Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-10-26
THE SHADOW OF DEATH.

sdepha Bulletin will fall with touching soemny upon inc
ears of the nation called 10 stand at The grave o.
Daniel Webster. Ii will be truly, when surrounded WI"
'.he paraphernaa of the grave that millions Of
freemen will assemble the baotbox 10 choose their chie
magistrate
It's almost certain that Daniel Webster lies the bed Of
DEATH Perhaps already he has ceased to live 1t is
therefore, probable that the approaching Presidential cleo.
,ion will have element added TO it, beyond those we
noticed yesterday peculiar The shadow OF DEAN WIN
lie mon IT, II will be above the OF Webster pehaps,
and while the bells still toll for his funeral that the struggle
will carried on, and the ambition OF the successtu cahoi-
date gratied.
When is remembered tina, Mr. Webster himself was ogi.
nay one of the prominent competitors and that until
90 late sn hour yesterday his remained before the
people, this fact affects the mind that is properly regulated
with indescribaoe emotions OF melancholy The angry
strife parties becomes almost sacese Even The ordl-
nary umut of appears out OF place seems an
insult 10 the OF the dead struggle around his bier
for honos which he asprant Never before mas
Presidential contest been naugualed under such solemn
circumstances As the Temple there 10 de-
posit their surages the funeral bell tolls ana the SHADOW OF
Death falls the threshold 1t VIII te nation IN grief
that will elect the next President.
This reflection should stop at once the bitterness of party
and the angry vehemence Of political hostility Lips that
are still foul with abuse of the Dead and that will when
with for their injustice cannot surely repeat the
crime against another but will be ehamed into silence
Even should Mr Webster linger beyond the election day,
even should he surprise and the nation by recovering
the peril in which he lies has lain, ought equally 10 as
suage the violent Of party The hand mat could pen
libel the tongue that could speak slander we should
think would palsy at the shadow OF Death, falling dark
We have had two Presidents die in Office. But we
have had Presidential election 10 be usheed In as
this one promises be- with the bier of candidate, as
were procession The husnss Death has been
ut the White House. but never thus al me po's. ana II
comes come il shall down one, whom all acknow-
ledge the great intellect OF his country not OF the age
and whose loss if troubous times should arise Will be te
every negotiation that becomes necessary and IN every
undertaking that may be canvasscd Twentyf -four millions
of people about TO exercise the highest privilege OF tree
mon that of choosing their own rulers amid the paaphe
of
its gloom over the land.
Such indeed should be the feelings o! every American, in
the performance of solemn duy-but candor compels us
believe that the part Of many of The desperate cham.
pons of Gen. Scott, different sentiment pcvalls-a
groundles hope that The death OF Daniel Webster Is
Providena a,on whose effect will be 10 remove an
important obstacle Presidential path of Gen. Scott
Already have similar expressions been heard streets
and in New York the National Democrat of Saturday
fers 10 The bareaced shameessness exhibited many of the
Scott Wings receiving the Intelligence of the probable
death of Mr. Webster. Dead all feelings OF patriosm TO
all shame tho better feelings of humanity 10 oil
of gratitude they had the cruelty to exult in the
prospect of the removal Of the venerable statesman from the
political arena-n which he likely prove serious
obstacle the OF their avor.e to con-
graduate each other The before the breath was out
Of the body of the dying statesman Very little, howeSr
would the death of Mr. Webster aec, their Out of
in his adopted the Webster Of personal
regard and affection that in this State s held by Wings
who are determined enemies Scott and who than
see him elected President OF The United States would unite
on this occasion with the Democracy and give their vote
for Pierce aud King"
The Union thus ulludes similar dlscedable exhibit
ton Ia Washington city Friday night when news OF The
death OF MIR. Webster was hourly looked for:
HENRY CLAY AND DANIEL WEBSTER.-GRATI-
tube AND DECENCY.
II the nomination of Gen. Scott has been remarkable Tor
is utter disregard Of everything like the principles hereto
fore pofessed by the WING party the campaign OF MS par
sans since the Wing National Convention assembled and
adjourned has significant for the in which the
old whg leaders have been s,npled under loot While
Henry Clay his dying bed The sanR who ceeba
ted nomination of Sco'tihe man who defeated Clays
nomination in 1910 and in lS4s-hc only two occasions
when he could possibly have been eecied--nade the Gay
and the night hideous with their baccanaIan shouts aud
relocines. On Friday evening we had another demon
ntraon similar in its character. During the whole ot Tue
day the intelligence of the death OF Daniel
whig who had distinguished himself by his lifelong deVo
ton wing prncipes-was hourly expected II was SO
generally anticipated that could be ignorant OF it,
Gen. Scott had reached in the morning from his cleo
pioneering tour and could readily have arrested uny political
demonstration. But the Scott wings had their own way
They celebrated arrival Of Gen. Scott with double unc
tion-hst his sake aud next because ihey sup
posed an "obs,ace" had been removed his
When il is remembered how loudly and how bitterly they
had abused Webster for refusing 10 withdraw his name from
the list of candidates for President and resoiuely he
had refused fall down and worship tho candidate OF his
bur described To late hour they kept their orgies
They intoxicated with the hope that the idea OF Web
sers death opened them, and they ejoiced with
zeal what they regarded providence 10 their
cause So much for wing devotion upon whom
they bestowed many of the most enthusiastic
fessions Of admiration and OF gratitude