Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-09-07
From the Petersburg inteiGgencer.
"NlR. THOMAS RlTCHlE,''
AND "TIIE PETERSBURG REPUBLICAN,


"rhcro none so rare
As can compare
With the of HARMONY" |
The''old King Cole'' of tho Enquirer may be
ga jolly old soul,' for any thing we know to the
contrary, but we think it will take more than his
''fddlers three" to keep him in an amiable mood
when he reads an article which appeared in the
Petersburg Republican of Saturday last.
Under the pte,ence of answering certain ques-
tons addressed ,ohim'by the Charleston Mercury
i'll relation to the veXed question of the organiza
ton OF the National Convention, t'dLr. Thomas
Richie" issued Circular to his Eege men, cal
ling upon them for their views OH the subject in
hand.
This Circular, our neighbor of tho Republican
handles without gloves He regards it at
tempt on the part of "Nr. Thomas Ritchie" to
s,itu,e himself the organ of Democratic sentiment
in Virginia, through the medium of letier-wriers,
whose views may be used when in accordance
with his own, and suppressed when in opposition
TO that particular plan of Organization which
most iavors the hopes of the Little Magician"
/ The Republican begins in the following mild
manner:
! "Fellow-citzens, after having read this Circu-
sists, we had almos, said, It's alroci,y! Do you
no. see that it is direct proposition from Mr..
Thomas Richie, to take from tie Peopie of Vir-
9inia, their power of expressing NTgna's wish
es, and to place it in the hands of the letter wri-
tiers of the Enquirer Mr.. Thomas Richie to
be the seit-constituted organ, those persons who
choose TO write letters TO Mr. Thomas Richie, to
he the selt-consiituied opponents of the public
VIII; and they, at their discretion, without refer
ence TO the people, without responsibility, with
out even unless they wish, making their individ-
uai selves known TO the people, aic 10 express TO
our sister States the wishes OF Virginia !" y!
Brothery this, is it not! Can any thing be
imagined more perfectly harmonioUs-more char
acteristc of that union of feeling which has been
the boast Of the Gree, Democratic Parfyi In a.
mother part of the article, ncighbor thus talks
; OF the tactics of his elder brother democrat:
1--WE have witnessed. in our political expert
enee, the tricks and manGuvres OF political mana
gers, but they have always had the decency at
least TO cndedrOr to conceal them We have seen
attempts made by political aspirants to take 10
themselves the RICH, of speaking for the people OF
Virginia. but IT has always been done under some
specious disguise. We have seen public assem-
blies, whose votes were given in manner con-
trary TO Justice, and against established usage,
but it was done under d cloak OF fairness. We
have seen individuals in such assemblies, by such
! means, clothed with an undue weigh and aethoI-
Ity, but 1t was yelled under the excuse of neces-
silly. We have seen all this and more, among
g9'ca1s OF ell HGesds Sd a. Is gafss but ia
distinction, Of being the first openly 10 nsk tho
people of Virginia, to yield their rights to the
will of unknown and irresponsible individuals,
and to place these their pretended opponents un-
der the control of the person from whom comes
: the p'oposillon."
For long time the task of exposing the En-
qulrer's "hicks" was left to the Wing Press, and
although his doublings and turnings were fire.
quently eXposed-alhough he was smoked first
out OF one hole and then out of another, we could
not persuade the Democracy that he was not a
marvellously straightforward and fair-dealing
politician. Now, however, 'things are altered"
Tor we can bring Democratic Witnesses 10 the
stand, and by their testimony prove our charges.
The Enquirer has so long exercised an undisputed
sway over the Democracy (D of Virginia, that he
issues his mandates with the air Of one whose au-
thori'y cannot be disputed. How he will bear
the rebellion of the Republican remains to be
seen,