Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-08
From the New York Times, Dec. 4.
The Virginia Democracy.

A rumor by telegraph is that after hard fight
In the State Democratic Convention at Staunton,
Henry A. Wise has been nominated for governor
The election Is in April next but ifthis nomination
has really been made, the result is sure now as
then. 1t win not be hard TO say who is not gov
enor before the votes are counted. There will be
no Clarke and Seymour polling; no plurality or
majority counting by hundreds only. Mr.. Wise is
doomed TO defeat, and the "rock-rbbedr Democ-
racy Of the Old Dominion, which withstood the
Wing storms Of 1910 and 1S4s, 10 fearful wreck.
He is the Jonah of any ship Of party that he sails
with, and without half the original Jonah's good
nature.
The day was an uhlucky one, we well remem-
Der, when he joined the Wings against General
jackson and Mr.. Van Buren, Fiery, wilful, and
impracticablo, he could never be led TO reasonable
party action, and never had the Judgment to lead
others with any degree Of safety. He had bitter
tongue, as well as mischievous temper; and his
philippics, which were occasionally powerful lost
half their force by the venom Of his personalities
He was savage, even 10 personal affront upon Mr..
Polk, In 1855, while Mr.. p. was Speaker of the
House Of Representatives, and this only created
sympathy for that gentleman among his constitu-
ents in Tennessee. And he finally ruined the cause
which he espoused after IL had triumphed without
aid from his own State, by prompting the deserton
Of John Tyler, on the death of General Harrison.
This was done from sheer personal disappoint-
ment and sudden hatred to Mr.. Clay, who was
supposed 10 have preferred Kentucky colleague
for Speaker Of the House. to the Virginia aspirant
OF course, the transition from Tylerism 10 the Dem
ocratc party again was an easy one. But he has
brought no good 10 their cause since. He received
a rich Office abroad from Mr.. Tyler; he was per
mittcd to retain IL by Mr.. Polk, and now secks the
first honor Of his State, after having, by his abuse
Of the Know-Nothings, put himself in position for
inglorious defeat
II Is quite evident from what we have seen in
the Richmond Democratic papers, and heard from
the Staunton convention, that he has not won his
nomination without severe struggle on the part
Of his friends. Perhaps not without his usual
threats OF vengeance in case another should be
preferred There Is method in much Of his mad
meas, but method Of entire and absorbing selfish
ness. He has too much sense not to know that
the new element which has entered into the poll
tics Of the country, and which Is everywhere I'M
derstood TO be rife and eminently popular In Vir-
gnia, win overwhelm his nomination. But he car
ries down the Democratic cause with H. He has
forced the party to recognise his caims and in this
He win compel them, too, TO adopt as their own
his indscreet course against the American party,
in order to vindicate his nomination before the
rank and file Of the Democracy. The Wings of
the State win pursue the opposite and more con-
ciliatory policy. They win either take up man
like Mr. Summers or Mr. Rives, not obnoxious TO
the Known othngs, or tacitly concur in the nomi-
nation made by the new party. The result, we re-
peat, cannot be doubtful, Gar Mr. Wise Is con-
cerned.