Richmond Enquirer

[From the Fincastle Patriot.]

TRIUMPH OF DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES.

The course adopted and pursued with so much ardor and zeal for some months past, by the Southern Whigs and particularly by those in Virginia, has been virtually an acknowledgement of the weakness of their party, and the untenable character of the political principles, (if that term, without a perversion of its meaning, can be used to express opposition to the Administration.) by which they have been characterized as a party. If this were not the case, why should they have resorted to the obviously incompatible and adventitious aid and influence of a decided and distinguished member of the great Republican Party? If their claims and principles, founded mainly in opposition to the Administration, were tenable and defensible before the American people, why should they, in utter disregard of their former course, and acts of denunciation of the measures of the Administration, and the supporters and defenders of those measures, have deserted their former bold and independent opposition ground, by going into the Administration ranks, and there selecting Judge White, who was distinguished not only for his thorough and able support and defence of his measures, but for having the particular confidence and friendship of the President, whom they had denounced with his measures, and press his claims upon the people as a candidate for the Presidency? Knowing the intrinsic weakness of their party, and the unsustainable character of their principles before the people, this premature nomination of Judge White has been made to engraft on the Whig party, by the aid of its influence, a portion of the Republican party, and thereby enable the Whigs to maintain the accidental ascendency they had obtained by the influence of the panic, in the State. But the Republican party could not so soon forget the uncompromising and proscriptive course of the Whigs last winter during the short space of their accidental ascendency, as to permit themselves a second time to be cheated out of their political rights by a second device. Being decidedly in favor of a National Convention, to produce union and concert among the Republican party, we have been disposed to keep the Presidential question out of view during the Spring canvass, and this has been the course of the Republican presses throughout the State; but the Whigs have forced this question upon the people, as the great and important issue. Now, since they have adopted this course of their own election, they should not complain, but quietly submit to the decision which the sovereign people have made against them.

The District.—We refer, with no ordinary degree of satisfaction—but without a disposition unduly to exult over the fallen fortune of our opponents—to the returns, in this day's paper, from the elections in Hampshire and Morgan counties, which have crowned with success the efforts of the Democracy in this signal district. In the Virginian of the 21st ult. we declared that "our faith was strong in the patriotic county of Morgan, and our hope steadfast in the Democracy of Hampshire," and most nobly have they fulfilled the high expectations which we entertained. They have done well, and deserve the lasting gratitude of their Democratic friends throughout the district. Every where else, save in the county of Frederick, has the good cause been manfully sustained. The ponderous old "three-decker," which was looked to as the flag-ship, got into stormy water, and became unmanageable—whether from the inexperience or insubordination of the crew remains for others to decide. We have no praise for her: she had men and means enough to have decided the contest without a struggle; but she fought, if she fought at all, like an unseaworthy hulk, and threw the brunt of the combat upon the smaller craft. Shame on her

In Berkeley, all was done that a gallant Spartan band could do. Out-numbered, but not intimidated, our friends in that federal bailiwick contended manfully for every inch of ground; nor did their zeal abate, nor their efforts cease, until the declining sun admonished them that the hour of conflict had gone by.

In Jefferson, the fight waxed warm.—With the odds against them, the disciples of him whose name their county bears, made a glorious stand for the principles of by-gone days. Their flag was borne on high by as gallant a band as ever adorned the most favored quarters of the Old Dominion.

But we turn to Hampshire with feelings of the warmest admiration. We knew she would do her duty, to the best of her ability but we feared for want of strength. She has shown herself a giant in the good cause. Maryland claims a portion of her soil—but she cannot, shall not, have the tythe of a rood. We would not part with one of her sturdy sons, if we had to turn Nullifiers to prevent it. Our district hails thee, Hampshire, as a precious heritage.

And last, though not least in worth, if least in numbers, stands up before us the patriotic Morgan—a county fully worthy of its name. The standard of Democracy is never unfurled in that quarter but it finds rallying around it a gallant host, whose motto is, "to do or die." Upon that people we would risk all that we hold dear—to their support we could trust the sacred standard of our principles, and lie down and slumber quietly, never doubting that like the 'star-spangled banner, at Fort McHenry, it would be found at dawn's early light, still floating

"O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave."

[Winchester Virginian.]

The Knoxville Register learns, by a passenger in the stage, that "all the candidates who had been elected in Frederick county, Va., were avowedly for Judge White."

This is truly "news from the far West." If the editor's information of the progress of the White cause in other quarters shall turn out to be as accurate as this report he will, most undoubtedly, have "reckoned without his host."—Ib.

Virginia—All accounts, so far as received, from the election now in progress in the Old Dominion, are of the most cheering character. Whigism and Nullification are receiving their just deserts at the polls. We are truly sorry that our old friends in Tennessee, who would have sung Te Deum two years ago for such Republican victories as we have already achieved in Connecticut, and are now gaining in Virginia, seem to receive the news with no joy, and with the smile evidently on the wrong side of their faces. These are clearly Administration victories, and being so, ought surely to bring no cause of sorrow and disappointment to the "White Administration party."

The following is an extract of a letter from a highly respectable gentleman in Virginia, to his friend in this city, dated

Nelson county, Va., April 10, 1835

Dear Sir: Our county is in a state of great political excitement. The elections here are about to commence, and I never saw half so much interest taken as there is now by all parties. The last Legislature was opposed to the Administration, and a great many members were instructed to vote for William C. Rives for the Senate of the United States, which instructions they disobeyed. They have returned to their constituents and are trying to make the present elections turn upon the next Presidency. The Whigs have taken up Judge White. I can form no idea how the election will go, but I hope the instructed members will stay at home. I am afraid the Whigs have taken up Judge White for the purpose of dividing the Republican party, then drop him and slip in Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, or some other man of their "piebald party," so as to throw the election into the House of Representatives.—Nashville Union.