured out their
anathemas upon Mr.. Clay. AS reason for en-
bracng the man of lavender and otto of roses,
Mr.. Hunter said that Mr.. Calhoun having resign
ed his pretensions to the Presidency, there was
no alternative left but to take him.
We tender Mr. Richie our hearty congratula.
tions on having accomplished, in SO mastery
manner, the grandest COALITION" that was
ever witnessed, and with this the most thorough
consolidation of the Locofocracy of the Old Do
mnon. There will now be no armed neatral-
ity'' in that State and both parties will be array
ed under banners thus inscribed:
Wing banner "HENRY CLAY, THE CHAM
PIoN OF THE LAST WAR, THE ABLE NEGoTIAroR |
OF PEACE, THE GREAT AMERICAN STATESMAN, THE |
FARMER OF THE WEST" PROTECTION AND |
ENCOURAGEMENT TO AMERICAN INDUSTRY AND
AMERICAN INTERESTS"
Locofoco banner ]" MARTIN VAN BUREN,,
THE NORTHERN MAN WITH SOUTHERN PRINcr-
PIES" To THE vlcToRs BELONG THE sPoI,s
OF OFFICE"
Rumor mentions the name of Chancellor Wal
worth, Of New York, as likely to be presented