Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-07-18
TIE CONVENTION OF "oLD-LINE wHIGs


If i stranger had stepped into metropolitan Hal,
about ii O'Clock Yesterday, he would have sworn the
persons before him wera sitting up with corpse
The room Wa dark and still, The company small and
silent, and over all there broodcd piri: OF nIescri
babe gloom and melancholy. Lvi4-t.y ...e nani.
mate remans of some dad thing were in that pre-
.ence. itls b"y standing AZ the door sad, This is
me Convention Of 'Old-Line' Whig-."
Presently there was slight commotion in re-
mote corner. 4 person of amiable countenauce
stood upon his feet, aud said something in subdued
voice. Immediately another person, of the most
respectable the most aud the most seltsatis.
fed aspect, rose, and walked with grave and de!lb'
crate step towards the PLATFORM where hc sat mseli
in u large arm CHAIR. Then the company began To
crowd round his feet, ii they wanted to catch The
words Of wisdom that TO !as tom his oracuiar
mouth. Meanwhile ano!Eer person rose, ana sa'd
something in an inaudDe tone. The individual! in
the chair condescenjed 10 inquire if the compa'
ny would agrea 10 the motion; whereupon, tesGls
affirmative response echoed through the hall. gen.
;enlan OF iond familiar face, with huge stick i'll his
right hand then ascendcd the platform, described
irregular circle in the of the chairman, and sat
ensued. After little by-play Of whisper and little
moving to and fro, gentleman Of diminulive sature'
and with spectacles over his eyes, got up and read
something from paper, which instantly created con-
siderable excitement. The paper was passed I" tht
chairman, who proceeded To explain its contents with
The utmost dignity Of manner aud ease OF uttcrance.
There WIS nothing very extraordinary in the pa.
a-r for i, simply said, that this being Convention
Of "OlI Linz Whigs, inc.nbers Of other parties
should no, De allowed - participate i'll its proceed.
ngs Nevertheless, !. pro rccd M uncommon 'en-
ssou. The gcn,cmaa wh" presented 1t, urged It's
adoption by soElO very sensible CONSIDERATIONS -
But, nuo:hcr individual. whosc untoward aspect 'ug
.:cs,ed the hara.hips, and ronsliite OF he"'ncKy
lio3 driver, opposed .!e passage OF the resolution
with the chicancry OF acute county court lawyer
Just here, when every Indication promised pretty
quarrel the chairman rose from :' seat, ai1' "iih
;n inlmitnb!c sir oi blended reserve and sei-1m
pvrtancr suggested tha: the resolution be laid upon
the table, In,, il was asctgd.n1l what counties were
represented in tho Convention. This hint was com.
launcAted with such imposing manner, and was so
obviously proper, that i: whs instantly adopted,
bu: its execution was suspended by e most
interesting incident. a g=n:iemen took the iloor'
and with wave If his hat. in which large ban
damn handkerchief r,po@ed, coiIm"nded the alien
ton ol the noisy company. IL have been ap
loin:ed" said he. "a delegate to this convention "f
'O.d Line Whig- bu; being member oF another
politician organization, cannot consistently take part
in your deliberations" Accordingly he bowed and
Withdrew. Never was ts-:" Il more telling speech.-
Full nine cn;hs of the people present belonged 10
tha; other organization AMI here wes an example oil
delicate regard 10 p.opri"'y Of which they had n"
concrp.iou Wha: .-rc they 10 do Some applaud
I'd outright; Others received the sting in silence
Nobody followed in the footsteps OF him who took this
melo.dramatc leave of ;he convention.
While members We're engHR"t IN the unnteresung
ceremony of recording their names, we surveyed the
assembly with deliberate and dspassionate eye.
IT is difficult thing to calculate crowd hnu we
| shall not undertake To reckon the exact nntnoer
! individuals who compose this convention ot 'o'n
| Line" Wings We affirm, however, without tear o
contradiction that il is the smallest poltlca! meet
ing ever held in this city; uni OF the person
present nearly all are from two or three places
Il il asceraned that not one-third OF the rountle
in the State are represented III the cnnvcntoil.-
In vain tho eye eaichcs for amy face iainl
liar 10 the public. The radiant countenanc'
u Pendietou, the Partisan phy.ioguomy OF Cog
| gin, WaisOns smart aspect, aud Rives tthe less
rhetorical head are the most prominent points in th
dead level oil GG. mcioGrity. Where are their rnet
of might! l. th- all that renaius Of the party whlcf
once claimed the monopoly Of decency aud talent'-
Vanity o; vaniiics, all is vanity. Chiv. SIyme, witt
lean belly aud in rag-, is not 80 pitlab!e un otec
of ridiculous pride and mpotent prcten,ion, as th
! Convention OF the Old Line Wings OF Virginia.
! These people are odd Line Whigs, just a. thu
figit from the law is the gentleman whose respect
abb. name he assumes. IL" -iDIe OF the serpent ii
| over them all. Every wears sans mark. They
are his property and they need not attempt 70 den!
their MASTER The smoke Of the dark lantern ia burn
npon .h-ir brow. They stoop in tho shoulder, from
a habit OF crawling into the cuvert There Is SINE!
of sulphur upon their garments, ~ upon the garments
OF him who communes with the Evil One. They
we're Wings once but are fallen from their high estate
If they ha &c no, lost al! their original brightness the
appear as ''archany-l rund, aud, with h excess
glory obscur'd" They shine in dim eclipse Car
ss on their faded check and their brow ls"Intrench
ed by deep sears Of thunt-r' The aIlnsion suggest
the impoteucy Of their plots and the wickednees o
| their ambition.