View Document Frames
Richmond,Va., Friday, Sept. 6
Election Stock!
Signs of distractions in the Whig ranks are multiplying upon us. The Clay Stock is
falling below par!
The Cincinnati Republican denies him the slightest prospect of success. It says,
that it has "really consulted with care all its exchange papers," and "the
result of this investigation is, a deliberate conviction that Mr. Clay can, under
no circumstances, be elected -- Even those who call most loudly for his nomination,
do not and cannot point to the States, whose support will probably make it successful.
In the West, Kentucky alone can be counted on. The Jackson Telegraph, a paper of
Tennessee, equally opposed to Mr. Clay and Mr. Van Buren, attributes the loss of
the recent election in that State to the prominence given to Mr. Clay's name in the
canvass; and the article is transferred with approbation to the columns of the Nashville
Whig." The Republican says, therefore, that "it is due alike in his own
honor, and the interests of the country, that his nomination be opposed."
The Xenia (O) Torch Light, a Whig paper, and inclined to Mr. Clay, has given up all
hope of Mr. Clay since the Western elections, and now urges the nomination of Gen.
Harrison -- "With these views, (says that paper,) it seems to us to be the
very extreme of folly to attempt the election of Mr. Clay." On the other
hand, Gen. Harrison, with equally as sound principles, with equally as pure patriotism,
and with equally as much talent for the station, and few or none of the objections
that are urged against Mr. Clay, can carry thousands of the original friends of Gen.
Jackson with him. We should be pleased to see Mr. Clay adopt the course already marked
out by Mr. Webster -- withdraw his name from before the people."
The Cincinnati Whig follows suit. Whilst it rejoices in the attentions which Mr.
Clay received in the city of N. York, it warns its friends not to be "deceived!"
"The Whig party, at this crisis," ought not to "permit themselves
to be misled." -- "Whilst all Whigs will rejoice then, that the evidences
continue to exist, that Mr. Clay's valuable public services obtain for him, the respect,
and confidence, and admiration of the goods men of the country; yet the party, in
consequence thereof, will not -- must not -- be betrayed into hopes, that, during
the present times, may not, will not be realized."
The Carlisle (P) Herald, which had hitherto preferred Mr. Clay, now says, that "The
only certain capital Mr. Clay can bring into the field, is his own State, Kentucky."
"We have heretofore abstained from taking decided ground in favor of Gen. Harrison,
because Mr. Clay was our first choice --but the news from Indiana, Kentucky, and
Tennessee, has removed every doubt from our mind respecting the availability of Mr.
Clay. With him we cannot hope to succeed -- the popular voice is not in his favor
-- and we must at once make up our minds to rally upon Harrison, or give Mr. Van
Buren an easy passage into a second term. With the strong evidence before us, furnished
y the recent election returns, of Mr. Clay's unpopularity, it would be treason to
the party, and suicidal to the best interests of the country, to maintain neutrality
or silence any longer. From this moment we shall feel it our duty to urge with all
the force we can, and promote by all the means in our power, the nomination of the
Western Chieftain."
The Trenton Gazette unfurls the banner of Harrison, and declares, that "in the
whole West and South, one single State alone; Kentucky, can be certainly relied on",
for Mr. Clay." -- The Editor further says, "The Anti-masons and Antislavery
men of Vermont will take her strength from the Whigs sooner than they will support
Mr. Clay."
"This shows (says the Mount Holly Herald) the ingredients of the piebald party.
The Abolitionists and Antimasons are too important to be forgotten -- their likes
and dislikes are to be studied. Gen. Harrison having been entered for the race of
1840 by Thaddeus Stevens, the high priest of Antimasonry and Abolitionism, those
favorable to an alliance offensive and defensive with these men, have only to take
Harrison, who is already endorsed and nominated by Stevens and his associates. In
short, Mr. Clay must be thrown aside, as not available with the Antimason and Abolition
factions."
The Claremont Eagle, one of the principal Whig oracles in New Hampshire, has just
shaken off its allegiance to Mr. Clay, with the usual qualification, "if he
should be the candidate of the opposition, the Whigs will rally unitedly in his support."
-- All the State Rights Whigs -- and all the Harrison Whigs? Never. The only question
with the Whigs, is not "Is he honest, is he capable, is he faithful to the Constitution?"
-- but is he available? What votes can he carry? What States can he command? and
by that test it is, that the Clay Stock is falling in the market." The great
States of Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Tennessee, & c., & c., will
carry off their Whig vote from him, and he is likely to receive his "honorable
discharge' -- in being superseded by a military chieftain.
The Globe, in the following article, notices another Sign of the times -- and shows,
that according to the version of the Boston Atlas, unless they discharge Mr. Clay,
the Whigs are themselves to be defeated and disgraced.
"THE PLOT REVEALED.-- We all recollect what disturbance was caused in the Whig
ranks, when, somewhat more than a year ago, the Boston Atlas frankly confessed that
the old candidates of Whiggery, and especially Mr. Clay, had not the popularity to
command the votes of the people. The Atlas was roundly rated, and at last whipped
into the ranks again; but subsequent events have reanimated its courage, and it now
reiterates the declaration. It tells the Whigs plainly, that if they have the folly
to run Mr. Clay, a disgraceful defeat inevitably awaits them. It accordingly recommends
his renunciation in favor of a candidate less obnoxious, and one who will be able
to unite the discordant fragments of the Opposition. Gen. Harrison is represented
to be such a one; and to sustain its opinion, leading articles are quoted from various
journals in the North, West, and South, all establishing the hopeless unpopularity
of Mr. Clay, and some of them pointing directly to the Military Chieftain as his
successor. In these articles, as well as in that of the Atlas, much is said about
the necessity of harmony, and of conciliating the various divisions of the mongrel
party, which is known by the vague appellation of Whig. To show what is meant here
by these significant terms, we cite the following passage from one of the articles
quoted by the Atlas, and which is taken from the Indiana State Journal:
"One thing the Whigs ought not to do, and that is, reject the support of the
Abolitionists."
"Now, the Abolitionists have lately resolved, in solemn convention, to support
no man who is not in favor of the immediate abolition of slavery. Here, then, is
the condition upon which alone Whiggery can expect to obtain the support of the Abolitionists.
Let the South look to these things. A conspiracy is brewing against her rights, interests,
and peace, more formidable than any thing which we have yet seen."
