The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-01
DEMOCRATIC DIVISIONS IN VIRGINIA..

the fourth Thursday in May next. The preliminary
canvass within the democratic organization which
has now lasted for six months, has been bitter and
angry in the last degree. Down 10 the very eve Of
the meeting of the convention il continues to be
tremey acrimonious, and it is to be feared that the
convention itself will be the scene of intense and
fiery excitement
II is to be considered, however, that the excite
ment only actuates the few who control the nachin-
cry of party organization and is not participated in
by tho of the democratic voters and as the
convention will be chiefly constituted of the repre-
sentatives of the sturdy and calm yeomanry of the
interior, there is possibility that much for
bcarance and decorum will characterize this body
than has been manifested by portion of the demo
cratic press the State.
A great many circumstances concur to give unr-
sual animation and interest to political nominations
in Virginia. In the first place, almost every citizen
of Virginia is thoroughly uniformed politician.
Nearly every citizen is independent in worldly cir
cumstances, and but few can be found who do not
subscribe to newspaper, and make politics the
staple of thought, study, and conversation Vir-
ginia exerts, too, very large influence upon the
politics of the Union and her democracy very natu
rally feel great pride of opinion and regard with
peculiar interest the Of political events The
action of the democratic party ., moreover the
ton of the State, democratic nomination being
equivalent to the election of State officer and in
nine counties out of ten, the action of county or
ganization being equivalent to the action of the peo-
pie of the county. 1t follows that the contest within
the democratic organization in Virginia for its nomi-
contest between parties in other States in the cleo
ton in chief
Every member of the Petersburg convention will
conduct his whole action in that body with
the full conviction actuating him, that the nom.
nation of the convention will be equivalent to
the selection Of the State officers of the Common
wealth. The floor of The convention will be the real
field of battle as much so as the pols-in-chief of
other States the battle ground between parties
In this view of the case, it will not be subject of
surprise if the proceedings of the convention shall
be animated and excited But fear that they will
be more than this, and that so much bad blood has
been engendered, and so much elimination INDUCED
in that serious ultimate injury to the democratic
will result. There can be no doubt that the
Petersburg nomination will be confirmed at the polls
in May; but we fear that elements of explosion
have been planted in the party which will shat
ter its organization and its integrity future contests
We have scrupulously abstaned from all inter-
ference, direct indirect, in the contest for the
nominations that has been going on--a contest
which seemed to offer no hope for pacieation or
compromise, an imbrogo which seemed to admit of
solution other than being left alone to exhaust it.
self by its fury, and to work out its own cure
The only cure for the disease is a nomination.
nomination which, in all probability, will not be
compromise on middle man between the contending
forces, but will be made by party or other by
victory lis antagonist Such was the result
four years ago in the nomination of Governor Wise
over most fierce opposition; such was the result
in the triumph of Mr.. Buchanan two years ago over
all competitors in the Virginia delegation to Cincn-
natl after contest almost as acrimonious as the
present and such will mqst probably be the case in
the triumph of some one Of the prominently -named
gentlemen for the gubernatoria nomination at Pc
tersburg. 1
In each of these cases notwithstanding the fierce
divisions that had prevailed among the Virginia de-
mocracy for the nomination, yet the people confirm.
by an overwhelming majority, and they will as en-
phatically confirm that Of the Petersburg convention
in May next.
Nevertheless it is greatly to be feared that these
constant strfes and these impacable feuds will in
the end do their work upon the organization Of the
democratic party and unless the democracy of Vir-
GINA themselves early, earnestly, and seriously to
work to eradicate the seeds of strife and to suppress
the violent conduct that has been resorted to lattery
by the politicians to the of their pro-
jecs we shall in the end witness dsgraceful state
of things in Virginia existed long among the
democracy of New York. resulting in what may yet |
prove the permanent loss of that great State from
the honorable confederacy of democratic States
which has so long upheld the fortunes of the Union
--s-s----------
We understand thai Senior Don Luis Molina yes
terday delivered to the President his credentials as
envoy extraordinary and minister plenpotentiary of
the republic of Costa Rica. This gentleman has re-
sided haze for several years. first charge aaires
Of that republic, sad ore recently, jointly with Don
Napoleon Escalente, in the character of which
he is now the sole Representatives
Psnsox.--Hon klkert G Jenkins and lady of vir-
ginia and Hon Guy NJ Bryant and lady, of Texas are
at Browns Hotel Hon Stephen G. Foster and lady, of
Maine are a. the St Charles Hotel Hon. Edward Joy