Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-22

SO that any settlement in the name Of Mosquito
is nothing more than British settlement, and
is as much British colony as Jamaica is.
THE VIRGINIA SENTINEL AND sENA-
TOR HUNTERS LAND BILL.
1t is one thing to differ from the opinions of
public men and another thing to abuse, ridi-
cule, and belittle them. Perhaps no two minds
think precisely alike. They may agree in the
main, yet, there must necessarily be differences
of opinion. Each may be equally honest and
each should therefore learn federation.
We have been 80 pleased with the following
well-conceived and wellexpressed remarks of
the Alexandria Sentinel, in relation to Senator
Hunter and his land bill, that we cannot with
hold them from our readers.
The Alexandria Sentinel differs from Mr..
Hunter in regard to this BILL but it differs with
out questioning his patriotism, his disinterest-
edness, or his fidelity to State rights and sound
democracy. When it is borne in mind that
Mr.. Hunter, the author of this land bill, is
one of the ablest, as he is one of the truest
democrats in the country that this bill received
the sanction of a Democratic Senate, every
Democratic senator, if we remember Alright,
voting for it; and that it challenges the cordial
appreciation of the soundest, the truest, and
the most consistent politicians of the State
rights school--when these things are borne in
mind, the wisest of US should pause and reflect
before we venture to question it, and none
should be so rash, intolerant, unjust, and self
sufficient, as to condemn, abuse, and ridicule
those who have given it their sanction
That any man, or any body of men, howeve
digni6ed and august, has the right to control
and dictate to the country no one will be stupid
enough to assert. Our public men, however
high their positions, are but the servants Of the
| people. We are led to make these remarks be-
cause we have been represented by one or two
journals as claiming for public functionaries
powers that belong only to the people. We
have been represented as claiming for Senator
Hunter exemption from all responsibility and
for his land bill exemption from all scrutiny.
| 1t is almost needless for us TO say that we
have never, at any time, uttered syllable that
could be so construed. But it is one thing to
canvass the public measures proposed by q
SENATOR and another thing to bespatter him
with abuse and with ridicule.
The article which we copy below from the
Alexandria Sentinel, has the proper tone and
temper. Whilst that journal withholds its sane
ton (which we regret) from Mr.. Hunters bill,
it yet does full justice to that gentleman's char
acter and services. 1t does not assume to it.
self the high functions of Democratic Pope and
venture to denounce against him curses worse
than those of Rome. Nor does it arrogate to
itself the power of expelling him and the rest
Of the Democratic senators from the Demo.
cratic party.
We commend the following extract to the
attention Of our readers
"a writer, in the Richmond Enquirer, has
very calm and excellent article on Senator
Hunter and his land bill. The bill he con.
dennis but he argues that il is very improper
for this one blunder, roughly to assail his mo-
tives, or to disregard his important services
and eminent talents. In this opinion we en-
tirely concur, as former remarks Of ours will
attest We cherish towards Mr.. Hunter the
kindest feelings and although we cannot find,
either in the homestead proposition lately sub.
mitted by him, or in the circumstances which
are adduced to justify him in so doing, any
thing to reconcile us to it, or to lessen our de.
sire to see it defeated, yet we have studiously
refrained from any personal assault. Indeed,
in our whole career as journalists, we have ever
acted upon the conviction that a representa-
tive, whether State or Federal, should have the
| generous support and confidence of his consti.
! tuency. To call a man into the public service,
and to clothe him with the political might and
majesty, and authorize him to speak in the
name Of a county, or district, or State, and
then to mud-ball him-to dog his steps with
. ISLANDERS, and assaults upon his integrity, and
{ to seek in every way TO destroy his infu-
ence, and disparage him in the estimation Of
his co-legislators-is not merely criminal,
but it is an act of suicidal folly; for the in.
: terests Of the constituency are involved in the
' standing Of their representative. Virginia has
always acted upon the generous rule we have
adopted for our individual guidance, and to
that fact New York statesman attributed the
y powerful influence her senators and represen-
e tatives have always exerted in the federal
G councils. The reputation Of our public men, is
the reputation of our county, or State, or coun.
try; and he who is reckless Of the one, is false
}, to the other. We know that almost every pub
|. lie man has enemies or rivals who desire to
q pull him down, and who, hence are pleased at
any assault upon him, and panied at every
compliment. But we should scorn ourselves
z if we could stoop TO win the praise of such BY
" becoming the instruments Of their malice, OF
a even use our columns to CRAFTY any mere per
# sonal prejudices Of our own.
! eve are glad that in our purpose, while eau
3 tious to supervise, yet generously to sustaii
Al al1 Co. -.
l. tative character and to strengthen their hands
so far as we honestly may, we have 80 mucl
: to tighten our task and incite our zeal in tn
e l casa nf Sanator u,ntor H;e mora prh1;o GOV