Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-04
IA he Elltors Of Tie Enan,rer

Gentlemen: In your Friday paper you oDsel'e
that the Whige seized upon the inadverlent remark
of a very young man, and new member, MT
Funsen, for the purpose OF defeating MT RUIN
erfoord. heard the remark alluded 10; ana NOSE
which gave rise 10 it, and SO TAR from thinking IL
"inadverlen,, l thought il capital hit, well war
ranted BY the occasion.
II is understood, that the Wings in caucus
were unable to concentrate their vote upon can
didate However, after Mr.. Ruherfoords nomi-
nation. Mr.. Lacy nominated Mr.. Daniel. A
long debate ensued, in the course of (which, some
of The Wings warmly denounced the Democrats
for their former proscriptveness. The argument
i,4n ad hominem was resorted 10, and the Journal
read, TO make good the charge against certain
Democrats present: but with such poor success,
that if that was a fair sample of their logic,
doubt whether those Wings will ever distinguish
themselves in tbatlin
Messrs. Fulton and Taylor OF Norfolk Borough
(Whigs) avowed their intention to vote for Mr..
Rutherford, and it was understood that other
Wings would vote in the same way. il was now
evident that Mr. Daniel could not be elected,
and. al the instance of Mr. Broadus Of Cupeper,
Mr.. Lacy Withdrew Mr.. Daniels nomination.
Had he merely done SO, The remark OF Mr.. Fun
stem might have been "inadvertent" but Mr.. Lacy
ACCOMPANIED his withdrawal with reiterated
denunciation OF the proscriptive conduct OF the
Democratic party in Virginia, thus haunting
them with moi deserving the clemency about TO be
shown in sparing Mr. Rutherford. The with
drawal of Mr.. Daniel was put upon the ground
OF mere grace, and the profered favor was ac-
companied with stigma upon the beneficiaries
But This was not all Mr.. VERIFY, in formal and
bombastic strain, returned his thanks to Messrs.
Broadus and Lacy for the sublime masnanimity
of the withdrawal, and claimed vast credit for the
noble stand Of the Wings, who generously sacri-
feed 10 principle Gan election whieh they eontG mol
carra) For had the vote then been taken, I'M
douh,edy Mr.. Rutherford would have been re-
elected. But, Mr.. Funston, not yet fully initiated
in the mysteries Of party, could not refrain from
enduring whether The two or three gentlemen
concerned in the nomination had Withdrawn it on
principle, or from a conviction that Mr.. Daniel
could notbe elected2
The pebble thrown into the hornets nest ex
cited an amazing buzzing and commotion-the
enraged insects fairly swarmed. Truth gave
force 10 the missile.
That when Withdrawn, Mr. Daniel could not
have been elected, is unqucstionable. The ina
bi,y 10 elect him. was good and sufficient rea-
son for Withdrawing him. But when sufficient
motive to account for an act is found is il phi
losophical TO 20 in quest OF other superluous mo-
lves1 If the Wings could not then have elect
ed MIR. Daniel, what right had Messrs. Lacy and
Yerby to claim credit for magnanimity for not
doing i'll Mr.. Funsen did not include the Wing
party in the same category with MIR. Lacy and
one or two others. The mass of the party had
not claimed any credit for The withdrawal, and
how could Mr. Funsien dive into their thoughts?
By what clairvoyance could he divine their OPT
Mons?
But a mere remark en- PEASANT, repartce OF
one Democrat, was seized upon and made ham
IN act
Daniel rode into the Council on the back OF an
exquisite piece OF humbug. Amid the intestine
dissensions OF the Wings, they can sill comfort
themselves with the hope OF succeeding occa-
sionally by aid OF imaginary Democratic in
suits.
Mr. Funston bore himself with manly pro-
priety in trying position-cxposed TO the pas
sionate assaults of the Wings, and receiving lit
lie or no sympathy or support from his own par
Is, who seemed 10 be as panic-struck at the idea
of losing a Councillor, as Braddock's men were
al the ambuscade Of the French and Indians.
four Correspondent makes out strong and If
resisliblc case. We, too, have Inadvertently"
done injustice 10 our friend Funston. The first
impression which the Senior Editor, who wrote
the Saturdays article, took up, was from others
for he did not witness the scene-and they said
it was "indiscreet" "inadyertent' &c, because
Funsien had given pretext BY his re,ortb for
men TO prescribe Col. Rutherford, who wished
TO do so from the start and who only used F.'s
remark 10 urge other at first, refractory Whiss,
10 go with ihem-and they, unlike the manly and
magnanimous Taylor of Norfolk, mol having The
moral courage 10 Withstand the being drilled and
dashed into The ranks That was F.'s only error,
if error il was but with magnanimous party
it would have been deemed only fair rctorl.
We understand from others besides our Cores
pendent, that Funsten bore himself nobly, and
in manner which proves the high qualities
with which he is gifted. He distinguished
himself at College, and we venture 10 say, that
one of these days he will distinguish himself in
public life, and visit upon the Wings the wrongs
which they have done him and his cause. We
have no doubt that the reason why more of his
Republican brethren (but one ortwo) did not rush
10 his rescue, was because they were unwilling TO
irritate the Wings the more, and give them farther
pretexts for sacrificing Col. uherloord-Enq'r.]