Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-08-11
RICHMOND WING.
FRIDAY MORNING. AUGUST IL, 1884.
To coRRnsr0NpKNTs.

sing the cnormities OF the Hunter Homestead o'i-
Unlike the Enquirer it is not yet ready to consent
Compromise" of its political principles, ever
though such compromise should result in healing al
divisions in the Democratic party, and in cleratng
Mr.. Trimmer Hunter TO the Presidency. Nor is the
Examiner alone in its denunciation of the Hunt,'
abomination. Many Of the truest and sblcst Demo-
cratic papers in the State out in violent opposi-
ton to it, and pronounce it complete surrender g
one Of the cherished principles OF the Democratic
party. Among them, the Staunton Tindicdtor, in q
calm and sensible article upon this subject, says
slave not the friends Of State Rights surrendered
their ground aud retreated nglorousy from the con-
test, or gone to the cnemyg We THINK THEY
HAVE II the principle which actuated opposition to
the Homestead bill valid,-if it was worth an,
thing, It was worth preserving" And so think We
The Vindiodtor continues "But the principle has
been virtually abandoned, and that, too, not boldly
and above board but steathely and under false pre-
lenses. Pretending to require an equivalent for thu
lands Of the government, the principle has been &c
tually repudated and its essentially destroyed u
is useless to lay the aterng JUNCTION to the soul thai
tho princip, has been saved by requiring the ptfl
sum Of eighteen dollars FOR one hundred ard SIXTY
dcoes Of land, payable in IRE yedrs!" "What,''
truthfully and Indignantly exclaims the Vindicator
"What price for principle-it is than norh-
ing-the shadow without the substance,-a misera.
BILE subterfuge, by iohich the Democratic partycf ns
South and the basis Of its policy hare been betrayal
and delirerei into the hands Of land pirates Jor tir
ty pieces Of siirer."
This language, it will be seen, is exceedingly cut.
ting and caustic And to whom is it applied? Who
is it that has vlely betrayed the Democratic party
bartered away its principles and sold it OUT soul
body, for thirty pieces Of sver' Who is it, in the
language Of the yindicator, that "has slain grea,
constitutional principle upon the altar of ntolcran,
ambition and sel6shnessr" Who is it. in the Ian
guage Of the Examiner that originated "a bill 70,
making freesoi territory Of all the public domain 3
Is the shameless Judas thus described to he found il
the pei son Of q Southern msnf Is he Nirginan
Can he belong to that peculiar school of lsreatsh
politicians distinguished in the political history Of
the Old Dominion, in whom there is no "guile {" !
he the long petted champion Of Southern rights and
the ever-glorous resolutions Of '9S-'99 upon whom
the Virginia Democracy especially have relied witt.
undoubting confidence in every hour OF danger =
Verify, it is but too true. In the house of thei
friends the faithful" have been deceived, betrayed
stabbed to the heart An unworthy personal ambi-
face, and produced wide spread lamentation in their
ranks. Expressions Of sympathy on our part would
do no good-indignation anda determined purpose Of
revenge on theirs is the only remedy. Mr.. Run Mad
Trimmer lunter-hopelessy crazy upon the subject
of the Presidency-is the immediate and only
Of all their humiliation and all their suiierings Mr.
Hunter is the traitor in their camp-has been duly
tried, found guilty, and convicted Nothing remains
but to execute upon him the just sentence of the law.
1t is, therefore, incumbent upon the faithful" whom
he has ruthlessy betrayed and sold to see that he
be banged until he is dead-dead--dcad unless in.
deed, it shall be discovered which we believe it will,
that he has already committed suicide--an act, by
the way, that would save his friends good deal OF
trouble, and his country the aggregate price OF
great many acres of land at his valuation.
Bot let return to the last issue OF the Eramis.s
and see what further this high Democratic authority
has to say in reference TO the Homestead bill Of Mr.
Hunter. Apparently more in sorrow than in anger,
it says: "Whcn the State Rights Democratic party
was, in 1889, resisting the will and power OF tina,
terrible old gentleman, ANDREW JACKSON, with the
Federal Government and the Army to back him. no
one believed that it would be struck down. in 1864
by the small Of TWELVE AND A HALF cEsTs-
When CALuoUs, for twenty long years, led on this
gallant party, resisting the corrupting influences OF
that Pontne marsh of political depravity Washing.
ton, and crushing all opposition by the matchess
force Of his logic and eloquence no one drcamt of
the humlating fate that would one day drag that
proud party into tho vortex of Western land piage
and dishonest greed" So saith the Examiner. Well
itiss cruel thing to have ones party "struck down"
and that too, "by the small sum of twelve and
hal ia ell
"struck down" by the rampant ambition of one who
is "bone OF our bone and flesh Of our flesh" Yho,
Mr.. R N. T. Hunter should pull dom and destroy
the State Rights party-a party that has worked its
way to position and influence through much toll
and ditculty-that he should drag that proud party
into the vortex Of Western land pilage and dishonest
greed, and all for the sake Of eevang himsefto the
Presidency, is something awfully cruel and horribly
ungateful; aud would be deplorably unnatural, also
II we did not know TO what length blind intolerant
and selfish ambition may sometimes co.
Tho Examiner continues "But il the Land bill
which recently passed the Senate becomes law, the
State Rights party may put sack cloth and ashes
and humbly solicit admission into Magdalen Asy.
lum. Debauched by the dssolute politicians Of the
West, the State Rights party will have lost that which
like spotess vrtne love. dignity and respect
TO the female" And yet the Enquirer although cter
nAuy harping upon Stfte Rights, defends and com.
lnends bill which, according to the declarations OF
its associates, strikes at their very foundation.
and "drngs" that party itstlf into the "yortex Of
Western land plage and dishonest greed" What is
TO be done when such eminent doctors differ 80 wide
ly and 30 essentially?
To illustrate Senator Hunters remarkable ineons;s.
tency upon the Land question, the Examiner make,
several quotations from his previous speeches upor
the subject, which shall notice hereafter. II ssv
truly that Mr. Hunters late Land bill is "a dragon %
Vanity to his old speeches. It swallows them ur
without apology or rcmorse. 1t laughs consisienc,
to soorn." There is no doubt, after all these Demo
cratic sayings about H. that the Hunter bill is yer,
great bill in It's way; and that Mr.. Hunter himself /
the most eager the continent to succeed to tn
slippers Of the Brigadier. 1t may be that he will
hut, N borrow n sort Of Democratic phrase, VI
can only say-Nots Verr0Hs
Z The Crescent city California; Herald Gays tha, coal
ong needed has at last been found 10 ineIhsube guam
elites 90 the Pac6c Coast rich vein Of the bitunin