Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-17

the returns HHich lie pTOtih'inS were .lrhau"''''
simulated on their face-ana WHISTLER theY "efs
so or not, We have, IA yet, no means OF determining
which were no returns-in n word. II THIS DC Hue'
he did right, of course, in di-regsrdlng ana selling
them aside. He usurped 10 authority, II ms report
be true. and but did his du'y in repudiatlng FRAU
Upon THE ELECTIVE FRANCHISE, and in spurning the
insult which demanded that he should give IL MS vi.
fetal sanction and cOuntenancs. An e1ecntive hao
no judicial or Legislative power, and must NOT aare ~
usurp either; but il is something more thah mere! ei
ministerial authority, and has the right OF protecting
its~elffrom fraud and imposition. The ministerial o'lcer
even has that power. Forms were made 10 preserve
the substance of Justice and truth. not 10 ad iraua
and impoature, and false!Iood and injustice. Save
holders and the people Of siaveholdlng States are 700
high in their moral tone, to consent to owe Inc e-lao'
lishment OF slavery anywhere TO means like these
And yet some of the sublime opposltlonlsts VINO pro
fsas to despise t~reachery in Gov. Walker, III TINS
age of lawlessness aud violence, do moi nes,,
itsye to array expediency against Justice ana
TO arraign q Governor of a Territ"r" because
he dared to refuse to be par9c'ps c''E'nts IN
what he knew to be a gross and patent fraud! ar.
Hunter, | Gn sure, will net endorse or countenahce
such immortality as this. And a difference on inc
other points, where We do not agree, shall not divide
me, from him. He is eminently right in one particu
lsr:-that Congress he's no right to prescribe the cleo.
tive franchise for the voters uf Kansas on the adop-
ton Of their Constitution. The bona Lide inha6'hant',
by their Legislature or Convention, must prescribe
that for themselves. BY this | am far from Rejecting
uDDU Tile lOChUnSUHtu IcSDlulIUJr, loI l.
them to mean and 10 express the same thing. l
know not by whom, or where, they were written;
heard not of the meeting before il was held, and the
resolutions were published some days before l saw
them or knew of them; but judging from themselves
alone, they seem to me TO agree with Mr.. Hunter III
contrayening the ideas which We're ut first started by
his own friends, that only a particular class Of 40
ters, At first defined by act of Congress, were to be
allowed TO decide upon the adoption Of the Constitu
ton, if submitted to the people. MIR. Hunter takes
ground with the Enquirer" from the start on that
point, though, | think, he had no occasion to take it
in combating the Rockingham resolutions which
don't controvert it at all, but, on the contrary. con,
tend for til. principle of the Kansas bill itself-Mat
the peopie must BE- left 10 gorern themssircs, without
the Intervention Of Congress or any other power.
When Governor Walker nomination shall be made
to the Senate Of the United States, If made at ali,
il will 90 before Mr.. Hunter as one of the Senators
who are to try its fitness and propriety. And, If up.
on q full and fair examination of his course and con.
duct in Kansas, he finds that the Governor has exceed
ed his authority, has violated his oath OF office or his
duty in office, or has betrayed the high and sacred
trust reposcd in him to see the laws, and especially
the Kansas bill. faithfully executed, and to see that
all the people from all sections were alike, equal
ly and impartially protected then MIR. Hunter
will be reprehenslble, indeed, If he does not vote IL
reject his nomination, and to rebuke the Inal. admin
istration. II Governor Walker has really attempted
to dictate TO. and TO threaten the Convention or the
people OF Kansas, IN any form or TO any extent, he
deserves the s4verest apprehension. But, before he
il condemned, he ought to be heard by his yadges,
who are to sit officially upon his acts. Ii | sn not
greatly mistaken in the ability and motives OF the
man, he may be able 10 show thar the very words OF
his speech, quoted by Mr.. Hunter, ar capable of a fur
different meaning, and are anything but unfriendly 10
the South or 10 slavery. He may have meant "a
throw upon To9eka partizans the responsibility OF
not voting, 30 that if a pro-slavery Constitution should
be sent TO Congress, the plea could not be put up tina,
the people were lot i~mplored 10 vot. and decide the
issue for themselves. And, instead of meaning To die
tare or TO threaten, hs very words quoted may have
meant simply 10 remind hs Convention tint MeU
C0rk maS 10 be SpjmhHed Ia q body-COn.rrS-wkicA
had ]soiemniy se1,d he principles, that he PEOPLE o
the Territory ner 10 adopt or REJECT their c,ri instr
tni'OHs for MemSRrsS, trRh0M inferrsnti1A from aR}
quarter. This may have been and seems to have
been, an awkwart way of conveying the meaning, he
1t Is so easily misunderstood bur if that turns out 10
be the true meaning, Mr.. Hunter might find he had
mistaken a friend Tor a foe. But, surely it is not expect
cd OF MIR. Hunter Cr myself, AT this distance, with tuta
want ot correct Information, IN to his motives or mea
sures, TO condemn the Governor Of Kansas. with n pur
pose prepense 10 r,f.ct on the Administration and tC
damn all who honestly doubt aud defer Judgment IL
a fair hearing. know NJ. Walker very we'll. and
have seen his nerv, tried. l would prefer that he had
acted in his office rather than have mutt SpHehc> an
me stump, but he wlL, in due time-l suppose, merely
tor ] am not informed Of his intentiun.-maka his
defence, and then We shat; know better how to fiLi
our verdicts. If M be guilty, DIS charged, / shall join
strongly IN his concentration. Aud If | find him void
OF offence, clear in his nili -, 1 will respond - M,
gu'Ny." without fear, tavor or affection. 50 help m-
when | AK for justice, in spite of all pulilica. clalnor
though | shall stand alone on thu panel. ! have bceu
too !png tried III M truth {" the South snd 10 slave
ry, TO lear any tnt.s imputa,iol upon my m"tives
though my .luign-nt IN the case may be ERRONEOUS
when rendered ltis not rendered yet.
