Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-09-09
The Masses IN III. Field.

count Of the action OF "the masses against tho Hun
ter Land Bill 1t considers it "the honest healthy
vigorous responses Of thecountry" and congratuates
itself that when the people untrammeed by dema.
gogues assemble in primary meeting to defend and
maintain the principles of its party against the plots
and conspiracies designing politicians it knows that
all danger is over. The following additional extracts
from letters Of the Faithful, written to the editor
the Examiner are given
Extract from the letter Of gtntienan trarsng an Pied.
MON, Virginia.
"During the last three weeks have conversed with
prominent Democrats residing 10 the counties Of Madson
G'sene, Nelson Orange and Aloermare. With Que eS-
ceptop these gentlemen have all declared their disap
prova Of the bill of Mr. Hunter, which you have
rbly maug Many Of these persons regard as an e
emen Of dscord likely to completely disorganize par
y but the say that Of their friends in favor
Of the BILL cannot perceive the grounds Of their appre-
tensions. gentleman who attended the last County
Court In Augusta, informs that the Democracy tina,
county by strong resolutions, expressed their hostility
to the bill The Democratic party is with YOU heart and
soul"
Extract from the letter Of prominent gentleman Of Mr..
Hunters former Congregational District.
Permit me to congratulate you upon the frmness with
which you have defended the time honored Democrats
principles Of Virginia. In the Congregational District
once represented BY Mr. Hunter in Congress. there exss
no unkind feeling towards Mr. Hunter all depore the
great aud unfortunate Of his e There is bu, one
feeling In tde-waer Virginia upon the subject OF the bill
and that Is feeling Of deep.rooted hostility to it.
"Bennehs Land Bill was the subject of much discus
sion In Mr. Hunters own county, when his nephew Mr.
NJ r. Ii. Garrett was candidate for the Legislature in
1858. His opponent, Col Juuius b. Roane was although
very deservedy most popular man, defeated by Mr. Gsr
nett in consequence Of his favorng land bill similar to
Bennetts. Mr.. Hunters bill involves a far more dan
&c Gus violation OF principle than that against which
Garrett eveled all his batteries in 1883 Those in hi,
section OF Virginia who mos. sincerely Mr.. Hun
Der, most deeply deplore his course
We hear but little of late from the other side ON
the Hunter land bill controversy and we are left at
loss to conjecture whether they intend to make com,
pete surrender, or that feeling themselves safely in
the majority, they are quite easy the subject and
expect, when the proper time arrives give this bill
the sanction Of the Virginia Democracy in def
snce of all opposition. The Enquirer is silent on the
"vexed question:" and its correspondents, in support
of the bill, are few and far between We are some.
what perpexed to know the meaning of the ENQUIRER,
rigid silence for sometime past but, perhaps, it may
be owing altogether to the trouble the Know Nothing
question has been giving our neighbor lately, and
that so soon as he gets relief from the terrible
apprehensOns excited by those troublesome fellows,
we shall again hear from Lin on the great question Of
Mr.. Hunters land BILL From the way the Fl tIninfr
treats the subject the public given to understand
that the issue must be met We quote the following
from the Examiners article of yesterday, which ill.,
dictates pretty plainly that no room is to be left for
lodging:
'lT INVOLVES NOTHING LEss THAN THE ABANDONMENT OF
MOST IMPORTANT PKscIPLE To dodge this issue or to
pass II by In silence would be scarcely smaller sin than
10 endorse IT, Whatever may be the consequences
remains for the Democracy OF Virginia one of two alter
natives. They Must ENDORSE REGULATE THE PECULIAR
DOCTRINES THIS This view Of the dilemma has
besn taken by the Augusta Democracy, and they uniuer
sally rspudd'e the principles Of The bill To the chival
Ious State Rights Democracy vi Piedmont South Side and
Tide Water Virginia. this is example that must be j.
lowed. Heretofore you have sometimes boosted OF your
superior preten;ons TO State Rights Democracy The
tim. has arrived for you illustrate that devotion Here
after low estimate will be placed upon your boosted f.
deity to principle if you permit personal CARDS or pr-
vate attachments 10 Interfere with your duties as ntel-
gent State Rights Democrats"
We take occasion here to remark tina the Examiner
corrects an impression had been under that its ex-
tracts from letters the subject of the Hunter Land
Bill are responses.to any call it had made for them
The editor says they spontaneous and involunta.
ry-hat he has never Intentionally or expressly call
ed for such evidences public opinion, and that they
come unbidden from the puY fountains of popular
sentiment.