Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-11-16
he stsu.,s. c.ur..,ls. and Know N,,blurlsu.


TIE Stssa,ss Csursailss asd Know Ns,hInglsm.
When the Norfolk County Democratic Assoca>
ton commenced catechising the "promnent Demo
Gratis who may likely become candidates for the office
Of Governor" on the subject Of Know Nothingism,
We apprehensive that il would not do for that
body or for the party to conne their intcrrosatorcs
to the Gubernaoral aspirants, and took occasion
then, in modest way to suggest the propricty of
ntcrrogating other candidates. such those for Lieut.
Governor, Attorney General, Commissioner Of the
Board Of Public Works, &C. Indeed we had sup.
posed, that from the anti>Know Nothing position n
large portion Of the Democratic party were taking it
would be indspensably necessary have the posi-
ton Of every Democratic candidate in the approach
ing spring elections, thoroughly and unquestionably
defined on this and highly important question.
We perceive that the subject Of farther questioning
the candidates. at least far embrace those for
Lieut. Governor and Attorney General is now rcquir.
ed by portion of the party, and that they call
ing for letters to that effect. The Abingdon Demos
erat OF llth contains the following
"The Democratic Association of Norfolk county some
time since addressed letters the gentlemen whose
are prominently used in connection with the Democratic
nomination for the Office Of Governor OF Virginia. inqur
ing ii they were connected with the Know Nothiugs.-
Aessrs Leake Wise aud Smith have responded thereto,
u
der. The Democratic Association Of Norfolk county, for
como cause other, ineIpcabe US. omitted to
chsc the candidates Tor the posts Of Lieutenant Governor
aud Attorney General The Office Of Lieutenant Gov ernor
Is one Of considerable importance in political point of
view, under the present Constitution that officer presirg
in one branch OF the General Assembly and exercising
vast Influence therein only BY hls decisions
cause he has the appointment Of all committees We think
srange that the candidates Tor the other offices than that
OF Governor have been neglected and the thereof
probably known to our friends in Norfolk"
The force of the above remarks, by our Demo
cratic contemporary, will be apparent every one
No one, we presume, will gainsay the proposition,
that it is necessary question the candidates Tor
Governor 1t is equally necessary question those
who are to run the ticket r Lieutenant
Governor and Attorney General, and we believe tina,
1t Is tho general opinion Of the party, that every
Democratic candidate from that Of Governor down,
should be required to make known his views on
Know NothingiSm simply by saying am or
am not a member Of the Know Nothing organization
but to go the whole figure, and say whether he
approres or disGpprores of the Order. And before
he can get the hearty support Of Of his breth-
rem, Is thought that Inc will have eternal
opposition, and to the knife, upon everything
that has a squirting towards Know Nothingisrn-
Those Of the party who have vowed that they will
never support any man for office who is tainted with
this "new hcresy." will have to demand this exposi
ton, for how are they to know that they are no,
supporting Know Nothing unless the candidate il
subjected to Il srictes catcchisng? And even then
such is the mystery in which the Order is veil,d
there may be very great danger Of getting hold OF one
o: the mysterious ones unawares. With so urgent u
necessity pressing upon our Democratic friends to en-
erciss the utmost vigilance in this matter We suppose
that they will have abundance of caution Ii has been
given forth from those holding high positions in the
party, that no man pass the Stanton Convention
without disclosing his views Know Nothlnyisn -
In this event, It would be folly for any of the many
prominent candidates, any body else go before
that Convention uncommitted this great question
There will be no lodging this issue there nor will
there be any smuggling Of non-commitial candidates
through They must speak out, or have their claims
uncercmoniousy set to side, unit hcCs for
Virginia Democratic State Convention to consider.
We are aware Of the difficulty that exists among
the aspirants in defining positions now, by correspon
dence, owing to the short time left before the asScmb-
ling of the Convention But about two weeks are
lett Tor them to so upon, and it would therefore be
unreasonable to expect all Of them to be written 10,
to answer and have their answers pub ishci by the
soth Of this month. Thy should have been written
to sooner and is their fault that their views are
not now before tie public. But as that cannot bc
rsmeded, now they can pursue another course, and
doubtless they will; that is, to deposit letters in the
hands o.! their friends, in attendance at the C,nven-
ton and empower those friends to speak for them So
that there may be no dilicu ~ in the way Of their
nomination for want Of inio nation "a To how thev
stahd on the Know Nothing question. We think we
may say to our readers that are fully warranted in
assuring them that the Stanton Convention nominees
Will be out, fairly and squarcly, on the subject of
hhow NothingisIn; as well as that Of the Hunter
Land Bill. II is confidently expected ,ha, the Mat.
form Of that Convention will go out with resolutions
pumpahd plain both of those questions and that the
nominees will plant themselves boldly and uncqmivo-
saily on that plntforn,-sink or swm,-vc or die