The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-01-13
VIRGINIA POLITICS.
the DEATH OF THE RICHMOND yuNTA.
The sYUMPNG TOUR OF HENRY A. WISE.
THE KNOW NOTHlNGs.
Special Correspondence Of the New York Herald,
&C., &C., &c.


Our Richmond Correspondence.
RICHMOND, Jan. Q, 1855.
m RscAmond Jaata-Ther Beginning, Rise and Fall
ne Enquirer and Eramiaer-Wise and the Kno~
NotAings-The Henrico Whi0s
The great philosopher, Brownson in address before
college society in Maryland maintained that there
aust and ought to be in every country arstocracy,
10 guide and control public opinion and to set al exam
Die TO them asses" in manners and morals. Had
Brownson been studying the political history OF New
York and Virginia. Had he been rummaging among the
archives the Albany Regency and the Richmond Junta
different for the thng2 You know all aboat
the Regency. Let say word two about the Jun.
t. the sRchmond Junta," central power which long
controlled the politics of Virginia. and, with 1t, of many
other Southern States besides The Junta dates its birth
In 1924 and composed principally of old friends of
Crawford It's prominent original members Thomas
Richie, DR.. Peterborough, Peter V. Daniel, Judge
Philip Norborne Nicholas, John Rutherford, Andrew
Stevenson, &c.
This body was in the beginning purely aristocratc,
and in it's social position and political influence would
have sent thrill of admiration to Brownsons very
Its members were old Virginia gentlemen, of
The spotless linen uun peachable patriotism
aignhed but genial old cocks, fond of good blood snd
gooo VINE, and altogether unadulteratei Ia breed,
habits, manners and associations with anything PIE
beap. This central Junta for many long year ruled
The roast in Virginia. guided and controlled the political
movements OF the State and did everything in their
fashion, assisted sometimes by some Of the promi
nent lights Of the Provinces such as Thomas Jefferson
Randolph General Dromgooe, Colonel Joe Watkins, W.
II. Roane-who thougha country gentleman, spent
much of his time in town--and other rural celebri-
ties. The resolutions Of 9s-'99 the political Bible
Of this Juna, and the which they peculiarly affect
ed was republican. Everything with these gentlemen
republican. They we're the republican party. OF
al thar politi al thay
notiin ing, and wished TO know nothing. You
are familiar with the history of Thomas Ritchie
tho master spirit of this Junta, aud the ed
Tor of the central organ. He was the Napoleon Of
he political most long headed, subtle aud
indefatigabe of political editors Taere end to
this mans influence til his party in Virginia. they
believed him to be thoroughly dsnterested entirely
destitute Of all desire for personal aygrandsc cnt or
Official promotion. This great secret of his ia
fueDce He knew the Virginia character as entirely as
Paganni knew his violin, and he played 1t with as
great skill aud The Richmond Enquirer was
mole than match for the whg press even when II had
. Hampden Peasants at its head and all the wig ora
tors of the State combined 1t followed these orators all
over Virginia. answered their arguments laughed at
their eloquence, and made their oaous AMI them
selves ridiculous 1t healed up differences and recon
siled dsascted politicians in its party With the
most ummae art and tact II had in every hamlet
Of the State q large number OF Brutuses Catos, and
sther Tuckehoe and Cobee Romans, besides multitude
Of reeh who contributed freely 70 columns Of the
Enquirer and imagined that by their cackhng they had
saved the State In this deusion they not
discouraged by the Ntstor of the Virginia press Such
vas the central organ Of the Richmond Juota.
The force bill and proclamation of Gen. Jackson sorely
perplcxed these worthy gentlemen. They were for a
season sadly disgruntlcd thereby II difficult mat
ter TO hold to their % and os considerations scrupes
md hold on to power the same moment. For time
they much troubled and dsafected bit they
anally succumbcd under Mr. Rtchie's polite quadca
tisns accepting the procltmaon except some "docsri
nal pointsn Come shutlng and disanection were
saused by Jackson's removal OF the deposits Among
the disalected who went off at that time WIN III.
