Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-16
The Richmond Enquirer.
MONDAY. APRIL 10. 1866.

The Enquirer of Saturday last, had fit Of
at the prospect Of losing that in
fluence and power which II has hitherto ex-
crcised, without restraint in Virginia. Having
no facts or arguments to offer, which could
arrest the progress Of public opinion, towards
that great I" American Reformation" which is
sweeping away the existing dynasty and as
Stunning that the humble individual who con-
trolls the columns Of the /" american Organ"
]" usurps audacious guardianship " over the
people of Virginia, and that to as it can trace
tho diminution Of its power and influence,
that press presented on Saturday last, under the
caption of our name, the following precious
paragraphs, to wit:
.sThe editor of the Washington Organ has az
sumed jurisdiction over the political Affairs OF this
State and in every Issue Of his stupid sheetheimper
tnenty NEEDLES with the peculiar interests Of the
people Of Virginia He illustrates his zeal in the
service of KNOWN othingism, by assaling MIR. Wise
and the Richmond Enquirer with equal meanness
OF spirit and mendacity of statement.
..As the editor of the Organ bears the name OF
reputable Virginia family, some people may be dis
posed to submit to HE presumptuous interference
in the affairs of this State. To prevent miscon-
a Vermont Yankee; and that the native defects OF
his character, have been in no degree repaired by
long residence in this State. The tradition Of his
conduct still ofends decent people in this vicinity
Some "Reminiscences of his Virginia residence we
propose to revive for the edifcaton of the people
of this State, over whom he usurps audacious
guardianship. Will he take hint?
Most promptly, yet calmly and considerably
we answer the Enquirer, thus: We perfectly
understand your inefficient "hint, "--ace
might, under other circumstances regret your
manifest ignorance Of tho s0hoh matter, TO
phich you reter,--yet ace cannot do less than
despise your harmless threats, and defy your
impotent malice This is our response to the
Richmond Enquirer's promised revival Of the
"reminiscences" to which it alludes We have
no forbearancc to solicit from the Enquirer
no favors to ask at its hands. We neither fear
its anger, nor deprecate its wrath. Voluntari-
" and unprovoked, 1t made some weeks ago,
n personal assault upon us, charging that our
nrcss was owned I'm part by the proprietor Of
the National Era. We refuted the charge,
but the Enquirer did not publish the refuta-
ton. In that political discussion, which has
arisen upon the principles we advocate, that
press has INDUCED in species Of abuse, in
consistent with the rules Of propriety, and if
we have paid it back in its o,on coin, it has
had no cause of complaint
II assailed one of the candidates Of our party
(Mr. Beale) for supporting one of the Com
promise measures Of 1850,-andi If in defend
ing him we have trod upon the toes of the
Enouirer's friends-it was because they were
In our path. It has assailed the party which
we seek to sustain, as opposed to the rights
and interests of the South; and If in defence,
we have shown that the administration party
In Ohio, had resolved to eradicate slavery,
and that tho administration itself had essayed
to accomplish the same thing in Kansas, we
arc not responsible for the effect Of this ex-
posture. The friends of the Enquirer, should
have been honest in their professions towards
the South, and their hypocrisy would not have
been exhibited. When the Enquirer charges
us with assailing that press, and sends back
scandal in place Of argument 1t would be far
moro edifying to It's readers, and more effective
inbts appeals to them, IL it would shoW the
public, pherein consist the errors Of our posi-
tons, instead Of admitting their truth, by a
puerile assault upon theperson Of their author !!
The Enquirer shall be welcome to wear all the
laurels it may win, in its reckless, yet power
less attacks upon our private character.
Thus then, we show, not only that the above
is not the first personal assault made upon us
BY that print and that we have hitherto acted
on the defensive, and have simply discharged
our duty to our party, but that, the Enquirer
now resorts to personal abuse, and personal
threats for want Of argument TO supply its
readers II viii proceed with its disclosures,
whenever it may think proper, and should il
even be found, that the conduct Of the editor
Of the Organ, was as black as the heart which
prompted this assault upon us, IL does not fol-
low that the people of Virginia, can be diverted
from the consideration and adoption Of Amer
lean principles" because forsooth, "vespasian
Ellis is Vermont Yankee" This then, is
the Enquirer's foundation for the hope, that
the reign of the Richmond Junto will be per-
petuatedl Vain delusioni Meme, meme,
tekel upharsin, "-is written on its walls.
II the Enquirer means to say, that we have
improperly or upjustly "assailcd Mr.. WISE"
or that we have assailed him personally, it mis-
states the truth. We assail Mr.. Wise's politi-
cal opinions, and them only. Mr.. Wise is
gentleman, (unless his associations have wholly
changed his character within the last six
months,) and we have had too many proofs Of
his confidence and personal regard, to think
him capable Of being in airy way accessory to
the above publication. We have done, and
shall do, all in our power, fairly and hcnorably
to defeat his election, but we shall not cater to
any morbid tastes, by indulging in personal
abuse Of himself We shall abate nothing In
our efforts TO rid Virginia Of the blghting curse
Of the Enquirer's power.
The purpose Of the Enquirer in charging
that we have assumed jurisdiction over the
political affairs Of the State" and that we have
usurpcd audacious guardianship over II, " is
solely to excite the prejudice of the people,