Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-12-09
=. n. Editors OF Tic Enquirer.

7. Tie Editors OF The Enquirer.
Messrs. Editors: The duty devolvin9 on INC
Legislature OF Virginia 10 elect a United o'a'es
Senator and a Stale Governor, must, or al ieas'
should, now be performed. The performance
of any duly, however small, should be WIN
a discreet deliberaliun ; and the more So, as
the duties become important, and involve INC
great interests Of States. The election oil a U.
States Senator and a Governor Tor Virginia, are
certainly two OF the most solemn and Important
duties lliat can devolve on The Legislature; mol
merely that they be done in proper time. bul mat
they he performed d~iscreetly and wisely, ha;inS d
special regard 10 the fitness OF the men selec'eu;
Nothing is better established IN Tie history u
nations than the fact, that all other circumstances
together have not as much influence on inc
peace, happiness and prosperity OF a Stale, as Inc
character disposition and aplness of the men
discharging Inc public functions. This consiae-
ration makes the questions, Who shall be Sena-
Tor who shall be Governor? OF vital impof-
lance; and such, considering the vast interests IN
yolyed. and The field 10 lie explored in their con-
temptations, as are no, susceptible of a very ready
answer. Nevertheless, propose TO give that an
swer TO the latter, that the peonle OF the West
would give, il they had an opportunity, and leave
The answer 10 the former 10 be given by our East
GT1 ulHlUICu, uCIlEs iHS Aiu -
magnanimity toward The West entIlle them 10 that
greater distinction
In the catalogue of great men who have been
proposed from The West for The consideration OF
lbe Legislature, as fit for, and worthy OF, The Gu
bernatorial Chair Of Virginia, Col. Geo. Wash
inglon Thompson, of the city OF Wheeling. un-
doubtedly Stands pre-eminent. As a man oil
study and industry, he is second 10 none; as a
man Of science and literary knowledge, he mas
but few equals; and as philosopher, his writ.
ings bear ample testimony that TO be his parallel
is no small distinction. These are some OF the
leading qualifications OF Mr.. Thompson-but
that which recommends him as The most eligible
choice Of the West, is his very superior pollli.
cal talents. These are talents, The possession oil
which very few men discover TO any very great
degree; and yet, Of all others, they are The mostde-
sirable-ihe most necessary 10 a Governor OF a
Stale. Ii was this talent that enabled Romulus
to build Rome, and TheseuS Athens; that enabled
Numa 10 transform The people of Rome from Inc
most fierce and warlike CHARACTERIZATION a peo.
pie that knew nothing but war, aggression ana
rapine, into the most peaceful, industrious, and
! enterprislng people then in being ami that ena-
bled Lycurgus to effect a transformation equally
great on the people OF Lacedamon--to change
hem from habits Of more than Persian luxury
10 those OF the most frugal and ascetIc people III
The world. Il is this talent that enables The Co
vernon If n Stale 10 ~conlrive such measures 10
remedy existing defects, and to improve The con-
dition Of The community, as will be best adapted
and most likely 10 secure those objects; and 10
give those measures such an application as will
certainly secure The favor and affection OF The
people. Ii is in this talent that Mr.. Thompson
exccls. And, should it become the high privi-
lese Of The East 10 afford a United Slales Senator
for Virginia, and The consequent privilege Of The
West 10 furnish Governor for The Stale, il islhis
talent that will secure 10 MIR. Thompson that
high bu, responsible distinction. OHIO.
Weilshurg. Va, Dec. 8.