Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-05-02

ther Mr.. Leigh was dismissed by The people about the
middle Of April, 1912. aud that was about the time he
was di-missed. ADD the war declared tho Is June tl-
lowing. not more than two months, is a matter Of 40 I'M
portsnee. We all know there could have been 10 great
metanorphosis or change taken place in Mr.. l.. during tho
spare OF those few days so as 10 produce such an entire
revolution In him. as to be induced to yield his support To
measures which he had so long and so s,renuousy CON-
uemDed, and TO bring about the |" stoncment' and recar-
asuoh oil what our writer mildly terms, " his errors."-
ihis cannot be credited. Such versatility and change
constitute no part OF the character oil Mr.. Leigh. Be-
sides, as we before remarked. il is well known that his
course was the same otter as before the wur-and that ho
never made, or intended TO make, any atopement Tor it
!" c cannon suppose, that MIR. Leigh's being called upon by
the ladies' oil the town to make a speech tor them upon tho
presentation OF their flag to the Petersburg volunteers. a
fund which this writer has so largely drawn upon. iurnish-
es ANY evidence Of the change of {" public Sc eminent" az to
MI. Leieh's conduct respecting The war; or can be con-
siusred as making any very great a,ouement Tor his " err
no doubt, that MIR. Leigh was a very great hand at that
business, and therefore demanded his services. Patriotic
a. 'hey generally are, they c)uid hardly be supposed
10 have inquired into his political course. Mr.. Leigh be.
mg al mat time a single man, could no, in his hear, have
,s'u'ed them. lie promptly obeyed; accepted the invita-
"o". ana acquitted himself, no doubt, to the satisfaction Of
ns Jatr hearers, AS well as every one else. Had Mr..
Leish marched under ,ha, flag, aud accompanied the gal
liant volunteers TO The battle. field, Il would have then
looked more like sharing in the tolls OF the field, aud max
i"g al, ato"enentf for his previous errors, than the speech
he delivered.
We are next reminded by this writer. thai the people of
Petersburg in 1929 gave MIR. Leigh their votes, TO
represent the District in the State Conv eniion; that his
course IN tSat body, was such as 10 meet their decided APP
prooaiion; and that they Afterwards passed resolutions
highly approving IL. lie also states, that it was on this
occasion Petersburg " took him TO her bosom - lorgave
ana forgot his tormer obnoxious course and all his political
alterations. This is certainly proof, we will admi', that
me citizens oil Petersburg were highly grateful for the
eminent services Mr.. Leig!. rendered in the Convention
J" uey accordingly thanked and highly Distinguished
nun Tor them. This act. then, we conIenl. only Displays
me gratitude aud good feeling Of the town for that partcu.
arservire. MIR. Leigh receiving the votes OF Petersburg
TO go TO the Convention, is no proof tina, her citizens at hat
time had any reference to his conduct before and during
the war. Seventeen years had rolled away, which was
wen Calculated 10 soften their feelings towards MIR. L., aud
induce them to accept his services Tor a particular occa-
SON. fha' Convention, also, was altogether of a local ma
ture. IL had relation To the State only-no,hing to do with
FEDERAL politics. Mr.. l.. was ALWAYS viewed az a correct
.p"e politician, i'll reference 10 State matters aud as such
"e people oil Petersburg, as well as the rest Of the district,
conferred mat station uron him. The length and absur-
'Iiy TO which now they have carried the doctrine of State
hfShfs, was then entirely unknown. Had they howe
vrr' been called upon to give him their votes for a seat in
congress, instead OF the State Convention, this writer
would have then witnessed a very different result
Their recollection would have then revived, as regarded
NJ Leiehs past conduct on federal and national affairs;
uheir feelings awakened, and they would not Tail Instantly
10 nave rejected him as a candidate Tor a seat in our ma
iionai councils. This certainly would have been the is
sue u sioh a contest. Democratic principles were then
the order of the day. We were all united-no nuIiiers,
ana The yeiisottae'ionw were completely silenced. But the
writer "Oi no particular Age" says, Mr.. Leigh "was
never a Federslist." The "eye.winess'' acauns him of
that offence. So we AiJ-but, at the same lime observed.
mat he belonged TO a ''iittle squad, for so it was, signi6-
cahuy denominated on account OF its numbers who were
loud and clamorous," and far outsiripped the Federal par
ty, in opposition TO all the measures which the Admins
trsiion could adopt TO save the country and ~vindicate our
national rights. Our writer is perfectly welcome to all
the beneht OF that admission. 1t would, however, have
been more candid in him to have given The entire passage,
and let II speak for Itself. But, he holds probably with
the maxim, that ALI is fair in politics.
In order inrther 10 pahiaie, for we are glad 10 find this
writer does nos pretend 10 vindicste the former course of
Leigh as usual, he lugs in the name Of Mr.. Van
buren,, and distorbs the ashes Of Mr.. Randolph. He SAYS
mat Mr. Van Buren, was also opposed to the war, and sup
ported Mr.. Clinton against Mr.. Madison. This is not the
nrst line tins charge has been made against this dis
tinguislied man, and like others, without the least founda-
lion. IL has become quite stale, and been so often repeat
ell aud exposed, as TO rendey it unnecessary here to be-
any attention upon it. We shall ,heyeiore let it pass.
The name OF Mr.. Randolph is also invoked to the assist
ance OF Mr.. Leigh. lie is introduced, to show, that he,
likewise was opposed TO the war. but hrs patriotic consiitu-
ents torgave and "received him again, :" (as this writer says)
with an enthusiastic welcome into their confidence ~ This,
no DOUBT, is all very true. Mr.. Randolph came forward, and
was one otthe distinguished characters TO whom we were in
aeoied Tor pulling down the puritan and black leg Admins
tratiOn. The thunder OF his eloauence. shook 10 the topn.
dation, the ~profligate coalition end scattered it into ruins.
Here was atonement for you. But Mr.. Leigh, by his late
eonAnc', appears disposed 10 gather UP The separate rag
hebtS, ana by Introducing n cement OF his own, is endea-
vot:hg 10 reconstruct ii aud bring it again into full opc-
ration.
The friends of Mr.. Leigh had better lot him rest-psr.
ucnis'iy as regards his former course. But if they will
coniinne TO press forward, let them place him upon more
o'ghihed ground. Let them not :" aught exlenuate," nor
attempt to Pallidte IL down into more innocent 'error,' for
which he has made ample " a,onement." MIR. Leigh,
they may be assured, will not thank the m for their interier.
enee. III we know him, he will scorn to shelter himself
under the miserable plea they have prepared for him. If
appealed 10, " e have no doubt, but ne would candidly adj
mt mat he never ceased 10 assail Mr.. Madison and his
administrations as also all the other public lunctiona,ies.
and the war during its whole continuance.
The writer has betrayed such want Of information IN
OH the subject discussed, that ii would, indeed, be difficult
to assign him to any 'paricular age" Whether he was at
the time OF the transactions to which he refers, a tuI grown
boy, a man, or what, we will not undei,ak to say. We
shall, however, here take leave OF him as "a Petersburg
Republican OF no particular Age"
We regret that we lave been forced TO this length; but
il was unavoidable. Charges can easily be made in he
compass of a nutshell, phich require columns to erpose
and rSnfe.
AN OLD PETERSBURG REPUBLICAN,.