The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-10-15
Tho Pending Election i'm virginia.


Attention is now generally directed to the
Congressional and Gubernatorial canvass in
Virginia, and to the prospect of another VIC
tory worthy in all respects of being classed with
the triumphs already achieved in Georgia,
Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and North
Carolina.
The intellectual tournament that has for
some weeks past been going on between Messrs.
Boris and CAsKIE, candidates for Congress,
has contributed much towards the keeping alive
of the excitement in Virginia itself, and has
awakened interest wherever the published re-
ports have found their way. The struggle of
intellect has been sustained on both sides with
spirit and power that cannot fail to COM
mand respect and admiration even from oppo-
nents. The impression produced on our mind
by the reports of the Richmond papers is, that
the balance of argumentative ability is on the
side of Mr.. BORIS. Mr.. CAsKIE has more APP
parent polish, and is possibly more expert at
fencing; but the rhetorical beauty of his SEN
fences, and his ability in making the most of
triles, serve but imperfectly to parry the heavy
|
mentation, and constant appeals to well-stored
| treasury of truths, have everywhere contri
buted to a state Of feeling highly favorable to
the Wing cause.
The question of fidelity to the Compromise
measures and the Union has occupied promi-
nent place in all the discussions between these
gentlemen, and will probably be the test ques-
ton in the minds of majority of the electors.
The significant silence of the Democratic party,
as represented in the late State Convention,
has already been placed upon record, as a fit
appendix to Mr.. CAsKIE's admissions in favor
Of the abstract right of State secession. The
| Union labors hard to divert attention from this
feature of the election, and to revive old party
issues. but the maneuvre will be of little avail,
| in view of the anti-Compromise tendencies of
Democratic delegates, and the declared seces-
sionist tendencies of their chosen champion.
| The absence of action on the part of one, and
the reported speeches of the other, are crcum-
stances vastly more reliable than the flippant
assurance of the Union that fthere isaano dis
unionism in Virginia." We should like to see
the grounds on which our contemporary bases
the assertion, seeing that the other day his
| knowledge on the subject was confessedly in
ferential, and, moreover, inferred from para
graph in the Abingdon Democrat, bearing con-
struction directly the reverse of that which was
imputed TO it.
Mr.. Boris deserves great credit for the per-
severance and ability with which he has sue
ceeded in establishing Mr.. CAsKIE's heresies,
and in demonstrating their dangerous tendency.
1t may advance the purposes Of the Union to
represent disunion as phantom, unworthy Of
notice, in comparison with old party cries but
we believe that time will show that Mr. Boris
has taken a view of the case vastly more in ac-
cordance with the convictions of Virginia, and
with the real interests Of the country. Failing
in their efforts to weaken his hold upon enlight-
ened public opinion, the accusation of being an
Abolitionst has been hurled against him; and
on another occasion we see that charge o.
favoring disunion was trumped up, founded OF
his vote in 1912, on the resolution OF censurt
and expulsion of john QUINcY ADAMS. The
former is so thoroughly absurd-so diametrl-
cally opposed to Mr. BoTTs's speeches and votes
that it never found favor in any quarter; and
he has triumphantly replied to the latter, by
reproducing his remarks on the occasion refer
red to, as reported in the Congressional Globe
In each case the attack has resulted in the sig
nal discontinue Of its authors
Mr.. SUMMERS, the Wing candidate for Gov
ernor, has been subjected to similar taunts, orr