Washington sentinel., 1855-03-13

several Offices are has long been known. There
was no secret about it. The Virginia conven-
tion assembled in the light of day, after public
proclamation, in open convention. That con-
vention nominated the candidates of the Demo.
cratic party. Mr.. Wise, the Gubernatorial can
didate, has, much to the detriment of his lungs,
but to the benefit of his cause, ever since his
nomination, dedicated his energies to the good
cause. He has spoken day after day and night
after night. He has publicly proclaimed his
principles.
But the midnight party" has laid low and
kept dark. 1t has met in secret. 1t has ma
tured its plans, and at last is about to announce
its candidates.
We shall not speculate as to who those can
didates will be--further than respects their
politics.
Although for long time it was pretended
that il numbered as many Democrats as wings,
it has now ceased to put forth that pretence.
1t is known to every man, who knows any thing,
that it is a whig organization. True, there are
some Democrats in it. There are few who
for special reasons, are SO opposed to Catholics
and foreigners, that they sink all other ques-
tons. The rest of the Democrats belonging to
it, we believe, are mercenary, selfish dema-
gogues and Office seekers.
But in Virginia there are many old line, out
side Wings who refuse to join the organization.
IL .,I -. L.
but they viii not join secret and clandes-
tine party. They demand terms. They say
tothe Know-nothings We, the outside Wings,
are quite numerous, and we are the very pick
of the Wing party. We will not submit to be
blindfolded and led into dark corner, there to
be sacrificed. If you want our help, as you
surely will, you must nominate some of us for
Office. If you refuse to do so, we will withhold
our support from your ticket We will, in that
event, do one of three things. We will either
keep from the polls, run ticket Of our own, or
vote for the Democratic candidates"
Such, we have reason to believe, is the sort
of language that has been employed by the out
side old line Wings.
Now, the Know-nothings will have to make
nominations. Who will they nominate? Will
their candidates be wholly Know-nothings
Will they be mixed of fKnow-nothings and Wigs
or they will be mixed ian odious compound) Of
Know nothings, outside Wings and Democrats?
This we leave to the secret order to determine.
If they nominate Democrats, the outside old
line Wings will Indignantly trample the ticket
under their feet. If they nominate Know
nothings exclusively, these Wings will retire in
disgust. If they nominate Know-nothings and
outside old line Wings, we do not doubt that
the latter will not only be placable, but happy.
Otiice-of6ce-is at last the object Of the order
and those who sympathise with it.
But there are Democrats, who, though they
do not belong to the order, are assiduously and
tenderly making oyertures to it. They hope to
get the votes Of its members. They hope to be
elected by them. With such Democrats, we
have no sympathy. We wish that they may
be defeated, and shamefully defeated. We
would rather have silent, clandestine Know
nothing, than a secret, clandestine, unscrupu.
lous Democrat, elected. They are both bad
enough; but, between the two, we would choose
the former. Such Democrat has not the
courage to join the order; he has not the open.
ness to proclaim publicly that be is only De.
mocrat. But he has the stupidity to think that
he can fool both Democrats and Know-nothings.
But in a few days we shall know who in the
open, honest old Dominion are to be the
standard bearers Of the Know-nothings
We presume SO, at least. 1t is hardly possible
that the names Of their candidates will be kept
secret. If they nominate any outside Demo.
Gratis, they will drive off the outside Wings
IL they nominate outside Wings, they will
drive off the Democrats who have joined them.
If they nominate know-nothings exclusively,
they will still lose the support of the outside
Wings.
We shall not undertake TO fortell what they
will do. PERHAPS they riU find themselves an
such a peck Of trouble as 10 decline making any
nominations. AS Of the wind, so of them
"no man knoweth whence it cometh, or whittier
il goeth."