The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-02-22

| were moderate and rates unchanged.
The Great Political acknowledgements
nous Conduct of the Mother or Presi-
dents.
The old spirit still lives in the Mother of Pre-
sidenIs, and she has risen to meet the danger
that impends over the Union and the constitu-
ton, with heart equal to the great emergen.
cy, setting bright example to the younger
States.
The proceedings in her Democratic State
Convention, Of which we give will picture
elsewhere to-day, form landmark in the arid
waste of political discussion. With two sons in
her bosom, either of whom, weighed in the
scales of merit, would make any FIVE aspirants
for the Presidency from other States kick the
beam, the question came up for the Old Do.
minion to name her favored son. The parti-
sans of each stood stoutly by their man, and,
with foot to foot and eye to eye, all fought as
only men of deep and stern convictions can
fight. Monroe and Accomac, the Tenth Legion
and the Swabians Northern Neck and South
Side, were stirred to the Utmost depth
of feeling, and rom the Blue Ridge to the
Bay shore, and back from the valley to the
mountain, the tide Of conflict rolled a. if 1T
would involve everything in confusion and
ruin. But in the midst of the battle the &C.
MUS Of the State never for a moment forgot the
great danger and the great duty that was be-
fore her. Rising amid the din, she called to
her sons:-Peace, my children; not men to-
day, but the nation, calls for our care have
no favored son for whom to claim the honors
of the hour. Inscribe upon your banners prin-
ciples, not names, and send them forth to lead
in the thickest Of the fight, and mark the point
of danger. And there they stand now, calling
the sister States to rally around principles not
men, in this critical hour Of our national his
| tory.
What contrast does this noble example pre-
| sent with the course pursued by the New York
politicians! A pettifogging Albany clique,
Graded in hidden primaries, gathering in secret
| conclave round "the slate" on which the spoils
| are scored down against every shoulder hitter's
name, springing snap judgments upon conven-
tons, and quarrelling with every other similar
set of Office hunters for the honor of pre-
senting some pet name, whose native lus-
| tire would not possess one single ray if
! not set with the endorsement of the Empire
| State, the contrast must bring the tinge of
shame to every honest cheek. Through these
| jugglings New York goes forth to the battle
divided band, with petty candidates and not
| great principles to fight for; while Virginia
stands with close ranks and solid front to
face the danger, under whatever leader the
national voice shall call to be the standard
bearer. Under such vile leadership the En-
! pife State has lost her once proud position,
and become merely thing in the hands of
! spoils- hunting demagogues, who plot, and
scheme, and hatch at Albany, how best to
| plumber the public purse, and scold and
| wrangle at Syracuse about who shall be named
as the spoils divider. With such an unworthy
spirit apimating her public men, it is no
wonder that her voice has lost its weight in the
national councils. Whenever the Union meets
in Convention, she comes to its threshold with
contending delegations, and the general in
terest is called to decide between her SQUAD
bling sons They bring no strength to the
cause they fasten upon, but rather do they,
like fungi upon the monarch of the forest
draw upon its life stream to feed their own
vile needs.
The position that Virginia has taken
in the face Of the coming contest re.
stores her to her old proud stand
amid the States Of the confederacy. She has
shown that she still has the president eye for
danger. the patriotism to lull all minor in
terests in view Of the nations peril and the
heroism to strike right heartily in behalf of ALL
careless whether the honors of the hour fall