Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-11-20
Democrats, n..l.s-I,.l,l,s Tine.

ever timc,-such . time indeed no set Of men
experienced before. We only suggest that
IL they would meet regularly every evening during the
season. the people Of this goody city could afford to
dispense entirely with theatres concerts and menaSe-
ries We have sometime visited these latter but We
undertake to say that the attractions Of Democratic
gathering like that Of Friday night, infinitely surpass
them all in interest, and completely throw them in
the shade We charge nothing for the hintbut would
Il not DO popular idea, and ought not al! Demo-
Gratis to hasten to patronize iR What worthier Of
their ambition or their patriotism than thus to
crafty and amuse the people whom they love SO well
and arc always SO anxious to serve
The purpose Of the meeting, it is said, was to APP
point delegates to the Snunton Convention. But
Immediately after it was organized Dr. Gooch moved
the appointment Of committee to prepare business
for the action of the meeting Now, here was bomb,
which produced intense excitement and gave rise to
lengthy and acrimonious discussion. All was uproar
and confusion and the meeting appeared to DO very
near breaking up in storm. We felt alarmed our
selves and could not help rejecting what simple and
unadulterated love Of the spos might bring men to-
But Dr. Gs resolution, just and usual as it was was
resisted with the most desperate pertnacity. The
object of it, as we understood from the deba:e was
Tho old Democratic doctrnes-in other words toptch
boldly both into the Hunter land bill and into Wise
But the friends of these gentlemen, seeing the plot
that was Matching, and having we suppose, counted
also, had to martial law" and voted
down the proposition by a large majority. When
tho decision of the question announced no DELI
cacy, no chivalry, no mercy even was apparent in
the conduct Of the victors Their shouts of triumph
shook the house. and the vanquished sat SILENT sulen
and omnous Of look, but not dismayed. But what
must have been their feelngs?-to be laughed at,
crowed over, and we'll nigh insulted by their own
friends
We said they were not disInaycd-nor we're they,
~ the sequel abundanty shows They seemed to
feel they had been ridden over and their wishes dis
regarded by packed caucus, and submit they would
not So. with 4 courage that does them honor they
we'd the fight in another form. Supporting that such
suggestion could never be secuted BY assemblage
OF Democrats, they proposed TO adjourn to meet on
Friday evening next, when the whole Democracy Of
the city should be invited to together to settle
the question Of adopting platform for their guidance
~ Staunton. This proposition, too, reasonable as
WAS resisted TO the death, and rejected almost
unanimously. And, strange to say, it was voted down
b. the very men who had talked most about the in
tgue and corruption Of committees, and who had
prated oudest about the proprety OF referring every
thing t the decision Of the great body Of the Demo-
cracy 1t upon this idea that the appuin tmcnt Of
all the Democrats in Richmond to Slaunton was SO
pausiby urged Yet, the same heh who urged this,
violently opposed the proposition TO assemble in pub
meeting, the Democracy Of the whole city, so that
they might give instructions 10 their delegates how to
act in the Siaunton Convention. This take it, is
consistency and R.publicansm and fair play, with a
vengeance Will the minority in Friday nights
meeting submit to such absurdy, injustice and op.
preston without effort TO right themselves How,
from serenty-eight Democrats, brought together by
sxertion and management suspect, you as
certain the wishes and sentiments of the mass Of the
Democracy Of Richmond? Has the Spartan Band
fallen low that has the nerve and gaantry,
as in the days Of yore to Think and speak, and act
for ITSELF If So how degcnerated from the days oil
its great leader, whose talents and enthusiasm were
its life, its power, and its hope?
We have much more to say about Friday nights
meeting, for, beside being rich in incident it as
most fruitful OF suggestion. But the orators OF the
occasion claim our attention. These were many
and windy; and, in view Of the ravages Of Know
Nothingsm, and the dreary prospects Of their party
their spirits were greatly depressed. Their appre.
tensions on this score to have dsenchanted them
OF all inspirations and to be dull, prosy, drvelng
and mesmerc, was but melancholy neces ,ity Mr.
Daniel Ii. London numbered, as usual-his lungs, We
are happy to say, having suffered no perceptible
injury in the of many long years Of boste, ious
oratorca exercises lie entertained US with pleasant,
illusions to something he had or heard of ia Eng
land TO the principles OF representative government
to Southern rights, and to the resolutions of $500
The suggestion OF his, which indicated the most
originality and the most patriotism and which, in
fact, ives the most thrilling and eloquent was this
de proposed, as We understood him. that the dele
gates selected for Staunton should be brought before
the meeting, and that the question should be publicly
put TO each Of them-Do you adhere 10 and abide 6y
tie resolutions IF $500. These, he considered,
vas platform enough, and answer in the aifirma.
tive, asufhcicnt evidence Of Democratic orthodoxy
Alter this, Mr.. London retired amid great applause
out came back good many times in the course of
the evening.
we mud ourselves compelled, to,day, to curtal
our observations upon the Spartan orators We shall
rocur 10 them with emotions Of unutterable delight
hereafter. There is one, however, whom we cannot
omit from our present sketch Had he lived in the
days OF Demosthenes and Cicero his name would
have occupied the place Of theirs upon the page of
history and in tue memory Of posterty-for he COM
bnes the ercelcncies Of both without the defects of
either. Or, bad his lot been amid the stirring
times Of our own revolution, the now immortal
Henry would have lived unknown and died unla-
mented, for his mission would have been performed
by another, and his fame would, this day. be Orator
Demons. We, Of course, have not the power to
describe oil the wonderful attributes Of tins gentle-
man Is public speaker. IL we were to hazard an
opinion, however, VIC should say that his merits
consist principally in originality intensity Of passion
appropriateness OF posture, graceuncss Of gesture
anda thorough comprehension and appreciation of
the beauties anil strong points OF his mother tongue
During his late GRAFTON, he exhibited these traits in
. singulary striking anu Impressive manner. We
can nevsr forget with what awful vehcnenco and
power hc detoUustd The iwo.ibird rule "as most
bastard and most odous iule'-a rule which
'smsck'd al monarchy" snd turned up jack. Nor
can We fail 10 remember with aching Sides how terri