Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-05-08
THE VIRGINIA ELECTION.


1t was stated, three or four weeks ago, in the
Washington correspondence Of the Journal of Com
merce, that the war question was discussed at
that time on every stump in Virginia. and that
"the election in that State turned very much on the
question Of the origin and policy Of the Mexican
uar.''
All who are in the habit Of reading the govern
ment paper, whose title is +" the Union," but whose
Editor is still Virginian, must have the perse-
verng attempts to yoke that State to the car of the
present war-making, conquest-seekng Presidential.
Prerogatve Administration, and the confidence with
which the entire success of these efforts pre-
dcte4 1t was only week before the election that
the +" Union," in article announcing the bright
ness of the prospects of the Virginia Election, said
" If the Democrats but do their duty in the Old Do
'minion, zoe must carry the State trimmphaatiy.
Never had they stronger inducements to organize,
to unite and put forth their whole strength" So
that undoubtedly the whole strength of the Demo-
cratic party, SO far it could be brought out to
sustain the exotic war policy of the Administration,
was mustered at the polls at the late election.
The result, notwithstanding the difficulty which
uiUa voce voting opposes to the free expression of
changed opinion in regard to the merits of two par
ties in State, has been, our readers know deci-
sive verdict by Virginia against "the origin and
policy Of the Mexican war;" upon the merits of
which the election is admitted to have turned We
hail this result as happy augury for the return OF
the Government to a sound, safe, American Repub-
lican policy-to the principles upon which the
Government was conducted under every Admins
LII r
as concerns our Foreign Relations, also under the
Administration which Immediately followed Gen.
Jackson's, and during the first two.thirds of the
Tyler Administration.
This view of the subject is sustained, we are
happy to see, by the Richmond Whig, in the fol-
lowing observations, by that print, in reply to re-
marks by the Richmond Enquirer, upon the elec-
ton of Mr.. PREsToN to represent in Congress the
twelfth district of Virginia:
"Why have they, whom Mr. PREsroS has so often ap-
peaed in vain, now, by impulse nearly every
county Of the district abandoned and hundreds
old leaders and teachers and enlisted under the Wing ban
There Is deeper and powerful for than
that to which the Enquirer ascbes it, and which, If were
the true one, would reflect not less severely upon the ne
gence Of the people than upon Mr.. Preston himself II
deep-seftied and gro,cg Dissatisfaction with The policy Of
the present Adminsraton-a widespread and increasing
conviction that il has abused its powers and that the
tere Of the country require decided expression Of popular
dspProbaoR Virginia has given utterance to this language
in tone not to be msntepreed- often referred
to as the flagship Of Democracy, and from which the Adm
nsaton OF its choice finds precious little aid and com
fort That Administration fail that the war in
which has unconstituonaly plunged the country is not
popular in this State, where has confessedy been
almost the only question discussed by the opposing
before the people. The President and his friends expected
indeed to make capital by denouncng the Wings
mics Of their country because dared in the spirit Of free
men, to the President for unnecessarily and uncons
tuionay bringing But they have reckoned without
then host The people discriminate at the result of the
late election shows between actous opposition 10 the
sues necessary successfully to prosecute in which
be engaged and fearless censure Of conduct Of the
Administration in making that war"