Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-12-29
ALE w1slas APPOINTMENTS.
RI,pTURE OF THE ALLIANCE.

,pus. assume the coincidence of two condltlons, caci
q, which is 10 our judgment IN iinpossihility. 1t
essential, in the frs; place, that the elements OF oppo
s;,iop TO the Democratic ticket, be adequate Il
its defeat; but they may exist in sufficient force an'
vet no, be available aud effective, unless "rsanizedi II
u successful resistance.
The Democracy Of Virginia have sustained many
severe shocks, and have always emerged from the
struggle with triumphant energy. They have oecl
sncompassed bv foes Of every description, have been
reut By schism aud exhausted by detection; have
been exposed 10 the fires Of an adversary confident
nj success, and have witnessed the desertiou OF friends
opprehensivc Of defent, but, under every combination
nj misfortune, they have maintained their sscendan-
cv, and, by the consistency of their devotion and their
nnsbakeu courage, have won the distinction Of irwin
c;bili,v. Ii the present crisis has It's ,rouhlcs and its
dangers, they were not unknown III the past; and II
thew be met now with characteristic hrmncss and
fidelity, they may be asaiu overcome. The Democrat
il purity OF Virginia has lost nothing of its ancient
power, and is fully competent to contend against every
combination OF adverse forces. II oil the elements OF
opposition were thoroughly aroused and perfectly
united, no apprehension OF defeat would disturb our
confidence in q glorious lssuo Of the campaign.
i, is perfectly apparent. however, that IN effective
organization Of the elements of opposition to the
Democratic ticket cannot be consummated. An
irreconcilable anita sonisn Of feeling and interest Is
already developed in the ranks Of the enemy. The
Wings aud the Know Mornings are competing for the
posts Of honor and quarrclinG over the spcils ofnntici-
pared conquest. Each pcrceivcs the necessity of the
others support, and both rccoil i'll disgust from the
meditated alliance.
NIL L - I.- 800 .r,li,.-,a nf tha,r nnrsy md
Of me eminent names which illustrate It's history
sincerely attached to the principles of their faith, and
invincibly exclusive in their tastes and associations,
the Wings Of Virginia shrink with honest repuSuance
from the corrupt embrace Of kuow-Notblngism The
mere proposal of alliance ~provokes from them cner-
getic ex pression Of contempt and Indignation. Such
is the resentment of hau ,hty %dowacers when the nu-
titled par,snu courts q connexion with their name and
race. The Wings Of Virginia are ambitious OF pow
er; and they might "stoop to conquer" bu,
all the instincts of pride and every sentiment
Of self-rcspec, .evol, against m alliance with
Know-Nothinsism. Shall they with all their recol'
lections OF ancestral renown, and all their professions
10 arlstocrGtic association, voluntarily descend from
their high position, aud assume the livery ot n suS-
pected and degraded iaction-of IL faction which
skulks in darkness and crceps away with telon step
from the gaze OF men! The Wings of Virginia have
many faults, but their very fnults are Il pledge against
any such debasing connexions. Pride of talent, the
instincts Of exclusive association, and an obstinate
adherence to principles OF policy, will prompt
them TO reject with scorn any pro1er of alll-
ance with Know othin-ism. They will consent TO
lose all but the peculiar honor which they CHERISH
They will at least preserve their name II d'ncr ih'ei'
lec,ual and social distinction.
From a different impulse. but with DO less energy
the Know.Notbiugs protest against a fusion with The
Wings. No s~ensibillty of reproach, no repuSn"ncc
TO an unworthy association, no scruple OF honor' no ut
tachuent to principle, Restraints them from the all,
ance. These are sentiments of which they have no
conception. They are actuatcd by a gross and pal
pablo motive, which appeals to some appetite OIL
sense. If there be community Of effort, there must
be division of spoils, but the know-NothinEs want to
enrross all the political power in the State. They
shuu an alliance which subjects them to the reproach
and disabilities Of inferior talent, and which exposes
their own infamy in the burning light OF contrastcd
respec,ability. Besides, they regard the Wing parity
with the contempt which weakness is apt to excite III
ignoble natures. They consider that by alliance with
the Wings, they as.a,Ine the burden OF Il body with
out vitality. Intoxicated by their recent successes,
they fancy themselves strong enough to carry the
citadel of Democracy, without support, and they
spurn tbs idea of a league with the Wings.
