The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-12-08
RICHM 0ED. vE
FRIDAY MORNING DECEmaER a "a
SPIRIT OFTHE PRESS.


FRIDAY MORNING. DECEMBER .. 1854.
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
The Enquirer expresses its perfect satisfaction
with the action of the Staunfon Convertion-not
the least pleasing incident Of which, Il says, was
the tribute of applause TO the fidelity and ability
with which the affairs Of the Federal Government
are administered by the present Executive. There
is much In the Whig press about the bad feeling
that was exhibited In the Convention; but the
writer In the Enquirer nothing in the struggle
Defween the friends Of competing aspirants for the
nominations, which should fatter the hopes of the
adversary. These contests often occur In demo-
cratic conventions, and never TO the detrment of
theparty. Beaten in fair and honorable struggle,
the minority, true democrats, have no alternative
but to abide by the will of the party and to labor
zealousiy for Its success. The Enquirer has no
disrust OF Mr.. Lcake or his friends. He win buckle
on his armor and rush into the fight with the devo
ted zeal and impetuous daring of knight, whose
loyalty is unquestioned and whose prowess il
unequalled. In 1851, Mr.. Wise was beaten for the
nomination of the Staunton Convention of that
day, and he did not relapse into inactivity or inif
ference. He threw himself into the struggle and
contribsed his splendid ecquence to the election of
Johnson Leake and Bocock In another article,
the Enquirer gives an account of the Democratic
meeting at the African church on Tuesday night
and gowingly describes the efforts of the speeches
on that occasion.
The Whig thinks that the Democratic ratification
meeting presented sad commentary upon the
spirit and enthusiasm that characterized their ga
therings in times gone by, and was sorrowfully
ominous of their speedy decline and fall" In the
speeches, the cause of Democracy, the credit of
the State internal improvements States rights the
rights OF the South, &c, were touched upon, In
the usual style of Democratic orators only rather
more brie1y-their attention being absorbed on
taat OCCASION to marked extent, with "another
subject. Know Nothingism appeared to haunt the
imaginations of every speaker. They scorned the
idea OF the unterriied Democracy of-Virginia
being frightened by this Know Nothing humbug
yet, all the while they showed, by the importance
they attached to the Know Nothing question, that
they were considerably terrified and had an awful
dread of Its effects upon the approaching elections
1t is calculated, Gays the Whig, that the meeting
made several hundred Know Nothings on the spot,
and how many more such Democratic exhibitions
will manufacture, God only knows As to the
merit of the speeches, the writer regards Mr.
Wise's effort as failure, and wholly unworthy Of
what Henry A. Wise once was. Not much was
expected from the rest OF the candidates and hence
nobody was disappointed.
The Penny Post aludes in terms of praise to the
Internal Improvement speech of General Gordon
at the Democratic ratification meeting on Tuesday
night The words of wisdom from one of Virgi.
MAS oldest and most practical sons should not
(says the writer) be allowed to tall UNDECIDED upon
the popular ear. Amid the din of politics with
which we are now about to be inflicted, let us not
forget that we owe a duty to the of internai
Improvement, which caLnot be neglected with
safety.
Ii was the general sentiment of the recent meet
ing of Dentists in New York that women and ner-
vous men are often subject to erroneous impress
sons while under the influence of ether. Two
cases were mentioned, In each of which young
woman believed that the operator had kissed her,
and all his arguments and those of others who
were present, uid not convince her to the con
trary One woman thought that the operator had
slapped her face. little boy, who took chloro-
form during the reduction of luxation of the hip,
thought his father had thrown him into the Goa
hole, and the rats were gnawing his hip. Many
other interesting cases. which had occurred in the
practice of those present, were mentioned.
Dr. Leonard Henley, of Philadelphia, has sent.
through John Tyler. jr., challenge to Townsend
Smith, of that city, to fight duel. The latter,
however, like a sensible man, has taken no notice
of the matter. The doctor, it appears, was last
spring dismissed from the Lunatic Department Of
the Almshouse, and subsequently, 1t is said, he had
one or two personal altercations with Mr. Smith.
Hence the present difficulty.
The Empress Eugenie, of France, declares that
no state balls shall take place. and no unnecessary
expenses shall be incurred by the Emperors house.
hold, until the taking Of Sebastopol is IN fat
accomph.
John L. Norris has been convicted OF murder In
the second degree, in St. Mary's county, Md, for
killing his slave and sentenced to the penitentiary
for years and months.
BANK Irxms.--The bills on the Brunswick, Me-.
Bsnk, are discredited in New York.
There is a considerable run on the New York
Central Bank, which 1t 10 thought will break
On Saturday afternoon George Farland aud Dr.
Hoffman professors of the mesmeric art, called at
at house in Arch street, Philadelphia, for the pur
nose of experimenting. Amanda, a girl boarding at
the house. had previously been put in a mesmeric
came the subject upon this occasion. Farland put
her to sleep, and then requested DR.. Holman to
add his magnetic Influence, which he did by pres
sing her hand and blowing 10 her ear. Being salts.
led with their test, they tried to awake the GIRL but
10 their astonishment they found this impossible
She laid like dead person for eight hours and 10
the meantime the police being. informed OF the