The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-12-06
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.

lha WhiS has . leader upon the ssaunton Con-
se1''on To draw faithful picture ofthe occur
=, ICES and exciting scenes Of that body, at this
'imc and under existing circumstanccs Il says
"ouid De q fruitess Of good a. it would be prolx
ana uninteresng. The writer feels rather inclined
- turn, in sorrow, from contemplation Of the
"ho acknowledgement contest-individual
l'va'ries-stormy debates and reckless party des-
pela'ion, which at every stage and on every sub.
Jecs sl the deliberations characterized this colec-
on OF politicians-and consider the grave responsi
oiliiies and solemn duties which now deyolve ON
.ne "hig party. The writer claims that in past
.nes' when the wild misrule Of party desperation
nsu wen nigh precpitated the country on ruinous
.ns o. policy, the Wing party have been uniformly
conservative The Wings of Virginia, true to the
consultation. deeply devoted 10 the chartered
noertes of the people, and fearless Of defeat. have
'ime and again rallied under the banner Of consti
'as'onai liberty, when Il was endangered by the
| reckless asssnim off factious party revolusou.--
iney are still united and consistent in uriuciple
ast they are resolute in duty The HHig contends
tnat the Democrats are divided upon essential and
cardinal principles; and asks how can the debates
| the Issues involved and smothered over in the
Staunton Convention, be reconcileda The writer
cannot see how the Enquirer and Examiner, and
others OF the democratic press of Virginia. can har.
| monize on the results of that Convention. Nor il
the difficulty less perplexing between the Hunter
Bill men and their opponents; between the Nebraska
Bill men, and Mr.. Wise. In conclusion, the Wings
are urged to await quietly the developments of the
next few weeks. As events open up and practical
L
the spirit OF true conservatism, and "wh the dis
tinct view Ct sustaining the great leading features
of that line fpolicy which has hitherto characte-
| rzed the Whig party-based on the constitutional
and chartered rights of the people-the integrity of
the Union and the rapid advancement OF Virginia
interests and the sure guarantee of Virginia nsti
tutions."
The Examiner commences with tribute to the
exalted worth of Shelton F. I.eake, who, though he
failed to receive the nomination at Staunton Is by
no means defeated. He won the victory without
the spoils No public man ever received 90 homo
rable so enthusiastic or 30 catering support as
was given to him in the Convention. In numerical
strength, there was clear majority Of seventy-fve
in his favor. But the dead proxy vote was largely
against him. and was the instrument of his discom.
testimonials with which the most ambitious might
be satistied-of which the most distinguished and
| exalted might be proud, which place Mr.. Leakes
| reputation far above all personal reproach, and
which ensure for his claims upon the Democracy
Of this Commonwealth the most distinguished con-
sderaton in all the future years of his life. The
Examiner proceeds to condemn the resort to party
machinery In opposition to such overwhelming
popular demonstrations as were exhibited in this
Convention If resorted to in the future, the De.
mocracy of Virginia will be inevitably rent into az
many fragments as the Democracy of New York.
The actual majority of the Convention, however,
acquiesce in its nomination. They will support the
ticket which 1t recommended efficiently and indus
triously. In Mr.. Wise, Qhe writer continues) the
Convention has recommended an able man. an
honorable gentleman and true Southerner.-
Old party measures are things of the past The
Democracy have carried all the measures they
have ever advocated, in the popular elections;
and stamped them all upon the policy of the Re-
public. They can now afford to forget and forgive
in everything that relates the contests of the past
The great matter now is the preservation of Scu-
thern interests and rights. The opposition to Mr.
Wise in the Convention was not personal to him
self. The motive of opposition generally grew out
of the manner in which his claims had been urged,
and the means by which they were sought to be
secured. They thought, indeed, that his claims
were inferior to those of other men, and that his
past career would subject the party to all the dis
advantages in the canvass which have been re-
peatedy mentioned; but these objections only
came in as auxiliary and secondary TO the prime
cause of opposition-that which they felt to the
manner In which his nomination had been secured
The Examiner has another long editorial upon the
Convention which we have not space to notice.
The Enquirer has a real old fashioned rallying
appeal to the democratic party, to support the
minees of the Staunton Convention.
The Penny Post devotes leader to the hard
times-speculates upon the causes that produced
them, and concludes that 1t absolutely necessary
that we should have storm now and then to
purify the financial atmosphere, as the natural or
the political 1t will all come right in the end
s'Things is working
FnE.-The Eagle Hotel, owned by Mrs Spencer,
in Hockingport, Ohio was destroyed by fire recent
". No insurance.