Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-08-01
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER,
BY RlTCHIES l. PRYOR.
MONDAY MORNING, July ~, 1854
THE GOvERNORsIIlp-NP, WISE

IL seems that the business Of rlcc,ing Governor
Of Virginia, which justly lrl"ngs in the D,nn~rliir
party of the State, hus been transferred io Washing
tom and that the politicians nt that metropolis of iii
trisue aud corruption arranging the matter Ia sui:
themselves without regard the opinions a! feelings
tho people here. r,mur 10 this Effect has been cur
rent i'll the Stutc for some time past, hut until
read the annexed correspondence, we did moi really
believe that gentlemen in Washington were privately
setting the succession to the govcrnolshp Of Virginia
| SO early i'll advance of tho election and with
such utter contempt Of the pupular will
Nor ia this all, it seems, moreover, that the Wash
ilgton regency have undertaken to impose Tests upon
the Democracy OF Virginia, and by arbitrary dstinc
tons to exclude from the party of the highest po-
stiOn and the truest fidelity.
The high prerogative of determining the essential
principles of the party belongs exclusively 10 the Dee
mocracy in representative Convention; nor has any
man any clique authority TO SAY that this measure
or that shall constitute test of orthodoxy and ale
glance. 1t hGs ever been the policy Of the Demo-
cratic party, to exclude subordinate is>ucs and 10
incorporate into its platform only essential principles
in respect to which all ure usrccd-to tolerate the
widest latitude of individual opinion on immuleria
questions, only cxacng rigid conformity t" the
fundamental articles of creed This has been the
secret of the wonderful harmony Of the Democratic
party-tis the basis of its solid and lasting ascc-
dcncv. Nor do VIC believe the Democracy will de-
part from its traditional policy, and suffer indvi
duals, for selfish and tacous purposes, To set up
| idol of wood or stone, and command the multitude -
bow before it OH pain of cxconmuncutiUn and pro-
scrpton.
| ltis the opinion of not given Ia unnecessary
apprehension that the harmony of the Democratic
party in tho State will be seriously disturbed 10y the
norship. We do not believe it. The Convention will
adjust all disputes and compose all dsscnsons. No
man will presume TO urge his personal interests
against the interests Of the party. No man will set
himself UP against the nominee of the Convention. ef
if he does, lie will be very easily put down. Unless
eXtraneous influence cunning intrigue baiI!c the
choice of the party there is danger Of division and
defeat Wewant the pcoplcto select the chief Exeru-
tive officer of the Sate-acting from the impulse of
their own will, and consulting their opinion ot
propricty and expcdicncy. For ourselves mean
to espousc the fortune, of faction or individual,
but will await the action of n Convention, and give
to the candidate of the party cordnl and Jealous
support, whether he be from the East or The West,
and whether he be Leake, Smith, Wise, Hopkins,
Faulkne any other good and true Democrat
The following frank and manly letter from Henry
A. Wise, will defeat Washington intrigue to "knl
of" one OF tie prominent candidates for the COVER
norship.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,,
| july -, 1851.
| To tie Editor Of tie Union:
\ f,l l,.