So, tl-n, thoee pvInis benz, Though material, open,
some ut th-tn 10 a fair differences Of opinion, ana
| 0ttltrS 70 further Inyr-tIrarInD mad ur,,:. Ind Mr.
Hunter dlsc!ainIng the rp.r;t and purpose Of Oppusi.
tiou, by expressing the drsir1 and expectation 10 b.
abie to support the Administration in the main, |
make n"lssue with HIM and wir!i my understanding
0t his p-dges. ] cannot hllJw my name 10 distract
aud diyiie the Virginia Democracy in opposition IL
his Reelection. | can have No personal issue with Mr..
Hunter our relations have ever been too friendly 10
admit OF any other acts on my part than ihusn oil kind
ness. liz Is an emlnently ahle and long.eSperi-ucei
statesTltu, and cannot be we'll spared. by The Demo.
cracy OF he State, As long as he desires ana expects
10 suppc-t the party which il 80 triuInpnan;!y put
into power against the foes OF the South. And the
South ne=ds, al this Tins especially, 10 bs united.
and canunr afford a division or imInat-r;al ur per
sonal issC-s. Whether there be a deposition 10 sac
riiice meor not, | am ready TO be made n victim, il
II Will unite the South, bind to our affection Gn!
coDtdeuce the true patriots OF the North, dsiand the
Constituticn and State Rights, preserve the Union,
and keep The peace Of the country la the bonds only
OF an equs! and amicable cnnfed-racy.
You say right, in saying that | am moi Responsible
for The editorials OF the Enquirer, nor is the En-.
qulrer responsible for my opinions or course. No pa
per has been authorized 10 speak for ms OH tue rub
jnct OF this i-tter. | have organic ID no prssIr-, Hni |
have exact-d or asked for no pledges OF candidates for
seats in the Legislature. Much that | have seen in your
paper | do, and some things do not approve. S,ne
Of your editorials have rather too sw-epinsly de.
bounced ''secessionists" and 'iira.eatefs.' iou have
explained whom you meant, but = wish YOU mad call.
ed other names than those will! which, ,uur humble
servant hiIn.elfhas ever been denounced. am one
Of those who b-ll-v. in IN. rightiul remedy nf "A sep
aration from the Con.ederacy, whenever the exercise
OF that State right ~ demanded by good aai suiiicien;
cause. And. it the exercise Of that right IL not peace
ably permitted. il may be enforced by tbs appeal tn
arms. Ths Farewell Address OF Washington is the
old, and The Virginia re-olutions ui 9S-'g0 are the
new testament Of my political inI:il. will maintain
the Union 10 tie last extremity, md i.ht Tor il To the
last inch of ground lett 10 s;Hnd on; bur when theirs il
no other alternative but subiugation or d;shonor,
from either papeble infractiuns Gf tho Constitution,
or from intolersble oppression under It's forms, ! care
not which, | viii, il | must, fight out ot tho Union, i;
can. 'If tina; be treason, make the most of il !"
Mr.. Buchanan aud his Administration have my
most cordial confidence, and 1 shall support them go
long as they do no more wrong than they have ~ vet
perpetrated. But | will not pledge my support
blindly and implicitly, without exception, and / ru
quirs no such pledge from Mr.. Hunter.
In conclusion, let ma aver that | do not desire a
seat in the Senns IF The UMitei States. md If I did
l wouid not dsstrt Il at Mr.. Hunters crp,nse. trust
that he and his friends DO not desire his ~ election NJ
nay expense, and that in future | may be relieved
from the penalty Of being deemed his rival for that
place.
Whether the Legislature will max. the election this
coming session, or postpone il 10 a time nearer the ter.
minafion of the sir yenrs OF The present term, it does
not become me to speak. They viii decide That que..
ton in their own w"y aud tim: without my presuiniug
to interfere.
Having as fully responded rs my severe labors will
allow Just at this time, | hope 20 be allowed 10 work
on. undis.urbed in future by any controversy respect.
ing a seat in the Senate of the United States invo!y
Ing the name OF Yours. Truly.
HENRY A. WISE.
From the Pnrkcrsbarg News.l
MIR. HUNTERS LETTER.
Our readers will find in another column a lette-