Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-15
THE ENQUIRER AND THE SENATORIAL
ELECTION

played by "Ths South" and the enquirer in ca
rying on an angry controversy in regard 10 the ele(
tlon OF United States Senator from Virginia Sue
controversy can be productive of no good to tn
democracy and serves only as rich food to keep aiv
Inc wellnigh fanshed opposition. For them il il
delightful repast; they feast upon it with the eager
ness OF hungry vutures. 1t is their only hope. Dl
organized and scattered, defeated and disheartenet
tnelr tate seems sealed Imagine, then, their deligl
at seeing breach opening in the ranks, the soil
ranks OF those who, in the strength of their unior
anu the union of their strength had routed and ovel
ihroWn them apparently forever. They rally to thG
preGc not to heal but to widen ito taunt, to ange
ana irrltae each division of the party with the othe
WI, Wil not "The South and the "Enquirer' pause
w Why VIII they insist upon placing Gov. Wise all
mr.. Hunter in direct antagonism7 Have these ger
! tleman said or done aught to sanction l.! Who a
tempted rst and foremost to get up this controversy
ana VINO has strlven, by exaggeraton and by stratt
gem, to fan it into burning, angry flame Th
hnow. Nothing press Could there be greutsr foil
ana madness than in the Democratic press aiding i
the work II Fredericksburg Recorder.
Our amiabe friend of the Recorder" is unne
cessarily alarmed. His fears for the welfare of tn
Democratic party have blinded him to the true stat
OF affairs, as far as the "Enquirer" is concerned
The enquirer" denies that there is now, or tha
there ever has been any division Of opinion anon,
the Democracy Of Virginia upon the subject of IN
policy Of Me Administration in relation to the Kansa
mbroglio. There ia much difference of opinion as t.
certain declarations Of Gov Walker, but there is no
a Democrat in Virginia who is willing to avow tht
slightest want of confidence in the patriotism anc
integrity of James Buchanan. "The South VIZ
believe, at one time, made the removal of Governor
Walker the indispensable prerequisite of Its sup
port OF MIR. Buchanan, but from its unqualified
avowal of "cordial support" on Friday, and its
refusal to be driven" from his support, it nc
longer demands the head of Walker as the price o.
its (eslty to the Administration. The opposition to
the Administration at this time is confined strictly to
the Know Nothing party, in this State. and no Demo
cratic paper, great or SMALL is arrayed against it, The
Democracy is, therefore, upon the question ofsnpport
sng the administration, a "chrysolite without flaw "
The present state of affairs, therefore, strict and
literal ful6ment of the often repeated declaration Of
the Enquirer" that within the ranks OF the Virginia
Democracy there is not politician who ia willing to
avow his hostility to James Buchanan. If such
there are, wholesome terror of public opinion keeps
them quiet.
There Ia therefore, no avowed division oi opinion
among the Democracy Of this State respecting the
eminent merits Of the Administration. The most un
limited confidence is reposed in the integrity of Mr.
buchanan by the mass of the party.
The Recorder" is possessed of the idea that tie
"En9uirer" is party to controversy about the elec.
tion Of Senator by the Legislature next winter and
here also the "Reoorder" is mistaken. The policy oil
the" Enquirer" from its establishment to the present
day, has been to be an organ of the Democratic
party, and not the partisan advocate Of individual
Ia "a.
Democrats Of equal merits and equal fidelity to the
party rivals for an Office, take part with oi
the candidates asainst the other. The charge, there
FORE Of the disunon opponents of the Democracy that
the Enquirer" opposes the reelection of Mr. Hun
ter to the Senate ia without foundation. We have no
TO believe that Gov. Wise covets Mr.. Hunter
place. We have never heard from that gentleman or
his friends word which induces Us 10 think that
Gov. Wise desires any other Office tban the high md
responsible one whiSh he now fls. We believe
that he has 10 disposition or desire, except for the
State Rights Democracy who will honestly and cor.
daily represent and reflect the confidence which the
Virginia Democracy place in the Administration Of
James Buchanan. TLia ia all which the Enquirer
desres, and in the election of United States Sena.
tor 1t looks to the prosperity of the National Democ
racy, and is perfectly Indifferent to all else.
But the Enquirer wishes thing to De distinct
ly understood, and that too without reference 10 Sen
ator Hunter or any othe. asprant for the Senator.
ship. 1t will oypose bitterly and to the last gasp the
election by the Legislature Of any man to the United
:iiaiss Senate, who sanctions and encourages in any
manner the disunion views of the Charleston "Mer
curry" and the abuse which the New Orleans "Del-
ta' has heaped upon .he President 1t will i'll the
name of the Democracy Of the State oppose the eec-
tioa OF Senator who ahates or sympathises in any
way with those baffled conspratorc who have been
denouncing the Virginia Democracy. and seeking to
destroy the National Democracy. 1t will oppose any
sspiran! for the Senatorship who countenances the
crushing of the National Democratic party and the
formation of sectional parties looking to the dssolu-
ton of the Union 1t will oppose any candidate who
is suspected Of hostility to the Administration, and
sympathy with Kett and those faconists who seek
to break down the Administration. Virginia having
contributed more than any Southern State to elect
James Buchanan the Democracy Of this State do moi
intend so long as he faithfully discharges his duty
that he shall be deserted the OF the Nation
al Democracy betrayed.
This is the position of the Enquirer" and our
readers at perceive that position will be
one of strict neutrality where good reliable Demo
Gratis are concerned. 1t proclairns, however, war
to the knife upon all disunicnists and conspirators
against the National Democracy.
We go still further, and We solicit particular atten
ton 10 what We are now about to say. The Demoo
racy of Virginia have an undoubted right to demand
frank and explicit declaration Of opinion from al
candidates for their sufrages, whether in primary
or representative capacity. Whether they place con
dence in the position principles Of candidate or
not, any respectable ndvdus! voter, newspaper, or
member of the Legislature, has an undoubted right
to solicit full aId frank declaration ofopinons from
the candidate and if he refuses to answer such CALL he
offers an insult to the constituent and forfeits all
claims upon the party. No man in this country is
too high no Office entails such arstocratc privileges
as to deprive the humbleat citizen of this right. The
humblest voter or organ of the Democratic party,
where he asks the opinions Of candidate for Office
respectfully and properly, is entitled to an answer
The folly and indscretons OF few Of his miagud
ed friends have made much that we have said appli-
cable to Mr.. Hunter, without, we will do him the JUS
tlCc u Aofius 90 Jct W. ePoN>S''
word publicly to justify the boasts and declarations
of the opponents of the Administration. If the
"Delta" and the "Mercury" have placed MIR. Hunter
in a false position, it is bis duty to place himself
right before the Democracy of Virginia. The
enemies of the Administr ation-the disunion oppo.
nents of the National Democraoy-the villifyers OF
Mr. Hunters own State the papers whose editors
have called Mr.. Buchanan "traitcr." Coward and
"abolitionst' have declared that the reelection OF
Mr. Hunter to the Senate will be an endorsement by
Virginia OF the di.union sentiments and hostility OF
the factionists to the Administration.
Proud as the Virginia Democracy are Of the talents
and eminence of Mr.. Hunter, they would sacrifice
him or any other man rather than the miserable fac
tionists and disunionists who have spat upon the Old
Dominion and sought 20 blacken her fair fame, should
point to his reelection an evidence that Virgins
has deserted the National Democracy, and will wal