Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-06-18
rHE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, VA.
Wednesday Morning, June I6, ls47.
THE VIEWS or A PATRIOT.

THE VIEWS CT A PATRIOT.
We find the following interesting article in Tie
Portsmouth Old Dominion. The strong Ian
guage OF MIR. Wise, with The excellent common
iary oflhe Editor, oush; 10 fall with marked effect
upon the ears ofevcry lover OF peace ana MS coun'
rvs cause in the land The Wigs, especially
should listen with respect TO the warning voice o.
Mr.. Wise, because their journals nave 'aSen es'
pecial pains TO represent Mr.. w. as ili-al;eciedto
wards the President, on account OF events many
wears ago. Iitbe as they SET forth, Qhough We
have strong reasons 10 believe that proper mu.
,ual feeling exists between the President and MT
w, is moi this testimony OF MIR. Wise in behal
no! of the President, but of The whole country an'
of the cause OF peace, 10 be regarded as Of Srea
weieh,2 II cannot be doubted that "the iachou'
opposiion" at home has encouraged the pubic
enemy with hopes OF cur irIcconceable inlerna
divisions, and consequent abandonment! OF I'M
rights and honor OF the nation. But for The course
of the opposition on the war, we hrmly ocie''
that we should have had peace long ago.
We observe that the Wing press are beginning
10 raise a clamor about an expected difiicui'y De
,ween our Government and Brazil, in connection
with the Imprisonment, of L. Davis and some sali'
ors of the U. S. sloop Of war Saratoga. we
would deprecs.e a collision with any nation, ano
especially with Brazil, which furnishes so vaiua'
= market for our flour; but The late letters from
Rio. which we have seen published, unite in say
ing that all The Americans in that country iuiy
;ns,;fv MIR. Wise and our Government IN me
steps they have taken in that affair:
fFron The Portsmouth Old DOminion.l
We have been favored with The pernsai OF
letter from our Minister at Brazil, 10 genie
man ri Norfolk. from which VIC make some eA-
tracts: ,;,, ho sof.r-
lied against The desperate efforts whlch yon say
are "being made 10 bring" II ihlo 'iie n's
ranksn The Wing party have manifested 100
strongly the rank Federal tendencies which caus-
ed me 10 renounce it in January lSll from mat
time 10 his. for me 10 be indifferent even TO It's
success in any part OF the United States, much
less in norton as dear 10 all my affections as IS
The Williamsburg district OF Virginia l have
yot very impartial view OF our country and lis
afTairs from the position | now occupy abroad,
and Won NAV rely on it that nothing enhances a
patriotic feeling so much as foreign residence.
/, has often been remarked that The parllcipa-
tors in political strife are loo much governed ~
prejudice and passion, TO take lar view VI 'ne
merits Of any question al issue. Mh'e ,hs
who are not pallicipalors know enough ol lhe
motives which aciua,e the conduct OF nose en-
Gagged. 10 decide fairly upon il, the OPINION Of
one who has beea, an actor in such scenes IS 70 DC
regarded as more important; one who has had ea-
perience enough 10 discern the motives OF 'he dc-
lion of the parties under peculiar circumstances,
and is SO far removed from the scene OF acnon as
10 perni, his iudgmen, 10 decide cooy upon !he u
innate effect of their conduct. Mr.. wise Is Just
co situated. and here we have his view Of line
conduct OF those who attempted TO hamper the OIL
forts of the President 10 carry on vigorously Inc
war with Mexico:
aNeiher Wings nor Democrats have gwen Inc
President that support which the honor and IN
terest of the country demanded IN time OF war.
One in a foreign land al this time can see bul
100 plainly how factions OF both parties hare, say
what they will, given 10th "aii and comfort, u
not directly, and overly, and lreasona6ly 10 ctHF
mn himself, 10 the cause Of the c'Nmg The foreign
world does sympaihize with Mexico against Inc
United States, anu a facliouS opposition al home
has confirmed the proofs Of The justice OF It's fee-
ings."
Intending 10 DO Mr.. Wise nothing more than
simple Justice. we would reprehend, though at
late day, the sympathy which the difficulties be,
tween him and the Brazilian government created
with some spirit in this country in favor Of the
latter. Treating them as persona matters between
him and the Emperor or his lmpeEia, govern,
men,, was assurcdlY great injustice. lie could
have no personal interest in causing Lieut.. Da-
Wis 10 be released Ii was entirely a naliona! al
fair. and had he acted differently, We CONJECTURE
Iha,he would have been much more severely cen
sured.
MIR. Wise became obnoxious to the people O
Brazil, las would have any other man who ac'eo
rightly because he forbid the use OF The Amer,
his exertions 70 insure inc raynent e's-e.rs'--.s
The amount of halt million OF dollars due clii
zens oil Inc United States which though neglect
ed for more than twenty years, they now ias;s
must be paid: and because he resented The invasion
OF The personal liberty OF American citizens in
Brazil; and had these who censurcd him so severe
ly, reelected upon this, he would have been treat
ed more generously.
While upon Ibis subject, We take occasion 70
notice the honorable re;raclion OF The New York
Courier s. Enquirer, which paper was among The
number lha, censurcd Mr.. Wise; 1--WE have a
letter." says that journal, "irom our Rio cores.
pondent, stating his conviction that the censure
he expressed in former Letter, OF The proceedings
OF Mr.. Wise, was entirely unmerited."