Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-10-07

mentioned in this connection, be scanned with The
most calculating cooness, those OF Gen Gordon
will be granted 10 be at least subordinate 10 none.
The prompt saSacty which could discover The
true policy OF The county, when all was indeci-
sion and confusion which, in defiance Of The
heaviest opposition Of lreLds and OF foes could
devise and rindica,e the since Signalling measure
Of the party, the independent Treasury SYSTEM
the stone once rejected of the builders but since
become The head al the corner,-surely evidences
an energy OF intellect and iearlessncss OF homes.
" which pale beside The merits OF no competitor
known and which are fitted 10 dignity and adorn
the proudest station in the commonwealth.
NJ one, however hesiiateS 10 accord 10 all,
whose names have been presented Tor the honor,
abilities 10 administer its duties with success and
distinction. Indeed the nature OF those duties is
such, as not TO demand the highest cXeron OF
intellect; no exciting collision arising between
Virginia and other States, and such rs 10 Justify
more Than ordinary attention 10 considerations
unconnecled with the craftsmanship of The oandi-
date. Gen. Gordons pretensons ot The latter
character arc peculiar and imposing By elerat-
ing him 10 the highest honors Of Tie Stale an i'm
portant lesson 10 political ethics will be ncucaled,
beautiful and Invaluable moral will be impress
svely taught The ambitious youth among Us.
Upon the vacancy in The fifth District, occa-
u,
Gen. Gordon was designated by the united voice
OF the party, IS a flung representative for the
unexpired term. Cur opponents were then flush
Ell with confidence al The prospect OF 4 triumph
throughout the Union and eYulliDg over the an
CRY and lhickening disSen>ionS among ourselves,
which foreboGci our disruption Gen Gordon,
however, promptly devoted ell his energies To a
laborious canvass, animated rather by The hope
of consolidating and organizing his party for q
future conflict, than by any reliable expectation
OF immediate victory. He acted with the
shrinking feaTessness Of patriot, who vas re-
solved 10 sacrifice himself Tor the safety OF his
principles and he generously cast the shadow Of
defeat over his fair tame, trusting 10 the gratitude
oil his party for his Teqn!lal, upon the dawnine Of
a more propitioIs day. a few months passed.
a national victory OF imper>bablc glory had been
achieved. A wa"eless harmony rervadcd the
parry, which, in his district, had now become de-
cisiYely ascendant. The Congressional election
was AT hand. General Gordon, not doubling
from The earnest and importunale represensenla-
lions ofnnmerous friends, and all the pcculariI:es
OF his position, that he The choice OF The mass
OF the pcnpc-alming 10 loresiall dlsscnslon III
the dis,rict-eXIec,ing 70 orerawe, by his prompt
and early action, Z spirit Of an'agoniSm, but TOO
common N The victorious Party, which II was APP
pretended WAS Lrewin. among i number Suiii-
cent to defeat The wishes OF tie ma o'iy declared
himself second time candidate !or elecion--
Meantime, Convention actually assembled;
from all participation in which he friends u Cor
don were unavoidaby inhibited BY The very posi-
lion he had assumed. and which could only be
an exponent Of the predictions of that portion OF
the party which inclined to other aspirants. a
Democratic antagonist was brought upon the
field. The VIII. candidate was preparing 10
wresl The prize from The comhalants The Gene
l1r1t ,p..rF
ing His course had heen virtually branded as
tactious and designating b. a convention pur-
porting 10 represent The district. His friends
mporluned him 10 challenge lis decision,
and 10 appeal 10 the people IS the aiei-
ters OF the controversy. Tie conviction he
felt, pressed irrcsistibly npon him, that by
throwing himself upon the party he could
rally such body OF friends as would, at least,
vndicale 10 Tie world The BUSINESS OF his views,
and the hones;y Of his declarations. IL was OBJ
vicus, that withdrawal, under the circumstances,
Wouid expose his reputation deiencelessly 10 the
asrcrsions Of his enemies, ard would in The eyes
OF many, envelope the close Of his long, and HI
he.!o unsulicd career in clouds and darkness.
