The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-26
Treason ka the Seuth--Thc Richmond EN-
quircr Unfolding the New Van Buren, Dy-

lowers, as well as It's soldiers-those who adj
here to il for spols, and those who fight its bat
ties FROM patriotism. Every good has its
opposite evil. For charity, there is avarice
for philanthropy a stolid indifference to human
suffering for friendship, there is selfshness ;
for fidelity, there is treachery for patriotism,
there is treason for patriots, there are traitors.
Unfortunately, for the good of mankind, these
qualities are SO mingled in the breasts of men
as to render it, at times difficult to say which
predominates.
Up to few days ago, the Richmond En-
quiyer-one Of the oldest, if not the wisest, and
most incorruptible journals of the South
saw in the course OF the Cabinet and its obscure
organ, the Washington Union, everything to
excite alarm among the friends of the constitu-
ton in that region of the Republic. That paper
was among the first to discover in the move
ments Of the Cabinet gradual and certain
transfer Of power from the hands of the national
democracy to those of the Van Burens OF this
State and their abolition and free soil asso-
ciates. 1t sounded the alarm ii uttered
quiet warning to General Pierce : it remon-
strated it avowed that the Southern democra-
CIV could not live if divorced from the national
spirit of the North and forced into union with
the Van Burens and Garrisons of New York.
The Enquirer wasright. 1t obeyed the first
promptings of patriotism and uttered the truth
to General Pierce and the country. Its senti-
ments recommended it to popular favor {; it had
the good fortune to be condemned by the Wash
ipgton Union, and thus to secure the sanction
of patriotic men North and South.
We have little to say about the conductors
of the last-named journal. There is much to
relieve them from severe criticism in the cir
cumstances in which they are placed. There is
such thing as taking man to be good by
implication we may be willing, some times. to
forget even his glaring vices, or the abject i'm
becility Of his intellect Nor can we hold
slave to close moral accountability. He has
task to perform-a service to render; but he
has no interest in his work, and little response
bility in it's execution. In this view we can
overlook the zeal Of the Union for its abolition
associates, and even pronounce that journal
quite blamelesS But this will hardly answer
for the Richmond Enquirer, though we can
venal than that which sways the official organ
has caused the Eaqurer to stultiiy itself, to
swallow its words, and to pour out upon the
Cabinet stream of sickly laudation, prolonged
Gd nauseurn. Does any man in the South be-
lieve that without some powerful motive, some
venal cause, the Enquirer could be brought
to such disgusting exhibition Of inconsistency,
such pitiful selfabnegation that it could be
made like the ensnared viper, to turn it's
adder fangs upon the unoffending demo-
cracy OF Virginia to exert its feeble power
to bring the ancient dominion into the meshes
of Van Burenism once more!--to strike down
the only true friends the South ever had in the
North and again TO entrust their cause to those
who never failed to betray them? II was pre-
cisely the influence that turned out Nr Bronson
that turned in the editor of the En9nirer; the
same power that sustains John Van Buren, and
condemns Daniel S. Dickinson; that upholds
John Cochrane and maligns Charles O'Conor:
that patronizes abolitionists and frowns upon
the national. democracy. IL the life of the editor
Of the Enquirer depended upon his power to
vindicate himself before the democracy Of yir-
ginia. we should count upon his exertion as
certain. as his fate would be just. The Essqui-
rer should remember that it is one thing to
abandon a good cause, and quite another TO
adopt bad enc. In refusing to serve the State
one incurs no just censure; but existing among
its enemies is quite different matter Docs
the democracy of yirgiaia think agan to Goa
lesce with the Van Burens Of New York; Is It
necessary to re-elact the scenes OF IslS and 10
fight over again the compromise Struggle OF
1850. in order to convince iae patriotic voters
of that State that their truest friends crc not
those that 80 recently betrayed them that
their Litterest enemies arc not those hat at
the same time sustained them. Did the Van
Burenf. and Cochranes and Foulers and f.a-
thems. and Kings. and GarIisons urge on the
great compromise of 1859? Did they sustain
the democracy of The Old Dominion and that
sublime struggle for the integrity Of tie consti-
tuition which ended In the signal overthrow Of
the agitators Of every strife Where then was
the Richmond Enqui,er' Where was the
national democracy Were are they
now Have they changed? Have they
abandoned their ancient faith? Have they
ceased to defend the South? Have they
made war on Virginia that the enquirer should |
assail them and sustain she free sellers Of New
YORK; The Enquirer, forth gbt ago, was |
their friend; fortnight is enough to effect great
changes, when The markets are brisk and means |
are abundant. IL then maintained national |
position: 1t Is now found denouncing its recent |
associates. In this, at least it proves it aim
to fraternity with Marcy and his Cabinet asso-
GATES They have exhibited singular facility
in getting rid Of friends and in buying up enc
mics; who will say that the enquirer has not |
been equally successful? There is this differ
'ncc between the Cabinet and their Richmond