Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-13
CHARLES IRvING--OURsELF BUCu.
ANAN-PIERCE.

We have just read the card of Charles Ir.
wing editor ofthe Lynchburg Republican, con-
tanned in the Richmond Enquirer of the 9th
instant. 1t has been drawn forth by an article,
surely free from all offensiveness which we
published in reply to one from the Lynchburg
Republican, of previous date. Mr. Irving
has chosen the columns of the Richmond En-
quirer to rejoin. His reasons for so doing, we
have no objection to-
Mr.. Irving frankly admits that we were right
in our conjecture, that his article was an at
tack upon Mr.. BucHANAN's fitness for the nom
nation at Cincinnati. We like this, because
| there is no controversy so agreeable as that in
which both parties deal with each other with
entire candor and frankness. We shall not be
outdone by our friend in this respect. We will
make full and free expose of our position,
which he has thought necessary to bring into
our editorial warfare. We shall do so without
the slightest unkind feeling towards himself
and with entire justice to all the parties whom
he has chosen to embrace in it. The public
can then judge between us. Before proceed
ing, however, to the discussion of the points at
issue, we must be permitted to say, that it is a
source OF sincere regret that he has deemed it
essential to his purpose to refer to the former
and present relations between ourself and the
distinguished Senator from Virginia, Mr.. R. NJ.
T. HUNTER. We thought that our friend would
have seen the propriety of not forcing us into
public comment upon the course that gen
tleman saw fit to pursue with regard to our
self. He should have known, 1--WE are sure
would have respected, if he had thought a mo-
ment,) the delicate personal relations that
subsist between Mr.. Hunter and ourself. We
have studiously avoided, in our advocacy of
another gentleman for the Presidency, the least
allusion Of even legitimate political charac-
ter to him. We had hoped. that the feeling
that had been engendered by his course towards
US in the late election Of public printer to the
Senate would have been permitted to die under
the operation of time, and that those relations,
personal and political, would have ere long been
restored. 1t shall be no fault of ours if they
are not still-but we had sincerely prayed, that
in the existing contest going on, this cup might
pass from us, and that we might escape the ne
cessity, in our support of Mr.. BUCHANAN, of
abiding to, or rejecting upon that gentleman in
any manner whatsoever. Mr.. Irving, however,
has forced itupon us by personal illusions in the
following extract from his card, which leave us
no alternative, in obedience to our selfrespect
and selfprotection, but to meet the issue which
he has presented.
~ candidly confess that prefer either Hun
| ter, Douglas, or Pierce to Mr.. Buchanan.
confess, too, that in my first preference for Mr.
Hunter was much Influenced last winter by
the arguments of b. Tucker, esq, editor of the
Washington Sentinel who, on more occasions
than one, urged me to assume the precise posi-
ton for the holding of which (Mr. Tucker has
left me-not / left him) i am now assailed by
him. Mr. Tucker last January urged, insisted
and even implored me to come out for Mr.. Hun
ter. yielded to his arguments, and did come
out for Mr.. Hunter Mr.. Tucker now assails
me for doing the very thing which he begged me
to do. What has Mr.. Buchanan done since last
January which has 50 excited Mr.. Tucker in his
behalf2 Nothing, so far as | know. What has
Mr.. Hunter done which has forfeited the friend
ship of Mr.. Tucker? He has refused to ally him
self with free-soilers to elect Mr.. Tucker printer
| to the Senate. If Mr. Hunter has made a speech,
or given vote other than this, to which the
course Of the Washington Sentinel can be re-
ferred, it is unknown to me. This course Of
remark is not as kind as i would wish to adopt
in reference TO Mr.. Tucker, but the position he
has voluntarily assumed leaves me no other al.
tentative. / disclaim all desire to be personal.
y offensive, but / am forced to state facts"
Our own position, political and social we
regard as of quite as much importance as that
Of any individual however exalted his station,
and therefore we shall treat this branch Of the
subject with entire fullness and fairness. Mr..
Irving after avowing Mr.. BUCHANAN as his
last choice Of those most prominent before the
Convention, goes on to say that he was much
influenced in his first preference for Mr..
Hunter by the arguments Of B. Tucker, of the
Washington Sentinel, who on more than one oc-
casion urged me to assume the precise position,
for the holding Of which, (Mr. Tucker has left
me-Hot / have left him. am now assailed
by him." Now, the first part of this assertion
is most certainly true, and so far from being
embarrassed by having il thrown up TO us, we
are proud that he has voluntarily rendered his
testimony, not only to our ardent devotion to
that gentleman, but to the great and success
ful force, with which we secured his support Of
him, and a mighty hard time Of zoe had
Nth him 10 produce the happy effect. The
latter part however, be will permit us TO re.
mind him is not correct. When did we assail our
friend for the position he has taken Can he
point to single sentiment in our article that
can even, by distortion, admit Of such con.
struction2 Have we done so priedtelyP On
the contrary, it is certainly in his memory,
that the first time we met after he had taken
his position, was at the Richmond Convention
and where we frankly told him our reasons for
our change Of action, at the same time ex-
cusing the position he had taken and for which
we felt we we're somewhat responsible. In