Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-05-08
Epr tie Enlnire-.
THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL

BILE by your leading article headed Ourselves aua
Tide.W ster" in your paper OF Tuesday aSsd in
am not surprised that Tide Wafer succeeaeu ha
awelliny the amount of patronage enjoyed W h;s
Esat esuecialy after ascerainlng me piss W % NJ
calculation. / differ from "IIde-N are: ~ aotian
his posj,ions. First, that II Is proper III tue
of State officers to consult src.io'l Is,v officer
and, secondly that in the selection oil 'a ID"
for IN. government of Virginia, which Is 70
distinct and sorercgn State, II Is JUST anu t;z.ns
look To the amount If money received .! of
of anv portion Of Virginia who are III .G rho mi.
another distinct and separate gorern
ted States. -, o,erpmeut
Now, let me ask, in oil respect, II me Of Vir.
of lhe United States, in appointing ct'I; yiau Ma
GINA to office, ever takes such ,thieh they
to look 10 the section of the State r." Washington
co,nei Does the appointing power in a oT Tide
know ANYTHING of the sectional aiViSo I'D "Sonth.
Water Piedmont" "NorhWest aiu Ter Ii
West Is not Virginia regarded, ~ one and ind.
mits as she ought to be within then'
pisible? ;sad like myaelf
n se. tbs mann-r in which Tide Water eso aI
estimates and to 6nd that o the sun, IInr;ro County
TO the cizens Of Richmond anu ~ am vas made
by far the larger portion, viz Tio'o;v' ma fnnd
IN of fsd.raI salaries aud that OF ihese u "oI 49,
necessary 10 include those ~ the %. ,pust con.
and Sardinia, and Consul 10 no. ,,oa ,av ,hs
fess it never entered my nna, Ehen Ihot tbsss
aceuracy of Tide. Waters sta'enien, .aa ~ 49,
off ~ ,rsr included because cannot see even no"
The nronrety or Justice OF bringing thein ia. py
way, did "lids Water" Include me ea'S. y, Ine
present Secretary Of War in his estimate OF ane w"Ie
of offices held by "oher PORTIONS "a the dispsrape
msn, htxssn the East and W1et in respect 10 patron
age wby did he not take the officers Oh Ihe army SHu
navy of the United States, who are from easier
gna, and add the amount Oh III, ,a'M pu y vsrv con-
sidyraby But Messrs. Editors resPeci,uny Sud .;
mil that the money argument oi rae a'er IL
wholly inadmissibIe upon question like ms ana,
if il is TO be considered at ALL II 10 lar ana proper
that it should be- confined to the value OF the onces
j,.id unI.r the State or Gore, nment " prgtna.
You have 80 cunclusively shown that, IN regard 10
SIM, offices no Injustice has been done to any section
of the s ate even upon Tide. Waters own primer
niles OF secauasm, that shall content myself win
the consideration OF tue SUBJECT upon n'eue' an o
shall endeayor to show that in filling the office OF
Attorney General the Democratic party has nerer
looked ard should Merer look, to section.
IL ia true that there tn have been taclt uu-
Outstanding in regard TO the offices of Governor and
Lieutenant Governor, that the East aud w est snhil
alternately fill them and, accordingly at the nrst no.
minaton under the present Constitution the Usmo-
cratic party nomluated Governor 'ro;., inc Nee.'
and a Lieutenant Governor from the East; and III
the second instance, the Governor was taken from
the East and the Lieutenant Governor from the West
Aud this rule, suppose, Will be observed 10 all iu-
ture nominations.
regard TO these offices, has any such agreement or
princpls been adopted in regard 10 the office Of At
iorney General Has not that selection been left To
the Stat. at large And, ia il not manifestly sound
policy and does not justice alike 10 all sections
that ia to the whole State-require tina, m,rit and
not location, should be the governing principle in the
selection OF this officer!
II the ground assumed by Glide Water is fenable
or proper now WAS it not equally a the last De-
mocratic Convention for the nomination Of State
officers! Was no, Tide. Water" member of that
Convention? Why did ho not then break forth in
vehement defamation against tho injustice perpe-
trated upon the other sections of the Stated Why
did he not then exhibit his abridged statement"
showing that the federal and State patronage had
been monopozed by the Tide Water region and espe-
cally by the city OF Richmond and county of Hen.
rico! 1t il no answer to say that Mr.. Bccock was
then the incumbent of the Office, and had performed
its duties with fidelity and ability. If the rule for
which eide. Water" 80 earnestly contends is proper
now, it equally 80 them No man should be permit
ted to stand in the way Justice Mr.. Bocock should
have been sacrificed TO the principle, and worthy NJ
he was it was better that his ambitious hopes should
have been crushed than that the glaring and gross
Injustice of which tide. Water" now complains
should have been inflicted upon that vast section Of
the State in which the strength and hopes of the De-
mocratc party are centred.
This feeling of sectionalism ia one which should be
crushed out because it is pregnant with the most
rous mischief aud can never by possibility result IN
advantage to the State or to the Democratic party.
We have had enough of in federal politics, aud
have seen Inc Ultttr fruits OF II. TX may YET
(which God in his mercy avert lead 10 the dsmeIn.
bermeut of national Union, and bring upon Us a
state of things which patriot or phanthropist can
contemplate without feelings Of ndescribabe horror.
Aud shall Virginia, too, ue made the theatre for
such atrife Shall the man from the Valley be ar
rsyed always in hostility TO the from the North.
| West, and the man from Piedmont against the man
| from the South West Shall the people Of the Tide
Water region not be permitted to regard, with irater
nal affection the people OF every other section, aud
1 ha tpT IN IA
tina, feeling Why this everlasting cry Of East and
West! Let Us act in a.! matters, and upon all coca
sons, as tine children Of Que common mother, oi
whose honor we are all equally jealous end 20 whose
| prosperity We all equally devoted. In matters
pertaining to her interest, let know geographic
cal divisions; let Virginia every part of her. every
county and every towel have our love aud our best
efforts for the promotion of her interest, glory and
honor
When her honors are TO be distributed, or hel
emo!umens to be bestowed, let us not stop TO ask
from what section does The aspiran; come! Let III
rather adopt the JefersOuian test, and look 10 hi;
merit and worth If he is to BIZ, TO any extent the
guardian Of the honor Of the Commonwealth, if high
and important State interests TO be conhded to hi
hands Justice to all sections req ures that tue man
best qualified for the trust should be selected, aud il
boots to enquire from what county or section ht
| comes
Why may not this feeling of sectionslism become
extended lac il certainly will in few years II Ell
couragedj that each county OF the State. who CAT
boast her SONS worthy to fill any Office, State fede
| RAIL- shall be- arrayed in bitter an;ago0ism against
| every other county whose sons have besn the reel
pients of these favors? AMI thus the harmony 8,
essential to the development of tbs power aud wealth
| of all sections will be destroyed, and the beautifu
spectacle of house divided against itself will be e1
hibited and may revel 10 the rich prospect of IL
promised aud certain fall. VihGISrA.
DEMOCRATIC MEETING IN MiDDLESEX