Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1845-06-21
RICHMOND DAILY WING.

SATURDAY nORNlNo. JUNE 81. isss.

Virginia and The Enquirer.
The United States Journal, quoting portion
OF recent article in this paper, in which we mako
complaint Of the degeneracy Of Virginia and her
deplorable tagging in the path Of Improvement, Of
interest and of duty, and ascribe it to the pcstlent
sway of modern Democracy" which has held
the reins for 30 years past-contends that we are
mistaken in the use Of n word, and that for "De-
mocracy" the Enquirer" ought to be substituted.
The Journal is itself mistaken. The Enquirer
has pot been inmcal, il has we think been friend
ly to all fair and proper plans of improvement,
and has frequently (bat longo interpallo) so de-
clared ITSELF The fault Of that Journal has no,
been want Of expansion to comprehend the i'm.
Portance and advantages Of Improvement and edu-
cation, OF want of libcraty to embrace them; but
defect of warmth and zeal in the cause, and of a
generous ardor. timid apprehension of offending
some portion Of its intelligent democracy" by the
display of too much interest for education and
much anxiety for the small matter Tin their wise
eyesl of bringing forth the unsurpassed resources
and elevating the fortunes and destiny of Virginia.
Ii was formerly no doubt a maxim Of that paper,
to make every thing subordinate to the great "De-
mocratic" party object of the day, and to sacri-
fee every possible interest that stood in the way,
II by doing SO, any present strength could be re-
tanned. much more if any reinforcement could be
hoped from the immolation. We feel assured in
our own minds, that the passion of President ma.
king had arrived at that intensity in Mr.. Ritchies
mind, that rather than "Polk, Dallas, and Texas
should not have been elected, he would have ex.
terminated James River and blown up the Poto-
mac. The Enquirer has passed into other and
rty fed hon nd dauhf m
its influence eIsrted, with all the spirit and ar dor
Of youth in the great causes of Education and I'm.
provement, which so imperiously demand the aid
| of every son who loves his native soil.
The U. s. Journal is not less (but more) mis-
taken in its other idea Of the overriding influence
of the Enquirer with the democracy" of Virgil
MIA, but it is mistaken along with oil the Union
out Of Virginia ITSELF The secret rule of
its conduct, in fact, has been implicit ODE
diepce, while it appeared to govern. Ii SEEM
ed to rule, because first asce tanning the will of its
party by methods perfectly easy, safe and sure, it
never failed [but oncel to conform without delay
to its pleasure. 1t was but following when it
seemed most to lead. II has attempted but once
in our time to control the opinions and dictate
the movements of its party, and more signal
discontinue never attended any attempt. Mr..
Fisk remembers the time. There was not one
man in the Union who took more violent, and as
far as words were interpreters Of opinion, more
conscientious and Interchangeable ground against the
Sub Treasury; week after week, month after
month, Mr.. Richie assailed il with all his force Of
argument and all his powers of invective and de.
nunciation But the Democracy remained i'm
movable h: Gen. Jackson was for il, and that was
Il I 4 A L L
result! Mr.. Fisk remembers that too. Opposition
| was threatened in the person of Mr.. Fisk himself
and Mr.. Richie became dumb, suddenly convinc-
ed that il the Sub-freasury was not the thing
The very thing ITSELF certainly that il was not so
dOoms bad after all said and done His fire ceas.
ed and from that day, not syllable within our
recollection, of opposition to tho SUBJ Treasury,
has escaped him.
Butthis was not all. He was required by the
Democracy to give some practical proof by way of
acknowledgment oil his error, and the sincerity of
his repentance, and that pratical proof must have
been the most painful of all others 10 n man of
feeling: II was To deny and sacrifice the friends
who had co.operated with him in his opposition TO
the Sub-Treasury, 10 dsown them, nay to wage
fierce war upon them, to react the part of Saturn
l
they were such, as he had encouraged and stimu.
lated them to separate themselves from the De-
mocracy along with him, on the occasion Of the
Sub-Treasury. Mr.. Rves, Col. Peyton, Col.
Fontaine and others are living witnesses of the
truth Of these statements.
Here we repeat was the only attempt Of the En-.
quirer in our day to lead public opinion, and a
more disastrous and discreditablc failure could not
we'll be imagined.
The mistake Of the U. States Journal is natural
however, but IT is a gross mistake. Let US tell
Mr.. Fisk that we Of Virginia have had but two
masters in this century-Thomas Jefferson from
1900 to lS26-and Andrew Jackson from 1896
to 1915. (lIow much longer we shall be ruled by
his name, time must show.) A master it seems
we must hayc-some who will take tho rou
bic ofthought and volition off our hands and kind.
y dictate what is best to be done-but we scorn a.
master oflcss mark and note than these.