Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-08-14

~ oommunicatons viii be charged the advertise
The bill for making FreesoH territory Of all the
public domain" is receiving very blows from
Democratic presses in every portion Of the State
The course Of Mr. Hunter appears to be perfectly in
applicable to them. II is not really So however, IL
surprised and indignant Democratic contemporaries
would only consider how immensely attractive the
Presidency is to aman Of eager and over weenng am
bton. They have only to reflect that land grabbers
Of the West, combined with the multitude Of foreign
adventurous that flock to shores, and anxious
to procure subsistence and lone without money
and without price, constitute mighty power in the
land, to whom it is necessary for Ambitious poti
clans" to pay court if they expect to win their favor
and through their aid to reach the goal Of their hopes
II is not difficult with these facts before their eyes,
for the Democratic press to comprehend the strange
and unexpected conduct Of their Senator. Most OF
these landgrabbers and foreigners, too who will set-
Tie upon the lands Of the West are Freesoilcrs and
Abolitionists. What moro polite and appropriate.
therefore, than for asprant to the Presidency to
originate "a bill for making treesoh territory otail
the public domainl"
We have said that divers Democratic papers in Vr.
gna are out in determined opposition to the "hcrma
phrodite project Of Senator Hunter and are manfuy
seconding the efforts OF the Examiner to save their
party from the inconsistency and calamity of endors
ing it. We have already given some sharp extracts
upon the subject from the Staunton indicator Ii
is our purpose to colate few others from seye,
raj Democratic organs Of admitted intelligence and
undoubted orthodoxy See, first then, with what
genuine ferocity the Abingdon Democrat pitches into
the ill-omend bill Of Mr.. Trimmer Hunter. 1t
says
"For ourselves we incline to the belief that the
Homestead BILL so vehemently denounced in certain
quarters, (by the Enquirer is far preferable than
compromised hypocrisy midity and ttud which,
plumbers the lands without the courage to take the
responsibility, and divides them amongst those who
can best d. without them, and are likely to make the
worst use OF them. II we comprehend the bill rightly
the new States and the railroad companies are the
chief beneficiaries Politicians and Spectators seem
to he the favorites of this Wanted If the
public lands are to be given away-f the trust is
be volated-f the old States to be fobbed off with
nothing-then, say, let the lands be given to the
poor men who will go and settle them. Give us the
Homestead Bill. 1t has the merit at least of being
bold and direct
"But how can Mr.. Hunter, or any Of his coadutors,
reconcile this bill of his with the resolutions of the
last Democratic Convention Of Virginia. That body
large in numbers, and unsurpassed for talent RI
SOLVED, UNANIMOUSLY, that Congress had right 10
appropriate the public lands directly or Indirectly
for works of internal improvement" This bill, if We
understand its provisions approprates directly and
indirectly" millions of acres of land for internal i'm
provements. What democrat can justify this crying
outrage upon the principles and pghted faith of the
Democratic party? With what face can Democrat
tic majority in the Virginia Legislature longer refuse
to accept Virgnas quota of the land fund.- heretofore
so scornfully condemned as paltry bride to seducc
her from her principles, and enlist her in the army OF
plunderers Of the public lands? Whilst we have been
msintnining the great principle, and scorning the
bride, we have the modification to see one Of our
Senators surrender into the hands of the enemy with.
mt fri, ttaG .:k a. Al
OF this commonwealth. If this bill had been carried
over the heads Of representatives-had been
passed in spite of Nrgna-we could have found some
consolation for the outrage, in the courage and con-
stancy OF our Senator'S As it is, there seems to he
nothing to alleviate the modification which arises
from witnessing this most ndeensibe BETRAYAL of our
rights and our principles"
This, we take it is pretty plain and determined
talk There is no eyading the question here no min
cling OF phrases, Emo mlk-and-water balderdash II
IS the language of honest conviction and deep seated
indignation. 1t is to the point and no mistake We
see the dilemma our Democratic contemporaries are
placed in by this unfortunate move of Mr. Hunter
They are in terrible category and must either rep
oiate the Hunter BILL acknowledge themselves the
duPes OF an arce and traitors to their principles and
their party They must do that, or admit that they
nave progately sacrificed the interests of Virginia
for mess of pottage For in the language of the
Democrat, the ambitious Mr.. Hunter seduccd by the
gitterng prize of the Presidency, has "urrendercd
into the hands Of the enemy, without firing gun.
the Jdih, the honor, the principles of this Common,
Wealth.
We must defer further extracts from Democratic
sources till another day, when it will be our mclan
choly privilege TO supply the reader with "few more
OF the same Sort" We dislike to insist upon the
public partaking of too much of good thing all at
once, and we are still more reluctant to impart to Mr.
Hunter, in single issue, many overwhelming
evidences OF the fact that he is politically dead
very dead 1t may however, painful as his fall is be
some consolation to him to reflect, that restless
yaultiDg ambition has been the death of many better
and greater men than himself Few however, have
ever more justly merited political annihilation than
he-for, but wpoliticans in Virginia. at least. OF
any party, would have dared to Surrender into the
hands Of the enemy, without firing gun, the faith,
the honor, the principles Of the old Dominion-Ge
still who would have gone so far as to originate ia
bill for making Fretso territory of all the public do
main" IL is "bad eminence' Mr. Hunter has reach
ed, and upon it, trust he will ever stand SOLITARY
and alone"
The Enquirer, while II approves the conduct