Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-04-30

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Bedinger small majority.
For The Enquirer.
THE BALL oPENED-THE CAMPAIGN BEGUN
GENERAL TOM THUMB. OR "YOUNG FREE
AND FRlsKY," IN THE FIELD.
Al a large and enthusiastic meeting oil The
Wings of Ashland county, held AT Cross Roads,
on Friday. the 23d of April, ls47, J. Preston
Webster Esq, was called 10 the Chair, and Jas.
BerrIen Davis, Esq appointed Secretary.
After brief address from the Chairman, SET
ting forth The importance Of The object OF The meet
ing, and necessity OF immediate action, without
any OF The useless delberaion and reflection
which characterize The conduct OF our political
opponents Col. H. Clayton Badger rose to offer
10 The meeting The following resolutions:
Re@lued, That We deem that The eminent vIr-
tues, Distinguished abilities, and memorable ser
vices Of Gen. Tom Thumb give him peculiar
fitness for, and paramount claim 10, The highest
Office in The gift OF Tree and enlightened people.
Resolvcd, That We take pride in behalf Of the
Wings OF Ashland county, in being the FIRST 10
uniurl 10 the breeze Of popular faror the glorious
flag OF YOUNG FREE AND FRlSKY, under
whose auspices and leading We canno, doublIhe
triumphant success OF that glorious cause, whose
"iree principles" admit OF the union OF all par
lies and sccIs, in The common object OF expelllns
irom Office our political opponents aid filling
their places with true and !oyel Wings.
Resoivsd, That This meeting form itself into
FRgE AND FRIsKY CLUB, with the usual consi!u-
,on and implements, gonrds, coon-skins, &C., 10
which are 10 be added likeness Of the General
"of The size Of lie" and that each member Is 10
wear brass hanlb.rtng.
r solrcd, That The proceedings oi this meet
ing be signed by the chairman and secretary and
published in The news; apers generally; and thai
one copy be printed on white satin, in letters OF
g,ld, and forwarded 10 young Free and Frisky"
oy the chairman.
Alter reading these resolutions, Colonel B. re-
marked, that il was with much embarrassment
and unteened dif6dence hat he found himself The
sci, cted organ 10 present them 10 The meeting; for
he T. Ii how incompetent he was 10 do justice 10
The subject. or 10 wouhily eulogize the iustrious
hero whom they proposed as the leader oflhe vic
torious legions Of their party. To speak OF his
superla,ive qualifications OF mind and 10 y for The
Presidency-oi his unparalleled services 10 his
country al home and abroad, he lelI assured would
be suprrfluous in this meeting. The enthusiast
whrh flashed from each eye and burst from eve
ry mouth al The bare menion OF the name Of
Young Free aud Frisky," told him how unne.
ce.sary, he might say how inadequate, any pa
nesyric ir.m him would be Oh ihs OCCASION
The man who had s,ood up, undaunted and una
Of The crowned heads OF Europe-who had held
leyees of thousands on bolh continents, and who
had acfuailg kissed mare N IN fire miliions OF Ia
dies IN his l0n i'm a word, hat done lnole Than
any other man 10 elevate, in the estimation Of The
world, the standard Of American character Tor
gallanlry, agility and indomilable holiness, could
receive no additional renown from aught that he
could saw. lie would, therefore, only add. that
he fact that this great man was lrh0fy nntrau-
neiled BY party poliics-phoily IncOmnutted 10
any polit,ea! prtnapes, rendered him lar above all
Other men in The nation, peculiarly suited TO be
the great leader of the universal and hetcroeene.
Gus Whie parry; whilst this fact, as we'll as his
Authenticated popularity setiling the only ques-
ZION which they as Wings deemed il wise or me-
crssary 10 enquire intO-his AyAILABiLiTY-gave
certain promise Of our unprecedented success.
When the tremendous and long continued
cheering, which this speech ELECTED, had sub
sided, Mr. John PIaindealer rose and said, that
he had listened with pleasure 10 Col. BIS. speech,
which was all very pretty and good as far as u
pent; but he could not but express his disap-
ponment and surprise, that il went no farther.
All that The orator had said Of General Thumb
he believed to he lrue-makng due allowances
Tor rhetorical hourishes and exaggeralioD, and
he (Mr P.) was the last man in The world 10 de-
tract one title from The full need Of praise and
honor Justly due 10 that great Hero. But he had
supposed The object Of this meeting-and, indeed,
of The resolutions offered-not 10 be merely 10
eulogise or TO do honor 10 a great Hero, but 10
consult and deliberate as 10 who would be the
man bes, qualified 10 administer the government
Of this great coniedefacy upon The principles
which lhev deem highly important 10 The pros
neriy and peace Of The nation and having fixed
upon such a man, - present him 10 the State
and nation as The nominee Of this meeting Now
General Thumb might or might mol be such
man-he did not mean 10 say lie was moi; though
there was certainly nothing in The history OF his
life, or in the occupation in which that life had
been spent, TO induce the expectation that ne pos
.esscd any OF that familiar acquaintance
with The political history, legislation, and foreign
relations OF our country, which were essential 10
the proper discharge fIhe dulles OF President
OF the United States. Indeed, ne must say that
the contrary was 10 be presumed, from the few
facts with which he had been made acquainted
presumption which he should rejoice 10 have
removed. Sill less had they been informed by
the Orator, who preceded him, of Gen. Thumbs
opinions on the great and leading measures of
The Bank, Tariff, Distribution, and Internal I'm
provement, so long cherished, and so often
proclaimed by The Wing parry as OF vita
importance 10 The prosperity and stability o'
our country and government. On The contrary,
III ne QlQ not mlSuUueIsldHu tHdt kcuileiuoH'" -
professed either 10 be entirely ignorant OF Gene
raj Thumbs opinions on those important ques-
lions. or rather TO believe that General Thumb
had never thought about Them al ala belief
which he confessed he was predsposed to enter
tain himself, though he had heard i rumored,
that. to Two. if not 10 all OF these leading Wing
measures, General Thumb was warmly opposed.
He would, therefore, propose, as substitute or
The resolutions jus, offered, that committee be
appointed 10 communicate with General Thumb,
asking his opinions. Here The meeting became
greatly excited, and The speaker, being unable 10
make himself heard amids, the mingled groans,
Kisses and cries of "hurrah Tor Young Free ana
Frisky"-"Y,ung Free and Ffisky forever" sat
down in disgust
The resolutions were then carried BY acclama.
lion. J. PRESTON WEBSTER, Chm.
JANE, BERRlsN DAVIS Sec'y.
NAvAL.-The U. S. ship Levan Comman-
-