Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-05-12
RICHM OND w HIG.
-.axn.A ,.oaaING. WAY ~. 1886.
ro COMPLEMENTARY.
The s,aunton Convention aud Platform.

The Convention of the American party, recently
assembled MT Stasnton WAS from all accounts not
only numerously attended, but animated by spirit
of enthusiasm and an iniexibility Of purpose emf
nentlv gratifying and suspicious Every portion of
the State was represented by respectable and intel
gent delegations and each and all seemed 10 be ac-
tuaed by an earnest determination to perform their
part worthily in the approaching canvass. Virginia
has long been welded to the ugly idol of Democ-
racy and the Wings have sustained many sad re-
verse but defeat has corrupted the PATRIOTISM
or impaired the courage, or dampened the ardor OF
the true and gallant band who have warred upon the
perncious policy and practices of party which, m
stead of being united by attachment to common prin-
cples aud struggling for the goodof the country has
devoted it's strength and its energies, almost time out
of mind to the untring pursuit of the Spo.S OF ihce
And now. thou oh the chances are still against MS
in the Old Dominion, yet there is no abatement oil
zeal in our ranks; but we have again buckled ON our
armor in days of yorc, and mean once more To give
battle To the enemy, and leave consequences to take
care of themselves Even Virginia may not always be
willing to bow her neck to the yoke of party which
has lordcd il her for so many long years with
high and deSpotc hand, and under whose uniortn-
nate auspices she has been waning in political power
until from being the first of the States Of the conied
eracy, she has lalen lallen, llIeH ~ ~"
are scarcely any so poor to do her reverence
Besides under tle wretched acknowledgement and
horrible msrule of the dominant party her citizens,
instead Of being easy and prosperous in their cir
cumstances, are now loaded down with weight
Of taxation unprecedented in her history and which
will indeed, make them grodH, people rarely
ever groaned before. 1t was well said by some
one Of the speakers at the Stanton Convention
that the tax bill of the late Legislature is 10
"Waig I.e" But it is dread Locoioco reality,
which the people will be quick enough to un--
derstand and appreciate, when they come to foot
up their accounts with the sheriff. We implore the
Democratic voters of the Commonwealth TO reInem-
Der that it is the boast OF their party that they have
had control Of the affairs and legislation of the State,
without interruption, for period whereof the memo
~ Of man runneth hot back TO the contrary. And,
of course they responsible for the present en-
barrassed condition of the State Double tdIes for
the year 1886, with fair prospect Of their being
doubled again next year, Is the result Of this long
Democratic msrule in Virginia. And of this result
they may boast at their pleasure As Wings, we
have no part lot in the responsibility Our voice
has been sthel, counsels have been repudiated,
our efforts To tue State have been thwartcd at
every turn, and now when double taxes, and conSe-
quent complaining and suffering is the order OF the
day point you to the great law-givers of the De-
mocracy, aud tirrir omissions ard oarnr,is>nns
the cause OF all the miSfOrtunes under which the
State and the people are frettiug and writing
and grooming and curSing We give the citizens of
Virginia JOY Of the rulers and the measures which
have thus brought them to the brink OF ruin Us
for Know NothingiSm, it is not yet two years old,
and has had power in this State to do either good
or evil. VINO, then, should be held responsible but
the Simon-pure Democracy? To them he all the
glory and the shame Of the present embarrassed and
unpromising condition of poor old Virginia.
We are sorry that the results Of the deliberations
of the American Convention at Stanton fail To meet
the appreciation of our perverse and querulous
neighbor OF the Enquirer. We are Disappointed
We are grieved-we are mortified to the very core to
find him so ncorrigibe and exceedingly hard to
please. We really hoped for better things. We ex
pected to the Enquirer approving and extolline
the action of the Stanton Convention with hearty
good will. But 10 and behold, it is down upon tn,
whole business, like a thousand Of brick Tn,
grammer of that body it discovers to be entirely diff
ferent from the grammer of Lindley Murray aud
thereupon our sensitive neighbor has a fit and wild
ly deplores the butchery of the King, English by
miserable convention Of Know Nothings. la n word
nothing that was done at Stanton seems to have
Of our travelled polished, and critical neighbour
We suggest just here that but few Of the member
OF the Stanton Convention have ever enjoyed the
advantages Of a tour abroad aud not one, we sus
pcct who has min ed with the elite of foreign
courts And that may account somewhat for their
inability To employ language agreeable to the ,tdi-
Gus ear Of the EngHirer These Stanton fellows
were, no doubt, set Of honest plain, homc-bred
home-spun, clod-knocking men, who arc accustomed
To express their thoughts in ineligible clear and
forcbe style, and who have little ambition IN appear
particularly courty and finished and graceful in the
language they employ To set forth their political prin-
cipes. suiliccd with them to make themselves
clearly understood They declared their position
boldly and enphatcay, aud that is about all the
sensible sobersded people Of the State care for
We hope the classical Democracy may initiate their
example in this respect
Nor does the platform Of principles adopte i by
the Stanton Convention suit the tastes of the Et.
quirer 1t is entirely platform Of omissions il
tells Now, it occurs 10 Us that when platform
emphatically endorses the nomination Of Fillmore
when it, with equal emphasis, reprobates and de.
nouuces the "lase and fatal theory" Of ,quatter So.
vereignty-when IL openly condemns the right of
foreigners to vote Immediately upon their making a
declaration Of their purpose to become, at a future
day, citizens Of the Territories when II declares
that these things calculated to ensure the ascen.
dancy Of the ant-sayery sentiment in every terrific.
~ which may hereafter be formed out Of the public
domain Of the United Satcs-anl when it pronouu.
ees that the Democratic party justly responsible,
for the embarrassed condition Of the State, and th,
oncrous burdens of taxation under which our cit
zens now groan we say, that platform so cmpha
tic aud positive upon important questions like these
can hardly be termed, with any justice "a platform
Of omissions only.
But we leave the Ep7aircr to indulge its own pc
culiar tastos ia respect 10 the stanton Convention
and its platform. We express the hope, howe, r.
that the Enquirer may not be disappointed in rcg,r
10 the action Of is Cincinnati Convention u, pom In
subject Of sgustter sovereignty. Think y,u tina
that convention is likely to denounce this false an