Washington sentinel., 1856-04-08
From the Richmond Enquirer.

The Next Presidency.
Messrs. Editors:-When / was a boy the
Enquirer was as familiar to me as my primer.
Now | am man, and "a subscriber trust
that will not be considered intrusive in this
communication.
In reading my paper, have seen several
contributions In regard to the nominees Of the
Cincinnati Convention. "Marcellus" speaks
most iavorably of Wise and Shields, and am
happy to say that no person can bestow upon
those two individuals too much praise. They
deserve much from the hands ofth Democracy.
Two more gallant men were never seen upon
the forum or the field Wise deserves all our
party can give him. He it was who first placed
his foot upon the Know-nothing ball which was
carrying the whole Union like whrlwind; but
when. At reached the pure and constitutional soil
OF Virginia, it was Wisely whirled back to
Northern fanaticism, with double force and
vigor. Who was the man who SO boldly met
it? Henry A. Wise, the present able and most
efficient Governor of our dear and honorable
old State; and but for the firm, decided and
courageous stand which he took, am sorry to
say that l much fear the old Commonwealth
would, Tor once, have been led astray.
Shields-the gallant, noble Shields the
statesman, the officer and the gentleman, (al
though the know-nothings cannot appreciate
him, because he happened to be born in
lreland,) would it were that we could see these
two most eminent and beloved Democrats
reach the two most distinguished offices in our
republic. But it is impossible for it to be con-
sttutionally done, for an unanswerable reason
which will presently give. Henry A. Wise
is now the Governor Of Virginia. The present
crisis Is most important one to the whole
South; and, rs the Old Dominion is still looked
upon with some reverence by her Southern
offspring, we still want him where he is; in
position which, under the present aspect of
affairs, may possibly become as responsible and
important to our mother-soil as that (under the
ordinary progress of events) Of the Presidency
OF the United States. Not that would not most
cheerfully support him for the Chief Magis
tracy OF our Union, with Shields along with
him but l, asa Virginian, say, let him alone
Tor the present; he is doing well enough but,
IN 1860, his time will come Then the South
(if we do not in the mean time have disso
luton OF the Union) will be entitled to the
nomination, without one dissenting voice. and
where, ask, is the man to be found, in the
whole South, whose claims can be more favo-
vorably considered than Henry A. Wise?
Shields, (for the Vice Presidency being of
foreign birth, is constitutionally ineligible; for
no man can hold the Office Of President or
Vice President, unless he is native born; and
but Tor this, there is no man for whom would
sooner cast my vote for Vice President than
General James Shields, of Illinois.
And now, as | think have given you
pretty good and sound reasons why the Wise
and Shields ticket will not answer at this
precise time, / think l can present to your
readers a ticket which would eminently be the
most popular and effective one the Convention
could present to the country. Iallude to those
two most distinguished Democrats and exalted
gentlemen, James Buchanan, of Pennsylvania.
and John A. Quitman, of Mississippi in
whom not only the Democracy could place
most abiding faith, but in whose elevation to
these two distinguished Offices the whole purely
national heart would throb with pleasure and
delight. They are both sufficiently known
without any eulogium from my pen,
Mr.. Buchanan, the son of the old keystone
State, which gave, at its last election, such
laundering rebuke to Know Nothingism, and
all other isms; one of the greatest living
statesmen; man whose whole time, for years
and years gone by has been devoted to the
good OF the party and the nation, should not
be permitted to retire to old age without
bestowing upon him the elevation TO the Presi-
dency, which he SO richly deserves from
Pennsylvaaia is the second State in the
Union in point of populations; she has never
had o President; she has, AS a general thing,
stood firmly by Virginia and the South, and i
say, now is the time for US to show our liber.
allty and friendship for the old keystone, and |
go IN strong for her most gifted son; his time
has now come, it will never come again. and i |
do think that "he is the ticket" -
Of the distinguished individual here men
toned for the Weep Presidency, the country is
too familiar with his name for me to attempt to
make it more brilliant or, endearinp 10 us.
When say he is gentleman. possessing every
requisite qualification to fill that important DO.
sition, with combination of craftsmanship |
and soldiership rarely to be met am only re-
Iteratlng that which is already known to the |
whole nation. Being a gentleman of most
pleasing and polished address, he would make, |
with eminent ability, a most accomplished pre-
siding oihcer over the Senate Of the United |
states. As statesman, the Constitution Of |
our country IS, and has always been, his politi-
cal chart and, Jefersonan like, he places that |
construction upon it which has carried us |
through so many distinguished and prosperous
administrations. For the gallantry and ability |
as a general, he evinced on all of his fields in |
Mexico, and the noble life he offered to his |
country, ] shall say nothing. 7.aa aaa
With the Buchanan and Quitman ticket, |
Messrs. Editors, am convinced the whole De. |
mocracy OF the country would send up such |
shout OF defiance and victory, that all the |
Black Republicanism, Know-nothingism, Abo-
liuonism, and all other isms imaginable, would |
be whirled back forever into the dark and |
filthy dens from which they first crept at mid |
night. A VIRGINIA HARD SHE'LL"
-
From the Liverpool Times, March is.