Yet he chose 10 breast The opportunities OF his
friends and tie impuaons Of his enemies TO
give his departure from public life in The eslima-
ton OF sone, the sembance OF retreat instead OF
4 Withdrawals; Ia leave his motives and his con-
duct misa pprelended and misconslrued; and ~
gorous!y 10 exert his energies in elevating h,si
val, rather than place in jeopardy The unip OF ms
party, or the success OF measures - "hicu NJ
mad devoted life of fearless ii!eli:y ana uhTelaA-
ING tolls Such uncalculalino, and seli-des'ruc-
live love OF principle, would have signaliZed a
PALMER time. Other high. minded men have re-
linQushed fond aspirations AMI imposing prettn-
sions, and have nohly resisted the aluremens OF
power, 10 harmonic and inyisofaie party aclicn;
bn, they were assured that, BY such an exhibition
o., moderation and patriotism, by thus converting
private station into The post OF honor the! were
wrealhinS laurcls scarcely less admired Than The
lost trapplngs and pageantry OF authority. Gen.
Gordon, however, has displayed the heroic virtue
OF invincibly perSislins in his own immoation
with the fact slartnsly presented 10 him, that he
was, By The very act, alternating friends, deepen
ing the preludices, and agsravatirg the displea-
sure O. enemies that he was ccioudine MS iame
blighling his proudest ambition and most che
risbed hopes in a service for which he could then
anticipate no just appreciation or requital.
In this day OF hot, restless and dstenIpered lust
for the spolls Of place, it would argue in us reck.
lessness of right, 10 permit his example to pass
unhonored or unrewarded. TO abandon HIM now
10 his retirement, would be 10 make him the VIC
lin of his own chival y; 10 siiemalize patriotism
as ungracious and loTbiddinS, in proportion as II
is generous and seli.sacriicing. To raise him 10
station higher than the one he has lost by his
integrity, would impress with indelible vIvidness
and irresistible beauty, upon the great heart Of
the people, The golden moral, "connpi,o't rins not
more than honesty"
Some Of our Western friends are urging, upon
sectional grounds, The nomination OF a Governor
from among themselves. They alese. that The
East has heretofore displayed unrelenuns Stud
bornness in consulting her own pride IN the aus
posal of honors, and we are made Inc objects OF
fierce denunciations for indulging local PreJudi-
ces in appointments equally interesting al por-
lions of The Sta'e. Are they not aware, mat IN
| their very accusation they convict themselves oil
the same spirit Of iIlhefay with which we are
sought 10 be branded2 In advocating The cleo
lion Of Western men, because they aTe citizens
of The West, lhey, ipSo f1eio, advocate the lndls-
criminate prescription OF Eastern asPlranls, re-
gardlcss of merit because they are oil NE Easl--
thus making our name reptoach and our resi-
depce an oppression; and enforcing, with odious
and aggravated severity the same system OF pro-
scripton for sections sake with which their ac-
cusa,ions resound The arbitrary biographies!
division Of merit thus sonsh, 10 be established
for The future b. our Western brothers, IS Of all
things best eontrived and mos, earfnlly hasten
! ing to arouse malignant and envenomed jealous
les between sections OF The same great Common
wealth, switch else, like kindred drops, had min
gled into one.'
TO indulge local prejudice in the appointment
Of a Governor, is 10 lnnoculate his administration
with the same poisonous spirit Our Executive
is the head Of one community o! equal citizens
undivided and ndvisibie. in his election lei u
commune as one consolidated mass--lhe glory o.
ca, h pan OF which is he glory ofihe whole and le
us unite in eevaiing the most deserving Of us al
| whoever he be-;he man in whom "blood anc
Judgment are 50 commnsed," that every Nirgi
MAN may be proud of his fame and blessed II
/ his services ARISTIDES.
For lie Enquirer.
POPUIA ED u c a T O N.
| FACTS FOR THE PEOPLE.