Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-07-08
RICHMOND ENagiRER.
MONDAY MORNING, JULY I, 1851.
NIr. Jefferson and the Richmond Wing.

In noticing the recent departure of President FiImos
from Richmond We headed article the Hega, IN a
lusion 10 his rapid movements. We intended nothing c
respectful 10 him. or to the party that elected him. nor d'
occur to US that we had committed breach Of hosIai!
Nothing was further from wish; :he contrary we wci
gratfed al the cordial reception given 10 the Chief MaE
rate of the Republic and upon his point we ready
make the President himself witness.
This harmless alusion, woundug no one and intended
wound no one has been tortured by the Richmond Wg IN
to an attack upon the President and the Wing party and
the pretex for assault upon Mr. Jefferson which, in pof
OF rauco and injustice be surpassed We had sup
posed that the political opponents of that eminent man ia
somewhat soened by ne and gave cred
it TO the absurd ISLANDERS circulated by his enemies in III
herces Presidential contest known history But
sccms we mistaken and that the Editor of the Ricl
nond Whg believes those stories d:youty any follow
er of the elder Adams.
He says tive be allowed 10 reort that histoca!
there my hgra tha. is flight from this city, ex
cep, that Of the Apostle OF Democracy when as CiOser
or OF this brave State then e exhausted of defenders ana
with abundance of here in its capital he allowed him
sell TO De chased away, without attempting TO skea bio"
or raise man, BY the traitor Arnold and his ragamullf
crew OF felons and deserters"
There arc not many paragraphs which comprise many
bunders in 50 short space. If the disregard Of fact here
]
history Of Virginia We shall lake leave give the Editor
of the Whig lesson in the history OF his State.
Information received by Mr.. Jefferson The 5si o
Decembe $780, that twenty sail had entered III"
Chesapeake but il not known whether they were
friends enemies. He Immediately despatched Gen Ne
TO the lower country with powers 10 call out The i'a
or act otherwise, emergencies might require on e u
of January Mt Jefferson learned that the strange fleet was
hostile and had entered James River with the design as
1t was supposed of occupying Williamsburg. He imncd
aely cued the militia of the ncghburing counties re-
qurng from some oneha and from others fourth o hc
whole force On the 4th Of January it asrcrianed ina
the destination Of the enemy either Petersburg or Rich
mond and the whole militia OF country Immediately
called out. On the 9Th January the enemy entered Rch
mond remained 2l hours and retired Wesrover They
entered the city in 46 hours after cy landed and in nine
teen hours afterwards their destination known TIE
Wing says attempt was made TO raise man or strike
J blow.
The whole military force of the country called OUT twr
hundred men embodied when enemy entered Rich
mond and in three days afterwards thousand three hun
dred under arms, commanded by Baron Seubsn Gen
Nelson and others. No blow struck, says the "hg-
| The enemy attacked twice. Once by Gen Smawood
who with three hundred men, recaptued prize
sci and drove several Of the enemys vessels down the rive
to the main feet. second time by Col Clark (o kaska
who with Gen. Seuben's advance of $50 men, drew iht
enemy into ambuscade killed IL and wouned IS more
one fire. Gen. Steuben himself pressed forward to inter
cept and annoy the Of the cnemv but arrived too lite
According to The Whig the British force ragamul
crew Of feons and deserters led by the traitor Arnold
was division of the British army, thousand strong
conveyed by FIVE frgates and several smaller vessels
nanded by Arnold OF their best officers who
fought with rope around his neck for he would have bee
hung if taken.
For the sake of vilying Mr. Jefferson, this affair is re
presented by the Whig in light most dsgaceful III
and the gallant men, Stcuben and his comrades wh
held military commands. When the alarm first gver
the Legislature in session. 1t and the member
bore home the calls for the militia II there dilatt
rness they responsible for it, If there any mis-
management in the movement OF the troaps Steuhen
responsible. But in truth there fault any where. a
did WELL and the affair was one of which Virgnians have
| reason 10 be ashamed.
Mr. Jefferson had then, enemies who traduced him and il
duced Mr.. Geo. Nicholas very young man, prefer spec
charges against him. Neither the flight from Richmond M
| that from Monticello were among them. Mr. Ieflerso
the heads OF his Justification each Of Mr. Nicholas
charges and he with great candor abandoned them. II
reserved for the of the present day. dscov
misconduct which escaped the vlgance of cotemporaes
The Wing goes "Nor is this ALL the Apostle beatin
Mahomct himself, who had but Hegra away sc
cond time Governor from Tarlconand punging into til
forests Of Carriers mountain, fled without looking benin
him and without pursuer until he had put tho Blue Ridg
between hi, valiant person and the enemies of his country
whom he never saw but to flee from" Let US examn
| facts and see whether this be truth mere libel.
Gen. CORVALLIS with tie main Southern army was With
30 miles Of Charlottesville when the Legislature was in ses
sion. He despatched Taeton with his regiment OF hos
| to capture the Legislature and Mr. Jefferson whom
| they supposed TO be Governor, but who in fact wa
not, his having expired and his SUCCESSOR, Ge
| neral Nelson having been appointed. When Tarlcto
| got within miles of Ch rlottesvllc, he dcache.
company of horse MONTICELLO for the purpose of sezn
Mr. Jefferson and his guests the Speakers the house:
and somo of the members About this time or lis an
proach reached Charlottesville and Monticello The Sneaker
and their associates Immediately left Monticello Joined thci
companions in Charlottesville and oil fed barely escapin
Tarleun and stopping until they crossed the Bre Ridg.
Suppose Mr. Jefferson had done the sa1c would he hay
| been guilty Of cowardice? In The opinion Of III
Wing he would in with the whole Legislature ant
at least one distinguished officer who ad with them Fortu
nately for Mr. Jefferson he remained in his house after his
family and his guests had left until informed tina, the enemy
were within two or three hundred yards He then "plrno
nto the woods of Carer's mountain Here he paused cx
amned Monticello with pocket telescope, and seeing n
enemy started return home. On getting he locke
again. and this time the mountain alive with ihem-
1t was party of ''cut thToats," the Who and there
fore he ought either to have fought surrendered No
thinking himself match for company Of drugoons ever
though they cut hroats" he proceeded eisurcly
rejon his family escorted them days journey and
home without "putting the Blue Ridge between the enem
and his valiant person." The enemy retired after stay OF
! hours.
Mr. Jefferson displayed the of timidy during Ar
nods invasion. When the British in Richmond he Wis
ted Manchester. In his language 'he remained con
s,any in and about Richmond e1ering all his powers 70
collecting militia and providing such means for the defenc
of the State its exhausted admitted Never as
suming guard and with only The river between him and III
enemy, his lodgings frequently within four five si
miles of them"
So much for the attack which we have innoceny drawn
upon the "Apose of democracy" To reu,e had on
recall historical facts known a save the Editor OF IL
Whg Hehas been absent from his native State so long
be stranger her history and tastes of her people
No acquainted with Firsinans would suppose that IL
favor TO be by gross personal abuse OF any Of her DIS
tngushed men. Heaven forbid that should ever be ohsr
wise 1t will be evil day for Virginia when her Tea
hptoo pf