Rosne John Thompson BrSwn e Srsht and shining hr
The Juna however soon relieved of their disaec
ton, forgetting the monner in which the thing
even became euiogists Of the removal OF the
deposits, and their ardor was by n, msans
bated after the deposite in the State BANKS Two of
The members the unta presidents Of State nst
futious. They went on sustaining Old Hickory in his
iron rule though their aristocratic notions utterly
volted at the extreme democracy Of Jacksonis folk.
They the very last to adopt the title Of democrat
and when they did, it was Ikea child taking bitter
pil but they Bnaly managed to swallow il with toer
able grace AT sti later day, under the rogn Of Polk
and cabbage the Juua longer exclusively N ie
Of patrcsns ebeians began to End their into tle
hallowed circle But the power and glory Of toe Rich
mond Junta nov, alas, matters Of history only The
Janta Is a. these writings dead cock in the pit The
old arstocrats who composed have long died
lot the metropolis and seeing the subsection OF the GEN.
trail power to the casualties Of MISUNDERSTANDING
that they more immovable and immortal than
other menthe country people have lost faith in the
Richmond Junta. From the time of Nr. Rtchies re-
noyai from Richmond 10 take charge Of the Washng-
ton Union, the Jun,a was a watch which hal los,
its handspring, aul 1t ceased to 60. The hands
stD then but it waso't often that they pointed to
fhe time Of day The great central organthe Enquirer
the medium of the Junta--was impaired in influence,
not only account Of Mr. Ritchies removal but from
sracy had been taught that their great dem ocraic
teacher beyond the reach Of official inducemeut
Tho old line republicans thought washington rather a
disco uragement to the faithfulMr Rtches going
20 Washington In the meant ma another potent agent
appeared upon the scene in new democratic paper
the Richmond Examiner. This journal soon shared
the power and authority formerly exclusively welded by
the Richmond Enquirer. Its editor John NJ Daniel,
BY his polt cal productions, AID who Is now American
Minister ut Turin. Mr.. Daniel was n mere boy whom he
mounted the editorial tripod Of the Erdmier; but In
genius, requirements, energy and courage, he was
man. Though OF an ancient Virginia family-a nephew
Of ono OF the old bloods Of the Richmond Junta-
and neither able nor DESTROYS TO conceal his
contempt Of the cunaile, Daniel was an out AMI
aud scalpng knife party editor Being quite
as prompt with the pistol rs the pen he an
Suppression aroused the admiration Of his party friends
and produced wholesome caution in the bosom OF his
enemies Since Mr. Daniel left Tor his foreign mission hs
ErsEiner has been edited by Mr Hughes, oae Of the
most powerful political writer's in the country. The
Eramtner has openly assaulted the Richmond Junta, and
finally succeeded in breaking II down Tue recent Demo.
cratic Convention ordered state COMMITTEES TO be CON
sttuted, whose members should be distributed all
Che State and both organs tbs Enquirer All Bramnsr
psbshed Official ann ,uncsmcnt Of the fact, aud With
That annou cement died the Richmond Junta.
Take notice OF another fact in connection eth the loss
10 The democratic party OF the great central power
which has 30 long marshailed their ranks and guided
them 10 victory. At this nauspeious juacture
the nomination Of Henry A. Wise, few ago tbs
msst bitter rever and aenouncer Of the Junta ani Of
the democracy In general Before his nom natou the
Exosiner published extracts from his old why speechcs
and did It's best TO astrust add aversion tpsais
him among the rank and Gle Of the old democracy The
E1aminey cannot itself u II triss from TIL
the day OF the election. Wise Is Nominated but the d.
mocracy are dsafected and disgusted At this moment
fhe Know Nothings appear In the field, with all the
might OF their vast and secret concl,ves. shall give
you sonnet ling Of their history hereafter; but itis
enough for the present 70 say that they Will number