Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-12-04

MIN Z. METLEK.

There is one aspect OF the recent political result in
this country, as Indicative Of the character of parties,
as any Of the occurrences Of the great contest. il is
the bitterness of feeling the freshened and fierce acri-
mony-wilh which the " Wings" or many Of them,
speak IF it and Of their defeated, but unterrilied and
unsuhdued opponents. Sumo Of their leading news
papers-leaders in fraud and untruth-leaders in every
game of mposItion-no only denounce the Democracy
in the mass, with The copiousness of epithet belonging
to the Federal vocabulary, but in detail, and pursue
prominent Republicans, especially if they bnye been
intimately associated with Mr.. Van Buren,, with a fero-
city which belongs TO natures alike ~profigatc and re-
%vengeiul.
1t is natural that the malice Of such natures should
he directed against the purcst and ablest OF the friends
of the Democracy. Hence Mr.. Butler has not only not
been spared, but has been singled out as one Of the most
prominent objects of attack. If tn parts at once bril-
liant and profound, there is a trait for which Mr.. Il is
peculiarly distinguished, IL is his purity Of character.
Eminent for those solid qualities Of mind and heart,
that win the good will whilst they convince the judy
ment-and for an elevated but gentle and unobtrusive
pieIy, that. has shed a lustre over even the highest ex-
hIhtions of Las mental powcr-we did not suppose that,
whatever difference Of political views might exist be-
tween him and others, he could be supposed to have a
personal enemy. But 10 what else than personal ran
cor-the hatred of one who has steadily adhered 10 his
principles, and vindlcated the Cause Of Truth and Pa
triotism with eloquence and f~ervor-can we ascribe
such assaults as the following
( From the RchmOnd Mig, copied into The y. j. Tsnes, aad other
Ftdcrai pspsrs.J
"seneca, or some other Roman philosopher, maintained that
there was no sight more pleasing 10 the Gods than that Of a good
man struggling with adversely. With due Difference TO Mr.. Sc
uecn, we think an object much more likely 10 he gratifying to the
eye of Deity, is that Of a bad man foird in his benevolent machi-
nntinus against others, and orcr'aken by a just retrihuiinn. Such,
al least, is the g-nerai sentiment, which christian enlightenment
has spread abroad-nnd The 'pious' Mr.. Butler. is destined 10 feel
The fnll force Of its blleltng and whitening influence. 1t is diff
hcult to conceive Of 4 gentleman occupying a more unenviahle at
titude than he does. His patron, Martin Van Buren,, driven out
with the Kisses and excavations of n whole people-Amos Ken
dali, of whnse character most good men deem too harshly TO speak
freely-may both comparatively, rest upon a bed Of Fuses, and en-
iy some respite from tho siinss Of conscience-fnr neither uf
them THAT We are aware ever attempted subprnatiun Of PeLu-
~, and was convicted hy his own witness"
If it be asked what evil hath he dnne:-whence this
bitterness Of cspersion:-we are told that he has had
the efrontery TO aid in bringing out TO the world re-
velations of fraud and corruptions Of the franchise sur.
passing any thing heretofore known in the history Of
this country. In short, that he did not withhold from
''the public eye" disclosures of alrocious violations
of law and right, reaching the very foundations of nur
civil polty, and corrupting even The palladium of our
liberties. For this, the decencies Of life are outraged,
The name and purposes Of Deity p%rofaned, and a citi-
zen above reproach-rho stands immeasurably beyond
and iniegrity-and whose life is n simple record of
deeds, worthily done, We trust, in The sight Of Heaven
as before his achievements charged with crimes, fouer
by Tar than those proven against and confessed by the
guilty partic pators in The frauds which he has had
some agency in bringing TO the light and to the public
re probation
We have no fears for the high and spotless charac-
Ter OF MIR. Butler. Assault and imputation from such
assailants is no slight praise. The good men even of
the "Whig' party will r~epndiate attacks in such a spirit
upon one whose integrity they cannot doubt and whose
motives they appreciate. But how shall we estimate
The mendacity of partizans who appoint to high Office
and embrace and applaud James B. Glentworth, and
assault and defame Benjamin F. Butler.
T.3banu .4rrus.