Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-11-14
Is Mr. DIX 4 Free Soller /!

The Richmond Enquirer, when it was bruited about
that Mr.. John A Dix about to be appointed Min
lister TO France raised up its hands in holy horror
the bare suggestion and besought the Administration
not TO do So hienious deed. ltopposed his nominal
ton vehencnty. The objections urged were not his
Democracy, for he had been the vcrest spos monger
of that unselfsh body Of Patriots, yclept the New
York Democracy. lie had lived on office and in it
from the time he began to shave. There was no
special untness in him in this respect. His capacity
for Treasury pap way coyed Weakened
His capacity irdsputaole lie had held nearly
every grade Of Office in New York-at every turn Of
the Democratic wheel Dix was always something-
lie had borne innumerable imprimaturs of good and
faithful service in office holding lie had been Scna-
tor from New York, where be chiefly distinguished
himself in being in favor of everything that Dckin-
son opposed and opposing every thing Dickinson ia
vored.
What then was the Enquirer's objection to him I:
They hurled at his head fearful charge as it was,
then supposed. They pronounced him a Free Soil
er! Could any thing be more dreadful: That,
coming from the Enquirer, took to be a sock.
dooger We took it for granted that poor Dix
could never hold up his head again among the De
mocracy. We concluded that he was dead in Vir-
gnia We concluded least that the fat office he holds
was as good as gone, and made up ourminds to
part forever with the memory of this faithful and
ill>requited Democrat. But to our astonshment he
did not finch but with desperate energy denied
the imputaton, and called for the proof The proof
was promised, even to "discomfiture" or a withdraw
nj Of the charge
We'll, now this some time ago, and VIC have
waited with degree Of patience that would canonse
n Turk. TO confess the truth, it has disturbed
us not lItle. 1t burdens our waking and haunts
sleeping hours-we find ourselves working at the
problem by day, and in our sleep are heard 10
murmur family and plaintivcly, Is John 1ddms DiI
a Free Soiierl Wdsthe Enquirer rghtg They pro.
missed to prove it or the charge. What car
the matter be : And still the ques ton stirs within
us (rolrentc amino is Dix Free Soiler? Now, il
our desperately socitious condition Of mind abou
this Sphinx riddle, Chat perpexes much rs the
question how the apple got into the dumping did thu
brain Of poor old George the Third Of gracious
ry,) even at the risk Of having our good Offices de
elined-we arc msditatng to profTcr our aid in
most efficient way.
We do not doubt that the recent troubles abou
Free Soiism in New York, which broke out just ev
days after the Enquirer's article on Dix, have 8
much increased the labors ofits editorial management
that perhaps that journal has not had sufficient lei.
ure to prosecute the enquiry with the zeal which ur
der other circumstances the Enquirer would hay
been prompt TO afford.
without meaning therefore, to be obtrusive, W
offer our services, not having any Of the aforcsai
troubles on our own hands, or IL we find our engage
ments oppressive, We will procure the services Of Al
able boiled man, to prosecute two enquiries,
1st Is Jno a. Dix Free Soilcr
I'd. How far would that make him unfit for Il
Ministry to France obnoxious TO Cen Pierce ?
Are our services acceptedf