Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-11-11

The shade OF doubt which, for few days past,
hung over the Issue OF the Presidential election is
slmost removed. There is little doubt that Mr..
Buchanan has been elected President Of the United
States by majority Of the Electoral College; though
we believe, not by q majority oil the American PEG
pie.
We had hoped, with some degree Of confidence,
for different result. We had hoped that in such
time Of peril as the present, when the shadows Of
Disunion Fitting gloomily above us, the people
Of this country would have again called into requi-
sition the services Of that pure patriot and wise
statesman. Willard Fillmore. Believing that he was
the best man that could be selected for such al
emergency the present have advocated his
election with all the zeal aud ability of which we
possessed. The people, in the exercise OF their
sovereign WILL have, however, pronounced differ
ent verdict We believe that they will yet regret i,
but only when too late to repair the error.
Rousseau has said, pithily and sententiously that
"Democracy is Eary" Without subscribing to this
sentiment in all its length aud breadth, cannot
deny that the history of this country abounds in
stances tending to subsantiate the truth Of the
sertion. In former days, when Democracy was not
much Infused, mt present among the masses Of
the people, they considered that something due
to eminent services and exalted patriotism. Wash
ington and Hamilton, and jefferson, and Madison
were advanced to high position, not altogether on
account OF principles Of which they the repre-
sentatives but mainly because the people had un
mitcd confidence in their honesty, their patriotism
and their wisdom In modern days these conside-
ratons to be lost sight of altogether. lie who
has done the least for his country is in the general
preferred to him who has done the most
There Henry Clay, whose whole life was an
unbroken series of services to the Union, hunted
down aud revled aud prosecuted man never was
beforehand rejected for the Presidency by people
who almost really to worship the ground upon
which he trod. There Scott, who had fought
the enemies of the country from Canada to Mexico
and whose civil services were scarcely inferior his
military, receiving the votes of only four States OF
the Union, against man whose claims upon the
dence and support Of the people rested abso utcly
on nothing. And have Willard Fillmore
Whose patriotic administration extorted praise, at
the time from the bitterest Of the opposition dis.
carded and set aside for man who, in the course Of
long political life has done comparatively nothing
to advance the glory or the welfare of the Republic
Was Rousseau right, or was he wrong when he said
Democracy is Envyl"
That Mr.. Buchanan will have peaceful and sue
cessful administration may we'll be a of doubt
He has never shown himself To be the man for great
occasions In the secure retreat of the Senate he
managed to preserve respectable position, and TO
gain reputation for cautious tnility which, while
it led him to do nothing great preserved him from
fatal bunier. But, in administering the Executive
Off ,e, he will have and unusual responsibilities
to cncounter-and while his friends protest mis- abi-
ty To meet them, they have yet to point out in hi
past life anything which indicates his capacity lpi
the management of the great aud delicate questions
OF State.
In 1858 when Mr.. Fillmore vacated the Presiden-
tia chair, the country peaceful, prosperous and
happy. Under Democratic auspices we have been
brought TO our present condition of disorder and
danger. The Democratic party asked again to he
entrusted with power-and the people have consent
ed. Will Mr.. Buchanan, like Mr.. Fillmore, be ena.
bled to calm the waves Of popular tumult, and re.
store as lac did "the era of good feelingg" He NAV
but we confess faith is weak. People of the
South, of all parties will make no factous opposi.
ton tn his administration but will test it fairly AMI
judge ii by its results. But Northern f4natici,in.
once aroused, is not easily quelled Certain it is.
that concessions to it serve invariably rather to
strengthen than to weaken it.
As for Mr.. Fillmore he needed not the renewed
honors Of the Presidency to till the measure of his
fame, Ii is no evidence of want of confidence in
him that he has received small vote IN the Elec.
tora College 1t resulted from the peculiar condi.
ton OF partes-a majority of the people, both North
and South believing that the contest was sectional
one. and that duty and patriotism required an adhe-
renee To the candidate Of the section Yet il cannot
be denied that Mr.. Fillmore has borne himself most
ga'l'nty in the Highland has demeaned himself
throughout aS became pure patriot and an honest
American statesman
Death Of Richard NJ Heath.