Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-12-20
THE VIRGINIA. ELnoTIoNs.


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THE VIRGINIA INJECTIONS. taf
The State of Virginia is regarded at this
time with great interest by all parties. In a
few months elections for State officers and
members Of Congress will be held, and more
than ordinary preparations are now being made
for the opening canvass. The ancient renown
of that venerable commonwealth, her undevi-
ating consistency, and her political influence,
attract to her a large share of public attention.
Thoroughly and consistently Democratic, as
she has ever been, the Democrats are naturally
solicitous that she should maintain that charac-
ter. When other States have faltered and
fallen, she has been true and unfinching, and
hence it would be a signal triumph for the OPP
position, Il they could gain her. To that tri-
umph they proudly and ambitiously aspires
Already they begin to boast. Months in adj
vance of the election, here in Washington, they
begin to claim the victory. They have rolls
lists, and records. In imagination they have
elected their governor and stricken down seve-
raj Democratic members of Congress. They
give the figures with great precision, and boldly
aver, that all arrangements to secure their sue
cess have been completely contaminated. e Il
IT is meet that the free citizens of Virginia
should know that grand councils have grayely
assembled to decide forwhom they shallvote, and
that instructions have been issued which they
are imperiously required to obey. The time was,
when they owed allegiance to their State. That
time has passed. The time was, when they
announced their opinions and their purposes in
the open streets and in the public, highways.
That time, too, has passed. Those mysterious
men who sprung up, from the cutters of New
York and commenced their remarkable career
by carrying city elections, have swept with a
success almost unparalleled the abolitionized
State Of Massachusetts,, where Democrats were
odious and even Free Soil Wings were wanting
in rankness--these mysterious men have taken
the good old State of Virginia under their es-
pecial guardianship. In the secret lodges-at
the midnight conclaves, in Boston, and in New
York; in Chicago and Syracuse, they pray and
they weep over the proud old commonwealth.
They have vowed to win her, and no effort win
be spared TO execute that VOW. We are told
that here in Washington plans have been con-
summated by which the fate of Democracy in
Virginia is sealed OF course we attach no
Importance to the information. Il is but the
boast that is designed to discourage Democrats
and encourage the opposition. $
The opposition What is its 1t is not that
old and respectable and avowed Wing OPP
position that we were wont TO encounter, with
Bank, Tariff, and Distribution inscribed on its
banners. 1t is not that opposition that Clay
led, and Webster battled for. 1t is fusion,
an amalgamation of isms. For the first time
fusion is proposed in Virginia. For the first
time an ism has dared to rear its crest in that
ancient Dominion. r
Those who join this opposition will not do as
our opponents of the olden time were accus-
toned to do. They will not stand up and de-
clare their sentiments like Freemen. When
these men meet in the open streets and the
public highways, they will give mysterious sig
nals-that none but the initiated can under
stand. They dare not talk out like honest men.
Has the Old Dominion fallen so low that her
sons are afraid TO proclaim their sentiments ?
Are those who were wont to interchange their
opinions on public affairs, when they met at
Court Greens, at country stores, or at cross
roads, struck dumb by secret and despotic
association that had its originin distant State,
with different institutions2 We devoutly pray
that no such degeneracy will curse that good
old State, whose greatest fault has been that
she tered her sentiments too boldly.
Yet, it cannot be denied that the opposition
to Democracy, in Virginia, has resolved itsel
into this mysterious organization. Most Of
those who we're Wings, are Wings no longer
Without pretending TO be convinced OF the un
soundness Of their principles, they have re
nounced those principles and gone over TO q
party that processes its willingness 10 support
either Bank or an anti Bank, Tariff, or ar
anti-TariA, Distribution, or an anti Distribu
ton man. Indeed, although nearly the Who'll,
of those who belong to this opposition to the
Democracy of Virginia are Wings, they de
clare, privately and publicly, that they would
rather support Democratic than Wing candi
dates. Two contradictions are involved in thi,
declaration. First, that, beings Wings, they
should prefer Democrats; and secondly, that
preferring Democrats, they should oppose tn,
regular Democratic nominees. This contra
diction, or rather these contradictions, are ex
planned in this way: They want TO get dsap
pointed and disafected Democrats TO rur
against the regular nominees, in order to re
lieve themselves Of the odium Of being a VIII,
organization, and in order to entice Democrat
into that organization.
But we are happy TO say that the better sor
of Whigs--those who scorn impure alliances
those who love open honesty and manly indie
pendence, and who viii not agree to be con
trolled by secret society that sprang up out
side of Virginia and in an anti-slavery State
mill ~ ~ Al.