Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-10-18
A Small Game that Won't Win.


Small Game that Won't Win.
The Eaquirer's silly attempt to hold us or any
other Wing press, any individual Of either the
Wing or American parties responsible for the pecu-
liar opinions Of any Of the Fillmore electors in
this any other State, will be of no avail The
people Of this country little intelligent and
discriminating not To through trick 80 entirely
transparent and absurd Nor would their sense of
justice permit them to countenance idea so oppos-
ed to justice aud repuguant to common sense
The thing, repeat is wildly and utterly preposte-
rouS
There are, for example, fifteen Fillmore electors
and fifteen Buchanan electors in the State Of Virgin
ia. We ask, does the Enquirer know personally all
the Buchanan eectorsi Does il know their opinions
upon all the political questions of the da, And
suppose it should discover that or half dozen
Of its electors differ from itself one two or three
subjects would it therefore feel itself mpelled to re-
fuse To vote for Buchanan and Breckenridge on that
account Mt least to demand the substitution of
other electors in their Notwithstanding the
fact that the obnoxious electors were pledged in ho-
and good faith to vote for the Enquirer's candi
dates in the electoral colegey We presume it would
hardly be guilty of any such act Of folly and for
the sim pie and obvious that electors opin-
ions expected to conform exactly and in all re.
spccts to its own and for the further reason that
would attempt to SO outrage common sense
think OF holding it responsible for each and all
the opinions and doctrines of its Presidential cleo
tors.
We take it for granted that the Enquirer, like our
selves in selecting gentlemen to electors would
be controlled by the main, leading idea that they
are the first place. favorable the election of its
candidates, and in the next, would be dgent, zea-
lous aud efficient sentnels upon the watch-tower-
We suppose its only inquiry would be, whether the
gentlemen TO be appointed in addition to being ac-
tive and industrious, would carry out its own in
structions and wishes in the electoral college IL
otherwiseif the Enquirer is be held accountable
for the peculiar political opinions of each of the
fifteen Buchanan electors in this State of course it
can tell us to the ninth part Of hair what each one
opinions upon each and all of the political aues-
tons which generally interest the country or special
y agitate the public mind in the present CANVASS
IL il considers itself responsible for the particular
views of each the inference is irresistible that it as
certaned, fully and satisfactorily, before their APP
pointmcnt, what those views are. 1t would certain
ly not commit itself to their support, without previ
Gus inquiry and without examination, and without
being satisfied of perfect conformity of opinion
between them and ITSELF if it really believed that it.
self was responsible, and would by Others be held
Responsible for their opinions. This being So we
conclude that the Enquirer has it in its power to ia.
form Us with perfect exactness what the views and
Notions of all the Buchanan electors are; and we
take 1t for granted that it will willingly do
so whenever called upon, acknowledging meanwhile,
Its own responsibility for them. And So if We should
hear that one is in of the Homestead bill md
a.
immediate dissolution of the Union and another
against IT, or that one believed that the moon is made
ofgreen cheese and another that it made of saw dust
the Enquirer, according TO its own striking and
beautiful logic is justly accountable for all these VA.
rouS and conflicting opinions Of its electors
We say that Such an argument is absurd aud stu.
pid beyond description. As Tor ourselves we don't
Know personally nor by reputation a large number
o the Fillmore electors IN Virginia, and of course
fhrther than their commitment To the support of Fill
more, aud the inference thereirom that our political
Opinions and theirs coincide in the man, we neye,
hal nor have we now the means of ascertainng whe.
Their their views and agree upon all politi.
cal questions and upon particular points of the same
question. Nor do We care whether they do or not
1t Is sufficient for us tn know that they good ster
Ing reliable Fillmore men, pledged i'm honor to ~
I" AIRY Out our WISHES IN inc electoral college, and
that they will redeem that pledge in letter and spirit
La other words, they only agents, appointed
for particular and specific purpose, -that is they
are our organs just tongue is All organ To- de-
clare our rate ia the electoral college tor the cand
dates Of our choice and beyond that they are neither
responsible to we to them-neither they for
our opinions we for theirs In short in votipv
Tor Presidential electors, only voting for them
As matter Of form; in reality voting for Fill
more. We only use them, as we have said as CON
duits through which to pronounce our own i1diyid-
nal preference. And, far as we are concerned. we
would just one man as another. In n
word if either "Gzsard Foot" or the editor Of the
Inquirer the editor Of the Examiner would pedye
us their word Of honor vote for Fillmore in the cleo
torsl college, should just soon vote for them AZ
electors any body else. But surely no body would
be fool enough to think Of holding us responsible
for their political heresies and yagres ON accom-,
Of that fact.
We therefore dismiss the subject with the remark
that in voting for Presidential electors on the An
OF November next we disclaim being considered as
responsible IN any sense or to any extent for the
peculiar political opinions Of any Of them If the
Enquirer or any other person is not satisfied with
this declaration, why they can just lump it, That's
all.