The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-05-30
"THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN

"THE END OF THE CAMPAIGN"
Under this head, the Petersburg Intelli
gencer, an ardent advocate of the Know
Nothing cause, speaks as follows:
Well, the campaign Is ended, and we find our
self amongst the decidedly licked. To deny that
we are not only mortified but sadly disappointed
would be to do ourselt injustice, for we did not
look upon the late contest mere exciting fro
lie but as the trial of most important issues. But
ours is nature not 10 despair, and while we hope
to have breathing time after the late protrscted
excitement we shall It we i've be on hand and st
our post ready to do our humble duty when snOth
or occasion shall arise. The contest being over
Ii is now full time TO let the acrimonious spirit
which has characterized II in an unprecedented
manner, subside. To our brethren OF the press OF
both parties we would ssy, We have all had our
fauts-(none Is more conscious of his own than
the writer OF this article)-we have all gone too
far and used language too Incorporate, indeed
scurrilous for press which, In theory at least Is
the guide and instructor OF the public, and there
fore douby responsible for the example 1t set
The campaign over, the press of Virginia will
have ample time to look into other matters than
mere party politics, and matters too of infnite i'm
portsnce. We have our noble old State and her
multiiorm interests to attract our ettenionsnd
gage most earnest efforts and this should Invite
the honorable contest among the members of the
profession to who shall contribute most to the
glorious work of making Virginia what she ought
true to her.
Before we lay down our pen we take leave to
say, that not soft enough TO suppose that we
shall escape repeated gtbes, jeers and jokes fired
off by the successful party. Well of this we shall
not complain, inasmuch as we should have done
these things ourself had the boot been the other
leg. "He may laugh who wins" lie a maxim as old
the hills and shall call philosophy to our aid
and bear our VictimizRtion of broad grins with all
all possible compssure.
The Intelligencer speaks like a philoso
pher. His candor and good humor are com
mendable. Especially true is the remark,
that there are other matters before US than
party politics-matters worthy the best ener-
gies of the whole press of the State, matters
of infinite Importance. The expression is
not too strong, when we look at the present
state of the public works of Virginia; at
what she might be, if those works are car
ried out at what she must be, if they are
left half finished, g standing reproach to the
enterprise and efficiency of her people. If
through apathy, or sectional jealousies, or
absorbing devotion to federal contests. we
fail to push on the internal improvements of
Virginia, and to connect the valley of the
West with our seaboard, Virginia is doomed
to become tenth-ra State; her sons will
desert her for other chimes; her harbors will
lose even their present limited amount of
shipping and Richmond, Petersburg, Nor.
folk, Lynchburg, Alexandria, and Ports
mouth, will become deserted cities, the grass
growing in their streets, and all hope of
their progress and prosperity extinguished.
Well may the press and people of Virginia
come up as one man to the rescue of the
Commonwealth, from such deplorable fu-
ture.
In another article upon the same subject
the Intelligencer says:
As the Gubernstorial struggle is now over. we
will have 1t In power to give attention 10
other matters OF public interest than we have been
able to do for the last several months We have
never thought that party disquistions were a very
improving valuable kind OF literature either for
the few or the million. There is, on the contrary
much 10 them, conducted as they are, calculated
10 viliate the taste and pervert the judgment We
not sorry, therefore, 10 be revived for a season
at least from the necessity of filing our columns
with the heated appeals which constitute the
nldtericL of party strife. We wish that the conn
try could be spared the infction upon It, In our
almost annual political contests of the vast ava
lanches of mutual elimination, recriminatiop de-
nunciation and vtuperation which roll forth from
the press, increasing, at every turn, laundering
along and burying the sober senses of the people
beneath their pressure.
We can recollect the day when elections were
conducted In peace and quietness throughout the
land. We can recollect when even the choice of n
President could be made by the people without
ripple upon the smooth surface of the political wa
tiers. Mr.. Madison and Mr.. Monroe were elected
and reelected and not a feeling of excitement
disturbed the public breast The people went
calmly to the polls, cast in their ballots and ,ber
returned to their homes without any anxietv-snv
tip toe expectation to distract them. The Admin.
istraons of those eminent Chief Magistrates of our
country embraced period Of sixteen years and
The affairs OF the nation were managed certainly
with at least as much wisdom and integrity In ali
the branches of service, both at home and abroad.
a. they have since been.
Yet for that long period there was no popular
osquisude, no political snimosities Installing their
oi'eotosnt Influences in the hearts Of the people
eno ersying them In inveerste and bitter conflicts
whenever candidates for elective Offices ware an.
nouncsd. When we look back 10 the scenes which
were exhibited In the political drama In the soe
VIC speAk OIL and compare them with the scenes
winch now characterize our cAnyasses wa arc
Palheo ~ the lamentable deterioration of ,ha ,uh
NC morals, and at the no less lamentabla Att ~
INC sociai Virtues winch the contrast presents
Our contemporary proceeds to ipdulpe in
some gloomy forebodings, which we fear ara
not without reason, of the dissolution of the
onion' and urges the press to turn its atten.
ZION To the great and paramount duty which
MOVES W the people, Of sndsayoring to save