Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-28
To Mrssrs John Rutherford John NJ. Patton
James Lyons, and others.

James Lyons, and others.
We give up 10 The ,ciiiy lucubrations oil his "Ac-
cidencu" The Lieut.. Governor OF The Stale, por-
ton of our columns which might be devoted 10
more important subjects. We are willing 10 Lei
him have a clear sweep, though all must admit
that he travels out of The record" in his brilliant
efforts 10 sheer at our editorial management. We
deem il unnecessary 10 parry his attempted hits.
For long period we have known them 10 be
harmless-and il Is a mailer Of nolotieiy, thai in
his Legislative career he succeeded, by his dl-
tusive and ceaseess words, and tragic yehe-
mence, in killing many good measures in
which his constituents were deeply interested. =
Thus il is with his present essay, which is 50
filled up with pedanry and personal vanity as al
most 10 conceal the true merits ui The controversy.
We have but little osay on this point Mr. Daniel
has certainly eginced but little gratitude 10 us Tor
having published encomiums upon his toast at
The Webster dinner We shall not undertake
10 decide whether he really meant 10 commit pla-
siarism, and enjoy the compliments TO seni-
mepl which was not his own--but il seems
strange hat he suffered The toast To appear as orr
einal in more than one paper in The ciy--lhat he
quietly looked al compliments from abroad, pub
lisbed al his own door, and saw the Times give
him the creeit OF The toast which distant Editor
had enormously ascrbed 10 Mr.. Webster-and
vet did not open his lips 10 trace the true pater-
nity Of The toast, until our correspondent veniured
TO liit the veil and check the current of enlhus-
asm. running so strongly in his favor! We con-
fess that we did not remember The line Of poetry
but MIR. ID. had no such excuse, and lie was very
willing 10 enjoy The fruits of aeeidentoi plagiarism,
unit, doubt was thrown upon the paternity OF
the sentiment. Whatever may be the public
opinion upon his connection with the toast, every
one must admit that Mr.. d., "and no one else, I"
can claim 10 be The author OF the following
dissertation. II is all his own; The ear-marks
canno, be mistaken. |, is marked by the au-
rhor's rare modesty shrinking within itself,
by lis entire freedom. from all self-compla-
cency, from the arts and chcanery of The
LAWYER, and, above all, by its brerity, admi.
rable eonciseneS aud strength of argument
With these comments we utter ii forth to The
world, congratualing The people Of Virginia that
they ale blessed with a Lieut.. Governor of such
shining wit, profound learning, and unequalled
modesty! The "accident" OF his election will
now be looked upon as he most suspicious event
in the annals Of Virginia
P. S.-Since wiring the above, we have re.
ceivcd the following letter from friend of fine
literary taste and requirements. The line Of poe
Try seems 10 have slipped his memory, also, and
he brings forward The claims OF an eloquent d.
vine 10 The authorship:
To the Editor, of the Enquirer
GEoRoETows D. c., May 90, lS47.
Gentlemen: | perceive by your paper Of The
25h inst that question is raised a. 10 whom
credit ought 10 be given for the authorship OF The
famous sentiment, "Dislincl as The pillows, bnt
one as The sea-" My own recollection OF The idcn.
fieal expression reaches farther back than the dale
of the Manchester dinner. Moreover, my present
impression is tina, beard il fall from the elo-
ouent lips of certain reverend gentleman OF The
PRESBYTERIAN Church. even before Mr. Hammet
took his sea, in The Hall OF The House OF Repre-.
senla,ives as a member from Mississippi. OF
this however, am not absolutely certain. The
divine 10 whom have alluded, is the reverend
Seplimus Tus,in, formerly Chaplain oiIhe Senate,
10 whose eloquent prayers Mr. Hammet al times
listened. The sentiment was so beautiful so ap.
propraie, so forcibe, that il made very strong
impression upon me, when ] first heard il.
Perhaps the eloquent divine thought so like
wise, for | know his lip, have uttered the
expression oilener Than once. II was a PART