The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-01-20
SPIRIT oFTHE PRESS.

Inc enquirer, In ifs leader gives an lliustration
ofKnow Nothingism, which Git says) conveys per.
fecty accurate Idea OF Its spirits and essential na-
.ure. Mr.. D l.. Smith, representative cfthe county
of Allegheny, In the Pennsylvania Legislature, and
said to be Know Nothing, lately proposed the in
actmept OF a law ''to confer upon colored persons
the right of citizenship" This the Enquirer says Ia
Know Nothingism in full flower. It 10 Know Moth.
ingsm In an intellectual we'll as political sense.
Could any body casks the writer) but genuine
Know Nothing be stupid as to attempt to confer
the right of suffrage by ordinary act of the Le
gislaturei Z The Enquirer then ailudes to the pro-
position illustrative of the political spirit and
tendency of Know Nothingsm
The chief aim of Know Nothineism Ia to disfran-
ehise the foreign born population of the country for
the alleged reason that they are morally and intel
iec,uaiiy uaht tor the enjoyment OF the rights and
| privileges offreemen. But, at the same time Know
| Nothingism proposes to elevate the Negro to the
| dignity from which it would degrade the white
| man! Know nottingham proscribes the foreigner.
and clothes the free negro with all the rights and
| proud distinctions of citizenship This Is Know
] Nothing philanthropy This is the craftsmanship
| which aspires to govern the good old Common
| wealth of Virginia.
The Whig commences Its leader by some refecs
tions upon the change that has been wrought in the
| minds of Virginia Democrats in relation to the
| character and administration of Andrew Jackson.
Time was, ii says, when Gen. Jackson and his ad.
Illustration were extoed to the skies; and when
devotion to the one and support of the other were
considered the only true and infallible tests of ge
nuine Democracy. Now, Judging by the tone and
| even the undisgulsed declarations of portion of
the Democratic press, the is far different. The
| Whig Is prompted to these reflections by ga most
curious and singular article In the Norfolk Argus
which seems to claim support for Mr. Wise upon
| the distinct ground that he evinced uncommon sa-
gaciiy, courage and patriotism in the fierce and vi
olent opposition he waged against the administra-
tions of Jackson and Van Buren," VIII the DEM
ocratic masses of the Old Dominion (says the
| Whlg) by approving the nomination of Wise and
endorsing The arguments urged In his support put
the seal Of their reproach and condemnation upon
the character and administration of the great foun
der and apostle of their fath2 The writer will not
believe Ii, until the voice of the Virginia Democra.
cy themselves shall proclaim the utter hollowness
OF all their past professions their ingratitude
| their own profigacy, and their own shame-at The
| polls.
| The Penny Post publishes letter from Robert
| B Randolph, dated Washington January s. 1855,
relative 10 the attack lately made his character
in Hsrper's Magazine. The Post introduces this
letter by some remarks upon the injustice that has
| has been done Mr. Randolph, and denies that he
| ever touched one cent of that money which he is
charged with having appropriated. In his letter,
| Mr. R. explains this matter. Amos Kendall having
| made him out debtor to the United States for
| $4,000, he called for court of enquiry, and was
honorably acquitted of any intention to defraud
the government. He had, they said, received more
money than he wes legally entitled to, but of this
Mr.. K. was not conscious, the business having been
conducted by an agent whom he had employed
and the fraud on the crew was done by this agent,
without his authority and without his knowledge
President Jackson (says Mr.. in his letter order.
| ing my dismissal, charges with defrauding the
widow and her orphans-with cheating the govern.
| ment, and pronounces me unfit associate for the
chivalrous and honorable men who adorn tn Navy.
This TRADE of abuse uttered in the face of the
decision oil the court of enquiry, acquitting me of
any Intentional frauds, or dishonorablc act, and
| is an imputatiou on them. Mr.. r. concludes his
| letter as follows:
sought aD interview with the President for the
| purpose OF explaining my conduct and remonstra-
| ting against the injustice done to me | addressed
him respectfully he repelled me Indignantly, and
| pulled his nose. As proof that the President did
| not consider me as ''cowardly ruffian,'' he re-
quested Lieutenant Watson, OF the Navy to tell me,
| that il would apologize for the indignty which
| had inflicted on him, he would reirstste me- re-
| quested Lieutenant Watson to tell him, that il he
| would withdraw the insulting words used by him
in his letter, ordering my dismissal | would
promptly apologize to him. He declined, aud /
have been imprisoned, and, for twenty years. pro-
| secuted at law, for debt which do not owe. l
deeply regret the insult which offered to the Pre-
sident ofhe United States, but not to Andrew Jack
| u ofoa.I od
| pulse OF the moment. The punishment which I
have suffered for that imprudent act is sufficient to
| glut the vengeance OF my most deadly Toe. Let
my calumuiators refer to the naval battles fought
In the war of 1879, and see how did my duty; then
let them my wife and children, toiing hard all
OF us, for food and rament, and say, if they can,
that do not merit some public employment. Train.
ed in the naval service of my country, illegally and
insultingy dismissed, have no means tor support,
| and cannot obtain, even, clerkship. When ap.
ply, there s no vacancy when there is vacancy,
| it is filed by another The President was con-
scious of his outrage on my character, but would
not retract. could not apologize, until he did re-
tract. could not degrade myself
The Examiner devotes an editorial to some com
ments of its Whig contemporaries upon Mr.. Wise's
position the Nebraska bill and the Land question
| While the Examiner objects to the coalition at
| Staunton between the friends of Mr.. Wise and
those of Mr.. Hunter, 1t exculpates Mr. Wise from
| any III tue hCtlUu Vi tHOse WIZ Cou-
| trved his nomination 1t believes that Mr. Wise
will express himself, in good season, upon the real
| and great issues of this campaign-namely, the
! Nebraska, Kansas and Hunter Land bills-and it
| will not intimate a dstrust of him on these ques-
| tions by propoundng inquisitive interrogatories
about them. The Examiner proceeds, at consid-
cradle length, and keeps constantly In view the NE
cessty of the Democracy taking bold stand in
defence of the great Democratic principles that
are in such imminent peril at Washington. 1t is
"not willing to make the present campaign in Vir-
ginia upon the contemplate one-idea Of Anti-Know
Nothingism, when the very existence of the Dem.
ocratic creed Is threatened" The writer tells the
Democracy how to defeat the Know Nothings.-
Rally the party to the old principles of the party.
That, ard that only, will put their cause beyond
the contingency of defeat We copy the conclusion
of the Examiners article:
We know that we are right in what we have
said, and we know that all but venal politicians OF
the party will agree to what we have said We
implore the Democratic party and It's candidates