Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-08-08

.,a.n, and they will not give even negative a,a -
that party, whose every piine'pIe anu n,e"S"'' WY
IN, and whose future policy they dread. ., ,b,,
o H., n ia Wbiss all remaining steady, we repeat .
,be nrosnect is attern. Tor the rrdemptlono shara
n n sa Who have heretofore with the opposite
party, but who not being poheiaah, ar enough of
aid and comfort to oid Zae =" Give ,,s IN. state
these adoeu 10 TUG WAC " Richmond Whig. :
This Dragging card of the Wing induces US
once more 10 republish the following RGPPef Of
The "Old Wing Guard" Of Hanover, and to ms
dr,as IN some reflections which il naturally call
forth:
TO THE FRIENDS OF HENRY CLAY THROUGH
OUT VIRGINIA.
The school associates and the political friends
of Henry Clay, The members ot The Wing party
Who have moi abandoned their principles and
who are not ashamed oil The great questions %
domestic policy which have been always support
ed by The Wing party, and those who resasu no-
nesly as better than miserable scheme u 'ea
porary availability, and who are moi .ne Pa'u
Fans of military chietlan, are solicneI ,, " a.
tend Convention, 10 be held a. sne sac"
in Hanover, on the 18th August, ior me PutPos.
ofnomina,ing Henry Clay tor The PRESIDENCY VI
The United States. -,
Many Friends of Henry Clay and The o"aon'
The above notice speaks Tor itself. In rs own
sloquen, language the friends OF Henry Gay Oh
Wing principles, and political honesty through
out Virginia, are called together at the ola siash
Church in Hanover, for grave and important pu!-
poses. From long and interesting conversa-
lion with one of the gentlemen BY whom tins con-
venlion has been called, We feel ASSURED that his
move has moi been the ebullilion oil momenlary
anger, or the work OF rash and needless men, who
10 their devotion 10 Henry Clay, forget The duties
which they owe 10 their country or their party
They seem 10 have fully and calmly weighed Inc
responsibilities OF The movement. The wing
press oil The city having been closed against The
faithful few, we have cheerfnlly yielded 10 Their
request in publishing The above call. we do II,
no, from desire 10 produce dsunion in the ranks
of our opponents-lhe work OF defeating them
can be accomplished without putting hem against
one another; but we feel a soTl OF regard iUr
those firm, noble men, who, in the day OF deisc-
ton, when the political friends Of Henry Clay
are abandoning him for new leader, gather like
the warriors OF the Old Guard OF Napoleon around
their faithful friend, 10 share his woes and Iailen
fortunes. They display the mora! courage, 50
seldom seen in The political world, OF sincere and
ferven, friends. But even this devotion 10 their
leader we consider as secondary to the frank and
manly way in which they cling 10 their old
principles, and strive to maintain The honor and
sovereignty of the Wing party. They seem TO
agree with The Democrats in the opinion that the
strength and influence oil patty. lis preservation
m, ho by tipf,
TO the people those great questions for which
all parties have struggled in every period OF
our history. They very properly contend that
10 This country the people, before exercising
the light OF suffrage, have an undoubted right
to investigate and defend the opinions Of those
who solicit their support. This privilege We
claim in our most unimportant elections, State
and Federal 1t is one, without which
the right of instruction cannot be exercised,
which may be considered the very corner /
>tono of Representative Government. If
candidate does not declare his opinions, how
car you trust him as your public servant7 1.-The
simply tells you that he will obey the Constitu
ton. but tells you that he is ignorant Of the
much confidence in his knowledge or capacity:
Or, if familiar with the tendency and nature OF
great questions of domestic policy, he fully re
fuses TO answer your questions, has he right 10
ask you to support him. If, yielding 10 blind
admiration Of mans military achievements
you elevate him TO high oil c without ascer
tanning his political principles are you no,
foolishly giving yourselves up, bound hand and
foot, to one who makes not a promise as to the
disposition he would make CT you' Is il not
surrenderins al discretion, making not one re
servation for your own Independence or safety
The propriety of certain pledges has been
deemed necessary by the wisest men Of both
parties in this country. In some instances, the
past life of candidate for your sufHrages has
furnished sufficient guarantees for his Integrity,
and the line OF policy which he would pursue.
In other cases, through the medium Of CORES
pondence, addressed 0 q candidate for tie Presi-
dency, his views have been obtained. Until re
Gently, the propriety of this course has never
been doubted-bo,h parties, by their usages,
admitting its proprety. Heretofore, every con
cealment Of principles from the public, BY a
party, has been met with fierce and overwhem
ing expressions Of popular indignation now
ing all this, the friends Of Gener riylor res
con,ented with their success in defeating, by Il,
influence of,rickery aud "teisgroph" politiciansi
the nomination Of Henry Clay-have actual,
abandoned every Wing principle which they
have heretofore supported, and consummated
their deeds Of political treachery, bY presenting
for the support o. the American people mill.
tary chieftain, whose laurcls have been gather
ed from the battle fields Of war unanimously
pronounced by them as unconstitutional and un-
holy, and of whose principles we may be said
TO know nothing. The friends Of Henry
Clay may very properly feel indignant that
such man should have triumphed over the great
advocate of Wing principles. The public states
man, whose name has carried encouragement,
and hope to the Wing party in timc Of danger
whose voice has cheered them in victory, and
comforted them in defeat = the man whose
life has been devoted TO he advocacy of Wing
principles the man who may be SAID 10 nave
built up the Wing party from the ruins OF Fede
ral,sm ard sustained il by his own popu arity,
has been shamelessly cast aside, dishonored and
neglected by those who have heretofore been
most lou in their praise of him in the days
of his strength. We like. under such circum.
stances, the devotion OF his known friends
When the mere Jackall politician, deser, their
favorite statesman, it tevolves upon them 10
rally to his support-when cold, calculating
demagogues abandon consistent politician
for new and unknown political di.inl,ies, the
rank and file Of the party, scornng tho Ere
essivs pososrs, and loving their principles. should
prove true to them. II we are to have poli,-
cal opponents, let them, at least, have the
Aonassv IN declara their nrinciples Daraat