Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-07-18
WHAT THE "OLD LINE" WHIG CONVEN-
TION IS AFTER

TION IS AFTER.
Or course the osensible o. -cts of the "Old Line"
Wing Convention are pnlrioic and praise worthy.
The motives which really control the counsrls Of this
extraordinary body are not 50 pure US their public
professions.
II is not forgotten ths! during the late gubsrne'c
rial canvass in this State, the bulk OF the Wing party
individuality conlescci aud cu.pperated with tho
Know Nothing organization. There was n proposal
for Wing Convention but the politicians promptly
suppressed the movement Our neishbor Of the
Wig WIS particularly earnest AID emphatic in OPP
posing TN udrpenG.u; organization Of the Whg par
", aud III advocating m un"s.cutntous acqUiescence
ia the nominations ot The Know Nolhings.
Til. scheme iai!=d vi rurccss. Left TO the control
OF their own per.o.al feelings aud opinions, num-
Der OF patriotic Wings refused 70 become the accom-
pllces VI kmow. N,,hincism, while some of the more
independent Of the party elnpnGcally marked thri:
ietcstarion OF the thing, ty supporting the Demo
cratic candidates. FIournoy was defeated, and the
Wigs who had compromised :heir conscience by
abeting the mischcvous schemes Of the know-No-
;hings, were LEI, without the poor consolation OF a
triumph over the Locufoco party.
Here and .here through the State an Old adhercn.
of Heury Clay, Indignantly dePIoed The prostitution
Of h- party. In yielding the field TO the upsiart Or
yunizaton there waB confession OF nbeci!ty, in the
remuneration Of principle there was an appearance OF
reachery. in consenting 10 share the spoi!s with Il
party whose instincts and objects were abhorrci,
there was an exhibition Of Eiuanness-in ali this
there was enough shock the s"n,,biiltIe' o every
honorable and bish-spirted Wing. But such per-
sons strove in vain to arrest tho degradation OF their
party. and to prevent IL. Infamous alliance WIN
the Know Nothing Order. They could only vent az
unavans regret, aud indulge hope OF better days.
The defeat of the coalition in May, 1850, suggested
to the few independent Wings who had stood aloot
from the struggle and kept their garment. cean that
perhaps adversely ha! chastened the !usni spr't o
their erring friends; so that they might possibly be
reclnimrd from their corrupt ASSOCIATION 10 w"
end and with the generous ambition oil restoring '''
purity and Independence ot the phr'y, call wa
issued for Convention of "Od-Line' Wings. Tn,
movement OF sinaei IA StauH;On, among srnt'emci
whom ore cannot suspect Of sini;er Ino;lve Bat, /
was instantly sszed upon by prohig"te politicians
and peryer;ed from il, original purpose. And now
comes ALI explanation vf the real objects OF the per
sons who control this Convention
I'll. r.sult of tb. canvass of 1850 revealed the re-
pugnance of tho people in this State TO the pr"scrp
tive principles and mischevous machinery OF the
Know Nothing Order. But iis inherent aud essen
tal repulsiv.uess has been aggravated by lis suhse
auent course OIL the slavery question. BY the repca
OF the lk section, and the dcnunciaiicn OF the han
sas sNeErsska act the Know. Nothing Order released
il, a.t hold nn the confidence OF the South, "nd M
CURED au intinity Of gnomy OF which its hlg a.
socates are not willing 10 psrIake The ch'et "hl"c'
al thi, Convention is 10 repudin;e any responsibility
for the acts OF ihe Phiiajelpha CUavcn;ion to re-
pur III. blauders Of the S,auon resoiutons' anu ~
npt ri,t,nors upnn Southern position. They want
10 go into the convass free rom the elnoarrassch'e
of their Know Nothing conne1ion and relieved W
the burden Of the Philadelphia platform. lhe De-
nocracv are not 50 stupid TO suffer this escape
III. "Old Line" Wings OF Virginia cannot purity them
0,r, ,f m. stain OF Know .Notbngsn by idle words
vh;h THAR ncts contradict. If they were TO adopt
m up,i. Know. .Solhng restitution, taad Mis they 'c"'
m, do,st 10 dol they would not relieve themselves
of responsibility FOR the principles OF the h"o"
Nn,hinr Party They will nominate Fillmore
and he has arorsd himself a msmber AZ ne of'
dsr n. il the link ot conne3on between the Twin
mr. ,;,us Of Stanntnn and Richmond. What
.vor ha IN. proi, ssions ui III. "Old.Line" Wings
they are responsible for the principles oi their cand'
date. Neither can this Convention throw of the bur-
d., of the Philadelphia Platform, by promulcating
sr;. f h;rIi.soundng resolutions: J0r Fillmore dc
cs,.,i N. aemina,ion ~ the Phii"dctptia C'Arrn
no., ,,;,h tte Philadelphia Platform. Tia, Platform
o,n;,. IN. l2,h sectiun, and condemns the repeal c
Dlnccd
pnon il vo,utarilv and it Is vain for this Conveniio:
10 a,,-mp, to lift HIM mp 10 higher ground. Wno'o
ever sunpor,s MlIard Fillmore Commits himself fc
the priuc,ples Of ths Kuuw-Nothing Party, and a-
sun,es an attitude Of antagCnisin 20 the rights o th'
Suuh.
The other principal oljec, OF the Convention s Il
bring the Wing party OF Virginia to the support
Flr,o-r: and tine only can determine whether better
sncress will utynd them in this eEdeEv0r. The mum
he of recruits to the Democratic party, already 6e
,rsv. general disposition among the best Wings o
IN. State to support Buchnnsn. The cHlcuiat!on i'
,hst by formal resolution Of an imposing Convention
tine pdependen; sprlt Of the people may be subdne'
,o the selfish purposes OF the politicians and sers'
os o;,cgiauce 10 party be made 10 triumph over con
s,; m,n.ss of patriotic obligation. There is not a.
honest farmer in tho country who, il lett to thi
s,,y.,tjons of his common aerse will not be con
v;nc.d that II il his duty 10 vote Tor Buchsnaa W.
no reluctant to believ. that the subtle schemes OF
narcs, Of politicians can perpe1 the judgment or Gu
..cs ,ba conduct OF the sagacious and independent
people.
OLD POINT.
The rare success which rewards Mr.. Sugars lbera
msuap.men, OF Old Point is particularly gratifying
to the people Of Virginia For some years the place
La. han nnda- the control Of srecuniing Yankees