Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-10-16
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
BY RITCHIE & DUSNAyAST.
FRIDAY MORNING, OCTOBER I6.
ANOTHER KEBuKE AND A CANDID CONFESSION

ANOTHER REBUKE AND A CANDID CONFESSION
Ihe Fredericksburg Recorder" says:
Inc perslstency with which the "Enquirer cont
nues 10 ihlerfogate Mr.. Hunter, in the form of com
ment upon his silence, and the awful foreshadoyipp
Of Judgment to come to the Senator from the Demo
cratic party with which the readers of the "Enuui
rer are daily alarmed, must be rather surprising tc
the party at large. The interrogatories which the
Enquirer propounded to MIR. Hunter were in them
selYes perlecty legitimate, but the in which
iney were put, the language accompanying them and
lhe 100 evident spirit which prompted them, has ne
cesearny oeoarred an answer from a statesman, who
mas sell respect or regard for the opinion of others
why our persisency in iDterrogating Mr.. Hunter
should be surprising to the Democracy we are some
what at loss to imagine. Surely the friends of that
gentleman, able and honored as he is, cannot expect
for him, immunity from responsibility to the people,
and especially to the Democratic party of Virginia.
Senator Hunter occupies proud and prominent po-
sition, it ia true. But the enquirer is, neverthe.
lesa, not at all deferred from calling upon him for his
views with reference to the Administration.
The Recorder" admits that the nterrogatories pro.
pounded to Mr.. Hunter, by the Enquirer" 'were,
in themselves, perfectly legitimate" Now, that is
really rational talk. We like such sentiments. They
encourage us to hope for an Improvement in the pre-
JUDGES and opinions, as we'll as the tone and temper
Of those journals which have been rashy rebukng
the Enquirer" for daring to ask whether Mr.. Hun.
ter ia opposed to the Administration in favor Of it,
Perhaps our cotemporary Of the Recorder" will agree
to unite with US anon in our allupon the Senator 1t
is not too late He is silent yet. 1t may be, too that
little farther reflection will induce Of our less re-
sPectful contemporaries in the country, to be more
civil. and not quite go regardless Of ordinary conven
tioraiiies when they have occasion again to express
their dsspprobation Of our course.
The Recorder" however, objects to the manner
(which nerrogatories were put, thelanguage &C.
companying them, and "lhe too evident spirit which
prompted them. We would assure that journal, that
if we have been otherwise than perfectly respectful
to Mr. Hunter, either in manner or in language, it
was far from our intention. The Recorder il
fypercrtcsl, we think Indeed. we are quite aston.
ished at the objection urged by our cotempo.
rary. We hare stldiously endeavored to be courte
Gus in our criticism upon the silence of Mr.. Hunter
and in all appeas to him for his views As to the too
evident spirit" which prompted interrogetoriss,
we have only to say to the RECORDER" that are
actuated in our course .owards Mr.. Hunter only by
sense Of d1;y 20 the Democratic party aud the Ad.
!inlstraon; and We defy it to discover evidence of
any other spirit in our articles on the subject.
Whether Mr.. Hunters "sefrespeo., regard for
the opinions Of others" VII CoDtGue to coustran him
to silence eud whether auch course will prove ad
Tantageous to his interest, the sequel will show
Let the "Recorder" scan the communications in Tho
Enquirer" and twill see that a,e aot alone in
our remonstranoes The voics OF the people is begin
ming to be heard.
Mr. hunters Democracy is not doubted. His nd,
berence 10 all the g:eat cardinal canoDs of hia party
is undsputed. Public confidence =, MS capacity is
unimpared. There ia no other objection urged
against hila, Than that he s suspected OF sympathy
with the opponents of the Administration. And that
objection be can readily remove ~ avowing his ap.
probation Of the policy pursued by Ar. Buchanan,
and dscs;.liDg auJ intention or desire to embarrass
his Administration by encouraging or co operating
with it's assailants The Democracy of Virginia are
not disposed TO dispacs MIR. Hunter. He has proved
an able and faithful representative And his State is
proud to number him among her most gifted aud em.
nent men. But since he is suspected OF sympathy
with the actious re eaters, whose disunon doctrne3
are inimca to the conservative, constitutional course
OF the Administration, it is not unreasonable that he
should be called upon to avow bic views on the sub.
ject.
Aawa have SAID, and say again, il we have trans.
gressed the bounds VI poiteness, propriey cour.
tesy In our emicsbe course towards Mr.. Hunter,
we did 30, not on5 without intending it, but in
direct contradiction an earnest desire to be perfect
ly respectful. Those of our readers who have care
fully considered the editorial articles in the "EuGui-
rer" relative to Mr.. Hunter, will we think, unhesa
tngly accord to us, IN evident disposition to avoid
every expires sion tb,t could possibly be distorted
into significance of disrespect. To speak dscour.
teously either of or Senator Hunter, would be 10
belle the feelings snt opinions of the Enquirer.
We are aware that VI, have been frank in our enqui
ries, and perhaps unw,come in our commentaries up
on the persisye silene of Mr.. Hunter. But we have
appealed to him in erms Of the utmost courtesy.
In behalf of his own interests, we'll rs OF the
integrity and harmon: Of the Democratic party, to
dsabuse the public mind Of all suspicion of his fde
ty to the Union, tc heNational Democracy, and to
the Administration. The "Euquirer' disdains to
shrink from its duty Eprocaitns its opinions freely
and fearessly, but it aways endeavors to observe
that courtesy towards rhers which it claims for