The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1847-02-02
MANI MEMBERS
or the Senate and House of Representative
WAsHINGroN. Jan. %, lS47.

MAIN MfLMBERS
or the Senate and House of Representatives
WAsHINeToN. Jan. %, lS47.
| VIRGINIA SENATORIAL ELECTION.
Having heard many specula,ions about the eff
feet ct The recent election, of Senators from Vir-
gina, during our recent trip, desire tn present
TO our readers one or two thoughts upon that in
teresing subject. rendered peculiarly so, by the
grave and momen,ous questions which are likely,
Tor some time TO come, 10 occupy the attention of
The national legislature.
Though the result was not effected. al the
| time. by the united action of the democratic mem
hers of tho Legislature, yet we are well satisfied
it will meet with most hearty response from the
great body of the party throughout the State
Our democratic fellow citizens in the country.
free from the temporary feelings of individual
rivalry. and personal preferences, which operated
upon the General Assembly, will look alone TO
the character-intellectual, political, and moral
of the gentlemen elected and if that character
be such as TO inspire them with confidence, they
will utterly discard all other considerations, and
yield TO their new Senators cordial and united
support Let US for moment then, inquire into
| that characier-and first Of Mr. Hunter: Is he
not democrat without reProach. at least so far
as the living issues of the present day are cor
cerned2 Has he not rendered important services
to the party and the country, by sustaining. with
an ability unsurpassed, and rarely eqnalled all
the great measures for which that party has con-
tended =? Could the State have been carried, in
the last Presidential canvass, and we NAV add.
tor the last six years. without his aid, and that of
his friends 2 Have not they been ever foremos,
in coming to the support of the administration in
its leading measures of policy, when Others con
fidently relied upon were found wanting +? Could
the administration we ask, with emphasis, ever
have carried the great questions of modification
of the Tariff; and the Constitutional Treasury.
without the able support of Hunter and his friends
And lastly, could the President have been sus
tanned in his veto of that monster of iniaui,y the
Western Harbor Bill, without the same unshrnk
ing aid. The reply 10 these queries, which shines
forth in glowing characters in the history of The
times, cannot but satisfy every candid mind that
snnnder and purer democrat does not exist with.
in the limits of the commonwealth than r M.
L. Hunter and at the same time most fully ex-
hibiis the wisdom and propriety of his elevation
TO the important post to which he is called
1t is no just grounds of complaint against Mr..
ii. that he was elected by The aid of W hip votes.
On the contrary, that circumstance should he re-
garded as a subject Of commendation rather than
reproach. Showing, as it does, the HIGH esiiua-
ton in which he is held by his fellow citizens
generally. on account of his talents and virtues
Those members of the whig party in the lepsIa
ture, who voted for him, did so with full and
perfect knowledge that on all questions which d.
vided the parties, they should find in him most
Incorporating opponent. This, indeed. was
openly proclaimed by one of their leaders. MIR.
Witcher of Pii'syIvania. But they justly con-
sideTed that there were other subjects of para
mount Importance, rising above party considera
lions, in which all had common interest. and in
reference TO which they should fad in Mr.. TT
an able and efficient representative. If there he
any blame in this matter justly attaching TO anv
party il cannot surely be laid To the Senator elect
As 10 The refusal on the part Of portion of Mr..
Hunters friends to go into caucus il is enouub
TO remark, tina! the caucus system has never been
favorite in Virginia, and has only been resorted
to under the influence Of what was deemed a.
the time, pressing necessity. In the recent
! election, with majority on joint ballot of more
island therefore, it is not to be wondered At
that these of our democratic friends, who have
ever looked with a sort Of suspicious jealousy M
the northern system of tactics, in all its varied
forms, should take decided stand against this
its most Objectionable feature
The election of Nh Mason seems to have given
general satisfaction to all parties His location
has satisfied the wishes and expectations of that
portion Of the State, from which he comes, while
his high character as gentleman, and fine talents
as statesman, give every assurance that the
honor and interest Of the Old Dominion will find
faithful guardian and able representative in this
distinguished son Of the West
In closing these hasiy remarks we cannot but
augur the most favorable results to the interests
of the democratic party throughout the State and
the country at large from this election. The
friends Of the distinguished CsroliDian will per