Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-07
" THE CAUSES"

We think 1t Is generally very bootless to be
seeking after the causes of political disaster
The cause which prevails, in nine cases out of
ten, is the superior activity of the victorious party
and the inertness of the vanqushed. In Virginia.
for many years past, party lines have been very
distinctly drawn, and the changes from one side
to the other have been very few. The Democrat
who votes fora Wing, or the Wing who votes for
a Democrat, exposes himself to a sort of odum
which it is generally desirable to avoid. Hence
when one party succeeds in gaining material ad-
vantage over the other, it is usually because the
latter is less uniformly interested in the result of
the election. IF indsposition to go to the polls is
manifestedin only few of the disputable coun-
ties, the consequence is grievously visible in the
casting up of losses and gains.
We have no desire or intention to attempt any
explanation of the supineness which influenced the
Wings of some fifteen or twenty counties of the
State, in the late election, 10 such extent to
produce the loss of fourteen delegates to the
Assembly, (seven of which losses, however, have
been made up by. gains in other countes.) But
the Enquirer of yesterday, suggests one cause
of the Wing defeat, the fallacy of which we deem
it important TO show. Our neighbor attributes
the success of his party, in great measure, to
the course of the Wing papers with regard to the
Nashville Convention. The results prove the sup
position to be utterly groundless.
In Eastern Virginia the Wings have carried
the commonly closely contested counties of
Fairfax Powhatan and Dnwiddie, and have re-
gained Fauquier. Seven counties and the city of
Petersburg, last year represented by Wings, have
now elected Democrats but of these, Goochland
has been always, except for single year, a De-
mocratic stronghold, and the usual majority is
greatly reduced; Charlotte, which. in every Pre-
sldentia election has given Democratic ma jorty
the Democrats now carry by one in Gloucester
deputy sheriff elects Major Taliaferro, who
doubtless silenced many Wing votes, by means of
his wide family connections Norfolk county has
become for time, wholly, inste ad of half, De-
mocratic, under the improper influences of the
Portsmouth Navy Agent, who ought long since to
have been removed in Essex, Democrat slips
in, because of ID rainy day, and the polls not be-
ing kept open whilst in King George, Hanover,
and Petersburg, Gas in three Eastern counties car
ried by the Whigs) the successful party seems to
have come out winner by dint of hard exertons.-
For not one Of these counties is there the slight
est ground for believing that the Nashville Con-
vention had any infue nee.
In the Valley of Virginia, the Wings have fully
maintained their ground They lose Morgan, be-
cause two Wing candi dates were voted for, as the
Democrats lose Bote tourt for similar reason
and, in addition, Allegheny, it seems, has elected
a Wing delegate. Of course the Nashville Con-
vention has done us no harm in the Valley
But the great strength of the Democratic party
lies in the Trans-Alleghany region, in the whole
of which we suppose there are not to be found a
hundred Nashville Convention men, of either
party. Take out Ohio, Kanawha, Greenbrier
Tyler, Wetzel, &c, and possibly Fayette & Nj
choas and Russell, (electing six delegates in a,)
and all the rest of the Trans-Alleghany Division
will have Democratic representation in the next
House of Delegates Yet in all this importa mt
portion of the State, strongly Democratic as it is
there has not been one meeting for sending dele
gates to Nashville. There is therefore no war
rant for saying that Wing opposition to the Nash
vile Convention has strengthened the Democratic
party.