The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-22
Probable Political Revolution an Virginia.
Revival of the Why Party.

Since the late Opposition Virginia COliVeht'oh'
copprehending fusion of all The opposition
elements Of the State, upon She general prin-
ciples of the old conservative wbig party, we
perceive that the Richmond Enquirer, the ceatra'
organ Of the Virginia democracy, is really be-
coming alarmed, in view of the possible coutin-
gency OF a disastrous democratic defeat. We
think, too, that the presentation of few hstori-
cal facts in reference to this impending Virginia
State election will go very far to convince the
reader that there is good ground for these mis-.
giviDgs concerning that hitherto infexible and
Interchangeable democratic stronghold Of the Old
Dominion.
To 1856 Henry A. Wise, in one Of the most
spirited, laborous and energetic political cam
paigns ever known, carried the State of Vir-
gina against the Know Nothings by ten thou.
sand majority. But while the Know Nothings
In that canvass had the benefits of thoroughly
disciplined secret organization, they had nothing
else III their avor for every thing else in the way
of political advantage was against them. They
presented no competitor on the stump against
Wise; but they permitted him to have the whole
range Of the field without breaking lance with
him. He thus went from county to county, an
admitted conqueror. Then, again, the foolish
nativistic secret oaths ard mummeres of the
dark lantern fraternity disguised many good
old digniled wings, and many otherwise
well disposed adopted citizens, while the
Virginia viva Voce system of voting kept
all the democracy to the line. In 1856,
there being nothing more than nominal
opposition in the ticket of Fillmore and Donel-
son, the democracy walked over the course in
Virginia, and gave the State to Mr.. Buchanan by
some thirty Thousand majority. In other words,
The opposition had become satisfied that Know
Nothingism was defunct, and they permitted the
election to go by default.
But since the Inauguration of Mr.. Buchanan,
there have been some new and curious changes
in the Virginia kaleidoscope. Ambitious rival
leaders Of the democracy there have been play
ing the same game which broke down the party
in New York Hardly was Mr.. Buchanan warm
in his White House chair, when there appeared
two democratic factions in the Old Dominion, in
triguing, each against the other, for the Presi-
Dental succession-the Wise faction and the
Hunter faction. Singularly enough, too, while
the Hunter faction, in the party conventions and
in the Legislature, appear to have been able
thus far TO carry the day, the Wise faction, in
occupation Of the executive government of the
State, seem to be regarded as holding decided
superiority of strength among the people. In
other words, Wise is regarded as a much more
popular man than Hunter. At all events, it is
certain that each has an active managing clique
ct his back, resolved if possible, to carry him to
Charleston as the candidate of the Virginia
delegation.
In this connection, Notwithstanding the soft
denial of the Richmond Enqmrer-the central
organ of Governor Wise-we all know
that the democratic candidate for Governor,
Mr.. Letcher, is regarded as the repre-
sentative Of Hunter. Certainly Letcher was the
especial aversion of Wise before the Convention
decreed otherwise. 1t is quite natural, then. to
infer from all this that these rivalries and
jealousies between the Wise clique and the Hun
ter clique will enter into the merits o. he cleo
ton. Nor can we here overlook the defections
Of Governor Wise and his Richmond organ in
reference to the federal administration. The
Governor, in his Tammany Hall ant -Lecomp-
ton manifesto first bolted Off from the admins
tratiOn. He has, since the last annual message
of Mr.. Buchanan to Congress, followed up this
movement of rebellion against him, in the repu-
diation of his whole policy, including his recon-
nendations concerning Cuba, Mexico, Central
America, Pacific railroad, the tariff and O
general bankrupt law. Upon all these measures
the opposition of the Richmond Enquirer to the
administration has been as earnest and bitter as
the worst enemies Of the Virginia democracy
could desire.
From this extraordinary course of Governor
Wise, as represented through his central organ,
it is not likely that the clique supporting him
will, in the State canvass feel any particular
desire to uphold Mr.. Buchanan. Nor can we
discover that Mr.. Hunter is anything but luke
warm supporter of the President And so the
Virginia democracy, distracted between two
rival and jealous Presidential aspirants, and de-
vernon Wise against the administration, will go
into their State election like an army embar-
rassed with conflicting leaders, discordant coun-
sells and treacherous intrigues between the two
wings Of the camp. The case wears very much
the complexion of the Missouri imbroglio be-
tween Benton and Atchison, from which both
fell to the ground, and Of that now almost for
gotten New York quarrel between Dickinson and
Dix, in which both disappeared from the stage of
political action.
On the other hand, the late Virginia State
Convention of the opposition, called together by
a sort Of spontaneous combustion, appears to
have rallied the opposition into line, as the long
roll rallies dispersed but disciplined army.
We say disciplined, because the substantial ele-
ments Of that complete system of organization
peculiar to the Know Nothngs still remain to
the new party movement. There is also in the
movement itself welcome invitation to all the