Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-08-27
Nh PARTY OR NO PRINCIPLE.

although a Wbie-yea, the very kind of Wing
which the "no.par.y party" have been attempt
ing 10 make General Taylor out to be,-a clay
Whig,"-Is not so iniuriaied as to go II 0!and iof
the old Hero, ignorant as he and every ore
else are Of General Taylor's political opinions
A short lime since, some OF The Federal presses
in abiding TO General Taylor's popularity, e1-
claimed with srea, exul!alion, that The "prairies
are on fire." but, from the signs Of The times, we
think thai such a torrent of Wing rain will soon
fall as 10 extinsuish all the flames that may be
kindled by this premature outbreak. We think
We see a Sigh, speck in The Northern horizon.
"Comine events casl their shadows before" and
II we Judge properly, the enthusiasm excited in
that quarter, by the visit OF Harry OF The West,
means something. The elections are nearly
over, and il a short while those who have been
determined in their efforts 10 scatter party TO The
Jour winds, who have been using General Tay-
lor and his popularity TO "ca,ch birds of every
fealher.n will be seen deserving his standard, and
going for ia Wing, a whole Wing, and nothing
but a Wing" We have never believed that The
Wing party were honest in advocating General
Taylor's claims 10 the Presidency-we have al
ways thought that they used him as a tool, to &C.
complish their designs, and TO be laid aside when
party schemes had been fully set in operation,
and Haig principles were fastened upon their
unsnspecting ''no. party" associates.
We believe that a large portion OF the Wing
party are aclualed By principle, and are not trans
ierable BY those premature" advocates of a hero
whose political opinions they seem 10 be more
fully acquainted with than he is himself. The
writer Of the following is only one out of many
who honestly entertain such opinions; and we
would mol be surprised TO see before many moons
The "Mrs. ParlingIons" and "lhe Premaiurists"
of The Richmond Wing press warmly engaged in
supporting The claims Of SOM full.blooded party
Wing as a candidate for The Presidency.
For The Enquirer.
THE GAME OF BLUFF.
"Going blind" is a very precarious mode OF
winning al this game. This, Hoyle would tell
you, were be consulted in confidence on The SUBJ
ject. 1t is amusing, however, and does pretty
well when you have plenty Of troublesome CAPT.
tal, and wish TO dispose Of it in the purchase OF
mere amusement and that peculiar species Of ex.
element known among men who love 10 ''bet
high" al cards.
There have been, ever since the settled orgaHi.
zalion of our government, TWO great political par
| ties. playing against each other for an enormous
| stake, 10 wit, THE COUNTRY. Al one period one
party, and al another period The other party, has
in turn been victorious. Still The essence Of The
stake is reserved, reminding one, however, OF the
sake in another game which players call Loo,
| which | remember 10 have heard an account OF
| as PLAYED in a certain rented room OF a hotel in
| Charleston. There the players agreed among
themselves and with their host, that al The win.
ming of everv loo, The winner should throw a
quarter into The candleslick Tor The hest, 10 pay
for The room, lights, &c.-and when The play
ended in The morning il was ascertained that The
candleslick was The only thing benefited BY The
eame-it having broken the purses Of all else.
| Thus s. il is with this great national stake. Capt.
,al-making politicians and self-iple!esled cema-
cosnes in high places have watched over this
game Of bluff, appropriating 10 themselves The
spills al every period Of the game until almost
| all save the name of Country has been taken
away and consumed, while The Infatuated pubic
have thought OF nought buttrickeIy, and circum-
vention BY fair means and foul.
But there never was a more complete and des-
perate attempt 10 win by "goine blind, since the
pUlllIdi NuihS HloI uhLl. q Abot ANW
made (and | am grieved 10 make the averment)
by The Wing press, particularly in our own Stale.
This mad and wild enthusiasm, il seems, is be-
| coming almost universal. The Wings arc not
so skilllul et the game as their adveIsaries; and
although they have been permilied 10 "shuffie,
cut and deal" repeatedly, they have generally
made a losing business OF the play their opPo-
spite Tie ace, king and queen, which are out against
them. Nay, they almost invariably "turn up
| Jack" whenever The deal falls in their hands!-
| Such has been The Tide Of luck which has so rare.
ly carried The Wings 10 the goal OF success and
| triumph, until now OUT OF very desperation, they
Ego The whole blind" in The magnificen, Stake OF
old Zach Taylor, not even knowing or ~careine,
| presume, whether such blind Is sterling or spn.
| rious. Indeed, | imagine a majority Of Them be-
lieve him 10 be nothing more than The crude bull
lion; and, happy, if they lose, their adversaries
will not gain much, considering The labor and
| expense Of coming. Ny own humble opinion is,
thai there will moi be much difficulty or even dam
ger OF this blind being very easily and proflably
s!raddlcd.
Aside from the odious character Of a precedent,
| which, ever since he administration of Jackson,
The Wings have been most unqualified in con
demning, namely, that of elecling men 10 The
Presidency because OF their military renown
alone, | cannot conceive with what conscience or
counlenance the Wings can even mention Gen.
Taylor as the candidate for that Office. The
Wing party have, slime whereof The memory Of
mar runnelh not 10 the contrary" held on, TO the
world, and tainted their advcrsaries with the
maxim, PRINCIPLES, NOT MEN" Do
they go for the principles" OF Gen. Taylor, or do
they go Tor The hero of The plains OF Me1ico2 II
for lis principles, what are they 3-for he has ne
yer avowed them, and, for aught they know, he
hoe -a..a ~ N. md ~ fnr tho n,n and harn nj
an hundred battles, they belle their motto.
But, supposing Gen. Taylor 10 be a Wing
whc could give his vole7-I ask, wha, man, who
cares Tor bis country, and is sincere in his polili-
cal faith, let him be Wing or Democrat. can vote
for a man to fill The important Office ofChief Ma
eislraie Of this Union, and who must or ought 10
be The speaking oracle OF that iailh-who Gal.
though he has known for more than a year that
he woulG be a0lens 1olens a candidate Tor their
sufraee) would refuse 10 let the people know by
his solemn declaration what his political faith isl
There is no excuse or palliaiion Tor this refusal.
His claims-or pretended cIalms-lo The Prcsi-
dency, have been longlexcilinsly canvassed; and,
knowing this, he was bound by all fairness and
patriotism TO speak The truth.
II General Taylor has no views in common
with either party, or if he has no settled views oil
national polity whatever, (and | think The latter
most p.ODdoie,) can iHc wing pdIly lninh VI GIG
yating him 10 an office where their darling prin-
cipIes may be crushed, where their long cherish
ed hopes OF Bank, Tariff and Distribution, may
be blasted, and from whence all The national evils
they deprecate may be enlailed upon the country
they profess 10 love and honor2
Apart from all these objections 10 Gen. Taylor
in The capacity in which some dozen or more OF
The political papers in Virginia hold him up to The
eyes and admiration OF the public, there are other
equally potent with regard TO his station, as well
as The disparity between a country's demand and
a counlry's supply-and this question m up
appropriately at The mention Of Gen. Taylor and
the Presidency" These objections may form a
future article for The pefusal OF those who "go
blind" SO extensively at The game of bluff.
August, l647. a CLAY WHlG.
LETTER FROM GEN. HOUSTON.
The reader will find below a letter from Gen.
Houston, suggested by E1. President Tyler's lei
ter upon the negotiations TO secure The anne1a-
lion OF Texas. The letter belongs 10 The history