Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-11-22
p0IITIcAI. MODERATION.


POLITICAL MODERATION.
The Presidential contest may now he Regarded
as ended and the election OF Mr. Polk ana MI
| Dallas as certain. To reach lhis lerlnihalioii'
The country has passed through degree oil ex.
element. with scarcely aparael in lis political
annals. Interested and volen, partizanS have
hesilated al no measure OF calumny and vitnrer-
ariou. and fasehood and forgeries have been pub
lished more numerously than in any iormer pc
riod. And for what has the country thus waded
through these troubled and iurbld waters 10
decide whether lis Chief Executive Magistrate,
for The ensuing constitutional period should be
one man or another Judging from all TINS ex-
element, those ignorant OF our political organ
izalon and action would suppose that The late oil
the country depended entirely on ths decision
and Judging from the mutual ordinations OF The
contendng parties, they would suppose that no
thing less Than a revolution would satisfy the
party that should be defeated But during all this
excitement among three millions OF voters, ana
considering that women and minors were as much
excited as men, among twelve or more millions
of human beings over fifteen years OF age, mol a
single lie has been destroyed, nor, so lar
rs we have learned, has single riot occurred.
The utmost disturbance yet mentioned has been
some assault and battery among two or three
PERSONS and of these inconsderable AFFAIRS ol VI
olencc, probably not twenty have occurred IN The
whole Union. Comparing all this with the riots,
instructions. rebeions and civil wars that have
so frequently deuged the monarchies OF Europe
in blood, and deliled them with crime, and desc
lated them with every variety Of destruction that
human fcrocy can infiici We draw very cheer
ing conclusions about the safety and prosperity
of our country, the progressive Improvement oil
mankind and their capacity for seligovernment.
European excitement has usually ended in blood,
though such awful termination OF il IS continual
" diminishing in frequency. But American ex-
element terminates in discussion, wransllng,
vilupcraion calumny peaceful action, ana nu-
,ual content and goodwill. II Americans talk,
Europeans fight; if Americans Islander, iEnroope-
ans murder il Americans rush TO the polls, Eu-
ropeans rush 10 the arsena>.
But. leaving these views of the case, lei us re-
gard il in some aspects less comprehensive. All
This excitement has been produced BY the ques-
ton, "Shal one man or another be President?
And excited partisans have said that the country
would be ruined il their party were not success
full This reminds us Of remark made by
Shrewd old Frenchman OF this CRY, during the
pressure Of 1888 when the banks OF New York
resolved upon resumption, and would not pro-
long suspension 10 crafty the banks OF our city.
Hearing some young merchants ullernS their
usual lamentations over The rum oil The country,
he said 81 have transacted business in this coun-
try Tor more than thirty years, and have heard OF
lis rum more than dozen times within that pc
riod: and have come 10 the conclusion that no
country can take so much ruin with lmpuniiy as
these United States
Fully agreeing with the shrewd old French
man, and shrewd old Frenchman is always Il
very philosophical sort OF parsonage, we have
regarded all these predictions of ruin as rather
Millerilc. and have believed that the country
would fully survive the election OF either candi-
date We do not believe that either could ruin
il, if so dsposed for neither, as President could
move an inch, for good or evil, wihou. the CO.
operation of both branches of the Legislature.
And we DO not believe that any Congress could
ruin the country in two years, the Congrcssion-
al lifetime; and We see in the ballot boxes
an ample check upon any Congress disposed
to misrule Both Mr. Clay and MIR Polk, a.
President, would feel some slight interest in
the opinion Of posterity, and would not feel
very emulous of its eXecralion; and, therefore,
we take Tor granted. that either would have
exerted his utmost abilities 10 promote The coun-
lry's prosperity and honor; 10 give il safe,
honest and disnifed administration. Then As we
should not have lamcnted the election OF Mr..
Clay as national calamity, we shall utter no
such lamentations over he election OF Mr.. Polk.
We rejoice in the termination Of tie contest, in
|
reused in The return ot social harmony and good
will among parties And we especially rejoice
in the election e Chief Magistrate Of rcspecta-
Die abilities respectable altainmcnis, long expe-
rience in political action, good sense moderate
views amiablc feelings, pure principles and ire
proachahle character Mr.. Polk is precisely
such President as the country now requires
man, in whose character moderation, love OF
peace and love o! justice, are The principal ele-
mems.
Having such President, we NAV nationally
expect an administration characterized hy mode
ration The countr; needs stability and repo>c
much more than reformation. II has passed
through Il lon. and severe cont CT, beginning
with hc administration al Gen Jackson, in
which Modification, National Banks, State
Bank, Sub Treasures High Tariffs, Free
TRADE, expansions, con,ractions, revulsion>,
BANKRUPT Laws have ruled for their respective
hours. The Democratic party, uniting under
Mr. Polk. and di>claiming violent measures
have rcsained their position, and can maintain il
only by moderation, by avoiding extreme nca-
surcS extreme policy
A National Banks an ''obsolele idea Tariff
To force manufactures is among the things thai
were: war, large armies and great naries are in
consistent with the safety and prosperity OF The
country. Removals from office for opinion
sake and distribution Of Spoils among viciors are
beneath the dignity oil any administration. y
Tariff for revenue, with discrimination ior Incl
dental protection. a Just and liberal economy and
a concilaiorv. digniel tone, 4 stable, conscrva-
tive policy, will insure a long rule 10 The party
now ascendant, and the peace and prosperity al
The county Pha"deiphia PUbhc Lcdgo.