Ti.esc feelings of reciprocal hatred aud contempt
WILL soon break out into open rupture between the
Wings and kuow-Nol!,inss in Virginia. Indeed
there has already been a mutual manifestation OF hoe
tili,y, which frowns Overwhelmingly under n thin veil OF
decent reserve. Hearken to the Washington "Orgun'
OF the Virginia Know-Nothings:
"OvR PARTY Is EIRGINI,-We arc dally asked
Whist course our party will adopt in tho coming con-
res, in I'D. Did Dominion. We must answer, accord
inr TO the information given W. in the premises.
From all our numerous correspondence III ina
State. we receive the same glad tidinSs, that they IN
tend TO nominate and support II ticket composed sole
IN of members OF our party, leaving those outside o
the organization To support such candidates As ihci
Judgment directs. What other course could our par
~ safely pursue. Tho administration party nave Sc
lected as their candidates those who openly oppose
our doctrines.
.Must not our friends meet the issues rendered
them Ii NAV be answered that the Wing purity vii
probably select candidates moro acceptable to ou'
friends. But would il not be fatal To our ultimate sic
cess, il We were to adop, the Wing nominations -
Utterly and irretrievably fatal, in our Judgment. =!
our party should permit the Wings (" select cnndl
dates for them, It would he n direct admission OF TN
Charre, so often repeated, and 80 utterly untrue, tina
the .tn,cncan party IL the Wing party in disguise.
awe cordially agree with our friends III Virginia
N IMPRESSED lHt lhl llet y" lliN' l'l' l'EN.Nh
nominations. Any other course would be suicidal
obviously So
To :hie defiance the Wig responds with ill-dis
Cuised Indignation. Commenting on the paragraph
from the Organ, our ueishbor speaks its mind will
blunt honesty:
We take the above from the American Organ pub
lshed in Washington. VS. are sorry ia SEQ that pa
per thus bantcrinc tho Wing pnriy OF Virginia. A
i party, long anl severely tried. ever true 10 the con
.,.If.p npr Nn-tlfuflpns n Tho country. devoted II
:ae Union, and hrm III thctr maintenance ut the rI1ht
.ad sovereignty Of the StG,cs-ihe Wings OF Virginia
nave never taltered. They have as n party, "ip"se'
oIscutivo cncroschIncnts- resisted the one man pow
,:-and advocated all the rapid aud sura develop
men,s of all the industrial pursuits. They have uni
tormly battlcd for home interests, II. opposed to 10
reign influence. On principle, they have been practi
ca.iy the imSr;caa party.
ln view oi the past history of the Wing party, thei
steady adherence 10 every true American Interest, W
regard the suggestions OF tho american Organ as nv
ouIy iuoporiune but suicidal. That paper adults th
fact that toe administration party are out aud GU, ol
posed 20 the 'party' II ASSUMES 10 represent. WIS
iaa, party" is. which the American purForts TO rI
resent, We arc not advised. We presume, howeve
it is the know-Nothing party. Ii this be So, al! "
have 10 say is, that We have no utilization Or cnncol
with this party. We have not n,olcs,eI them, or u
sailed them. In mauy things We agree with them
in others We widely differ from them.
We have no means of knowing their strength now, G
what it will be in the spring. But this We do know, I'm
will plainly speak out, that if this party expects to al
.orb the Srcut Viii; party, and 10 conirol lis will an
shape its action, il will find that the experiment will !
If hazardous asit will certainly be unsatisfactory. W
suggest to tho American Organ that q mider an
more conciliatory course, y a speaks By dnthor,t!
will bes, suit The spirit Of the times.
Repealed each from the other by feelings Of jea
ousv aod hatred, the Wigs and Know Ncthings
Vir .inia, are projecting su independent plum OF op
ratioas, and preparing to brios separate candida,
int, the field. The former, with a just recogu
tion OF the claims Of talent and party servic
will nominate so:ne Wing Of conspicuous reputa,ic