Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-04-12
WHAT Is CONSISTENCY 7

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The Richmond "Whis' of yesterday wrig-
giles under our exposure Of its rccentand remote
recantations. We expected to see some uneasi
ness manifested but had not expected such
evident indications that we had touched the
quick Of our cotemporary. The "Whig" rctorts
upon us that We ourselves are inconsistent, in
view Of the fact that We opposed Mr.. Lctchers
nomination, and now support him. Perhaps the
Wings idea Of consistency is for Democrat
TO support Wing, because the candidate Of
his own party was not his peculiar favorte.-
That is not our idea Of consistency. We pro-
fess certain political principles, for the advance
ment of which we have connected ourselves
with the Democratic party. We do not belong
to the Democracy because Of any prediction
for particular men, but because our political
principles find better expression through the
Democratic organization than through any
other. Hence we have attached ourselves to
it; and when the selection of men to represent
those principles is the question before our
party, it is the right and the duty of every
Democrat to closely canvass the merits and
qualifications of each candidate. TO point out
the objections to each, and to counsel the party
as to what we may think best for its success
was our duty, and we boldly performed it. Bu;
the convention Of the party differed from us
and, not considering the objections we urged Of
sufficient Importance, overrulcd us. What theL
was our duty as far rs consistency was to be
consulted? Were We, for consistency sake, to
abandon the principles Of our political life. be-
cause we were defeated in our opposition? or did
the "Whig" expect us to sink our principles
and support the man whose whole life has been
a war on Democratic principles TO be ineon-
sistent as to principle in order to be consistent
as to men' Such conduct may very well suit
party like the "Whig'S," who, since 1852, have
promulgated six different platforms of princi.
pies. But such is not our idea of consistency.
To our principles We have ever held an un-
swcrving attachment and from their advocacy
We can never be driven, either by the taunts or
arguments Of our enemies, or diSappontments
at the hands of our friends. This attachment
to principle may not he fully appreciated by
the "Whig'-it may be considered as wholly
unbecoming in us to advocate the election Of
the man whose nomination we opposed; but
with those men of every party, who regard the
principles of political life as the band of party
union, our advocacy Of Mr.. Letcher will be
esteemed as high evidence Of unselish devotion
to Democratic principle. That we might have
defeated Mr.. Lctchsr, by opposing his election,
is highly probable; but that it would have
evidenced any consistency in the true meaning
of the term, we wholly deny We shall, there
fore. continue our efforts for his election. re-
canting nothing; and, in firm consistency to
principle, We shall oppose Mr.. Goggn, and
show up our recantatious cotemporary in its
inconsistency TO principle as we'll as to men?
Our cotcmporary has already sung its pa
inodial hymn to Bolts and the 18th sec
tion-to Lecomptonsm and the South
to -Nothngism and Americansm, and to
Whiggery, also. None now find favor with the
Richmond "Whig." "Oppostionism" is now,
for the time being the sum and substance, the
all that is left Of what was once Wig paper.
Alas {! how arc the mighty fallen!
20, mighty whig = dos, thou lie so low,
Are all thy eonguest', gleries. 'riumphs, ,poils,
Shrunk to this little neasure:-"
of opposition-of Goggin-Bottssm?
The "Whig" may not be able to see the dis
tinction we take between consistency to prin-
ciplc, and to men-the former with us is the
life principle of our political action the latter
we hold in very little regard For the former
we entertain the highest vcncration; to the lat
ter, very little attention is given by us. To-
day we may be against a man, and tomorrow
for him; but yesterday, to-day and tomorrow,
we are the same as TO principls. And this is
the great distinctive feature between the De-
mocracy of Virginia and their opponents.
The Democracy having cardinal principles
which are the fundamental tencts of constitu-
tional construction, they change not, but arc
ever true to the Constitution and their country
while the Opposition, looking only to measures
without consulting their adaptation to the con-
stitutional theory Of the government, when
defeated in one campaign find no difficulty in
presenting different issues at the ncxt-and
thus, while stability of principle has charac-
tcrized the Democracy of Virginia, their oppo-
nents have been equally characterized by va
cillation as remarkable as it was imbecile Hence
we have seen Federalism degenerate into Whig-
gerry, Whiggery sink into Amcricanism, and that
has now sloughed into Opposition. Here is
that which is not consistency