The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-01-17
SPIRIT OFTHE PRESS.

across the continent :" viz: Southern Pacific
Railroad, Central Pacific Railroad, and Nor
thern Pacific Railroad and the public lands are to
be the building fund. The Examiner pronounces
the bills monster. |, ssys that the public mind wal
greatly excited fifteen months ago. about Pacific
Railroad; and the Cabinet were understood to be
In its favor to a man. 1t says:
The Presidents Annual Message of 1853 contain
ed clauses evidently favorable to such measure,
ana every message since has left q loop hole in his
doctrines OF strict construction through which the
bd9dteHe OF Pacific Railroad might pass much
easier than camel through the eye of needle.
The Examiner goes on to say that the subj ject was
dropped for time to make way for the Nebraska
Bill. But the monster in the meantime has
emily been alternating, lying stiff and low, until the
season to warm 1t into life, which has now come
The Examiner predicts many somersets-says we
shall see men who have spent their lives in resist
ing Internal improvements by the Federal Govern
ment, strenuously advocating Senator Douglass
Bill" and thus describes the plan for carrying mea
sures in violation of the Constitution
''The new and approved mode of avoiding con-
stitutonal objections now in vogue is to make pub.
lie measures so stupendous and vershadowing in
their proportions, comprehensive and prolific in
the means OF corruption, so outrageously vioative
vi CUHslIuLlOu6l llUudtlOn ana TeetflCt1OQ, as TO
defy opposition-sn rascally corrupting as to buy
up the majority of all palies
The Examiner incidentally makes a cut at Mr.
Hunters Land Bill, which it considers to have ex-
ceeded in enormity the Triple Railroad Bill of MIR.
Douglss which it asserts only applies the princi-
Piles evolved in Mr. Hunters Bill
The Examiner speaks of the united opposition OF
the Virginia Democratic press and the Virginia Dem
road, on former occasion; but spprehends that
that undivided front will not be presented against it
now. 1t even anticipates that those who raise their
voices against it will be denounced for disturbing
the harmony of the party and as traitors to it.
Many who formerly opposed it will now find vast
merit in the scheme and they will be regarded as
orthodox and rejoice in the sunshine of official
favor" while those opposing it will be honored
with the epithets of mischief makers and traitors
The Examiner fears that the candidates of the
party will not dare to open their lips about this
moussrous proposition; but will go in chase OF
know Nothingsm, giving that wretched affair,
insignihcant in its essence and inception, conse
quence, notoriety and dignity sufficient to build it
up into a very formidable and dangerous power in
the State, and make it the chief Bug-a-boo of States
Rights politicians" The Examiner concludes:
Democracy will then have but one idea left. and
that will be opposition to organization that would
die out in ten days If the Democratic press would
cease to make it the DELENsA EST CARTHAGE OF
their fefocious fluctuations. Meantime, Pacific
Railroad, Homestead and omnibus plunder bills
will be allowed free course in Congress Unmo-
Tested and unnotced, they will grow in strength
and might and soon defy all the virtue and
energy that shall be left in the Democratic
party after its exhausting chase of the Know
Nothing Bug aboo."
The Enquirer notices the proceedings of the
Spanish Cortes with regard to the sale of Cuba to
this country, and comes to the conclusion that as
there is no necessity demanding the immediate
acquisition of Cuba, and precipitation may bring
about war, our government had better pause and
"await a more propitious season." 1t says "we
havehad morethan enough ofclamor and agitation
about the acquisition of Cuba but it ia not 30 certain
that the conservative sentiment of the country has
yet been pronounced"
The Enquirer has an article on "Political Intole.
rance" quoting prominently from the Virginia Bill
of Rights the passages: 81" is the mutual duty of all
to practice Christian orbearance love and charity
towards each other," and ''that no man or set OF
men ere entitled to exclusive or seperate emolu-
ments or privileges" 1t then refers to the charge
our ancestors brought against George the Third
thathe endeavored to prevent the population ofthe
country, and for that purpose obstructed the laws
for the naturalization of foreigners. The Enqui
rer then says
eve are now invited to violate the spirit of our
Bill of Rights--to disregard the injunctions of our
revolutionary foreathers, and instead of evincing
forbearance charity, justice and moderation, to
practise religious bigotry and political prescription
Efforts making to introduce political despot-
ism at war with the civiliz alton, freedom and re.
finement of the age. The means used are insdious
and secret, and are as devoid of manlness and
lberaly, as the end sought to be accomplished" :"
The Enquirer proceeds to exhibit the per cent
of foreign population in this country, and make
an especial appeal to Virginia, who has only per
cent. of foreigners, while New York has 81 and
Massachusetts, 16 Whatever may be the reasons
in those northern States, they do not operate in
Virginia. whom, the Enquirer contends, never fol-
lowed their example in politics. The Enquirer
cannot believe that Vrginians will resort to secret
associations to correct existing evil prescribe
foreigners 1t believes that they will, in May pro.
claim their condemnation of Know. .Nothiugism, and
that they twill prove that they have the independ-
ence and manIiness to act for themselves and that
they still cherish the justice and moderation, the
forbearance and charity which animated the patri-
ots and sages of the Revolution"
The Enquirer, in another article on the Spirit of
the Democracy, expresses in confidence In the mass
es, and does not harken to "the growls and forebo
dings of n few sullen spirits" Itsays:
Among the masses OF the party, we discover nei
ther indifference nor disafection. They are anina
ted by the right spirit and zealousy and active
Iy organizing for the campaign.
The Enquirer In brief article on the Heralds
reporter, who is following Mr.. Wise, pronounces
him incompetent "from his egregious blunders. =
and malicious 'from his deliberate misrepresente
tions It declares that he sent to misrepresent
aud hlackguard Mr.. Wise, and has special motive
to discharge that duty which the Enquirer may die
close.
The Wig returns to the matter of the sharp at
tack of Mr.. Pryor, of the Enquirer, on Mr.. Wise,
when that gentleman was in the Convention In
1851; and pronounces Mr.. P's confession and re-
traction "Iudicrous enough" The Whig winds up
#. article with an extract from Mr.. Ps attacks
which 1t says ''has nothing to do with the White
Basis" In the extract, Mr.. w. Is charged with
having said that "rather than submit to the domi
nation of aristocrats, he would excite rebellion