Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-02-17
The Popular Preference.

the popular tewl whicI. rb!aics IL the cxlre-
mites. His sense OF tie wrong which has
done 20 rs, his IDEAS "r the remedy, all elicit
the appreciation Of tho people. There is no
sitting this voice nf approval. the arts Of the
politician have had nnI!.ing to TO witl. it,
They have no: directed il. neither cam they
control it.
Reasonable as it i: that the people should
thus, in their primary meetings, give express
sion to their feelings ard their wishes uralicr-
able rs IS their right 10 do 50, wc still hear
complaints from solnr who prefer another To
Gov. Wise for the Presidency, 10 those outbursts
Of popular feeling III favor of his elevation
to this high trust. Why is this: Are The
people usnrping any power: Isl unbcconng
in them to speak out upon great questions of
public interest: Ought they not to let the
! politicians know what they think and desire ::
Arc the plans Of selfish politicians So much at
variance with these manifestations Of the pop
ular desire that the manifestations are becoming
offensive? The people have sought to give
expression to their feelings ai'i wishes in tic
most unohjcclionablr ;nannc". They have At
! tempted TO giyc no instructions. Justified rs
! they might have bern warranted as they would
i be i'll doing this, from tie tlnanimity Of Scnti-
mcnt, Of feeling OF desire that exists among
| them. yet scoruing the mcrcst srInblanrc Of
unfairncSS, wanting lu exercise no doubtful
! power having no cnris In accomplish Tut the
couuily's good they have .vrn the fearless
utlcranccS Of the working al their own hearts,
and lave dared 10 lei those in high places know
what are their thoughts and who are their pre-
| fercnccS for nigh Offices, where the rightful,
and faithful and yirtuous performances of the
| trusts are identified with their interest and
| prosperity.
But the people nllg ht not To give any indica-
tiunS in their primary meetings. "I their choice
| for the Presidency! lttramIncls their delegates
! to the nominating conventions Is there SOunr-
ness in this dnctrinr! Why should true and
honest delegate wish tn go to such Il convention
without Knowing any thing Of the wishes and
! feelings Of those he Is 10 represent: is 1t not
! for The ubviOns reason that he does not want
his own wishes lralnmclcd hy the wishes of
! those ne undertake, 10 represent: When you
hear complaints Of this sort. the popular desire
is always in conflict with The schemes Of dcsi gl.
/ ing and sci lhiM men, who think. they ought 10
control tie politics Of the country. II the
voice VI the great iIass Of the people, of those
/ who want nothing but peace, prosperity, equal
! laws, and gUnt; government, wa> Ottcner heard
[: and listened TO- this Union Of ours would still
be blessing; there would be "rngtll Of days
in her right hand and III her left hand riches
! and honor"
II the declarations Of our best friends ut the
! North are worthy Of credit, the dangers which
/ now threaten the foundations Of onr institu
| tionS have been brought about by The arts Of
selfish and unprincpcd politicians, who for
| their OWN ends, have stiilcd The voice Of the
people and have kept patriots from tho polls
! Aud unless popular shout can Inc raised there
! that will drive Aboli;ioni>nI and Black Rcpub-
! licaniSm to the caves and dc;lS Of their inqui-
! ty, the Union is gone.
The voice Of the people in Virginia is for the
! Constitution Preserve that, and they arc for
the Union. Rut, # necessary 10 preserve the
: Constitution they will tear the Union into
/ fragments The people are true to themselves
! They see who il is that has stood by them soul
! AMI hcart--whn has stood by the Constitution
and The Cnion They know that .ibolitionisln
! looks iiu,, henry i. Wise ~ the embodiment
! of Souhcln opposition 20 tanatic$m. And the
/ greatest rcbrIEe that Seward Wilson, Hale and
! Sherman have ever received, is this roicc that
! is coming mp Tor Henry y. Wise
! One or THE l'forLE.
| Iu lie Edit"rS IF Mo EnTHirer:
! NuRTI-N ES1EES VIRGINIA. Feb. ! lSGn.
t;rntlcIncIi We have written many lrtttrS
and received others III reply; and seen and con,
vcrScd with many persons III AMI nut "i the
! State to enable ms tn form :tn opinion rs to the
popular strength nl our many distinguished
statesmen now spoken Of for the next PrcSl-
,lrnrr; and we think We speak alyisc,ily when
we say that no man, since The days Of Andrew
Jackson, has g":;rn such hold upon the al.
+, fcctionS nl tlic popular masses ae Hov. Wise
has at liiiS time. His warm and generous
! impulses, his lriiy hearing and most m!racu.
Ions foresight in forcclng coming events,
together win the valuable services which he
rendered the country and the Democratic party
in the notable campaign of lS55, and since, us
, Governor u! the State, promptly surlrcSslng
and pun;shng the llarrcr's Ferry insurgents,
have secured Eor him thousands nl new friends
in every part Of the country, who express their
unparalleled approval Of his conduct, and their
! enthusiastic preference lcr him for frcSI-
! dent OF lhr United States. Ilr. Hunter has
many war!n l!e:,dS and admirers and
is admitted on nil sides, to be = wise aud con-
| Seryatirc statesman, and would doubtless make
/ Il good President Hut it is, as universally
conceded, thai Inc is hy no iiraIls acAitdbtt,
and could not, al this time, secure the votes oi
! the great popular nraSSeS. And who denies
that ir day has hot PASSED l'y for President
making Ivy the j'"iii"n"s "ad congressional
caucus system, as Was the case IN The early
days Of the Republic: Tie man who steps
into the Presidential Chair now, must be some
thirg more than the ploddng dplou.ti$t
and closet politician. liz must, in addition,
be " man nt' tie lt0rlc, who has the capacity
To lonl aS well Us To inspire To action men o
all classes and ranks in society; and wIthal, he
must posses. y big soVl and have plenty ol
grit and ncrrc This is no time for tmd
mcn The threatening storm and blackcing
clouds warn lrS nf approaching danger. We
must have at the head Of the government
same such man as Odd Hickory who will
have the courage TO suppress Mf"Sioas ana
head the army, il necessary IL crsc"fe tic M"s'
l-/l:ur Wise Is the man Tor the times, and MS
election would do more Ia aav the sectional
excitement anrl avert the dangers when
threaten r!Ia Union than any man in it. And VINO
now doubts tha, llr is the only Southern man
who can he elected President. II The Charles
ton Convention GcItat his nomination, they as
surely elect Il Black Republican President
Ninc.tenlhs of the people Of Virginia prefer
Cinr. Wise 10 any other man, and as goes ' IT.
gina in this contest so will goa united South
The artion Of the approaching Democratic
! Slate Convention. which convencs at Rich
maInl, AZ The 18th instant will be looked to
lv the peort, with deep interest. II Virginia
! declares her preference in that Convention for
Governor Wise. so will the other Southern
St#lt> do likewise; ami uSt so sure will the
! friends cl lilr Constitution and the Union IN
the Northern ard " c>trrn States backed pby
tie mJl;qas OF mturalizc'l citizens and their
descendants raiir ai once lnh his support.
We believe tin, Virginia holds i'll hcr hands
the ,cstinics Of the Cnior; and wc rs firmly be-
licvs that Henry g. Wise is tie only man that
can save il. Then. Srs. wili the organs Of the
Demorraiic party vino meet in Convention ut
Richmond an the 18TH Instant, hesitate II
sya1;. ont Mc "W anI <5hlimsais"f he 3'foPie
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