Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-08-25

their object ID a purely selfish Blowing the
trumpet of their own patriotism, they are grapdio
quent ia euiogzug The South but they lose no op.
portunty of assaiug leading Southern champions,
whose lives have been devoted to the vindcatian Of
Southern rights. Pretending to the world that they
are the anoiuted champions OF the State Rights par.
~ they are seeking the overthrow Of those who have
never, By hairs BREADTH swerved from the defence
OF the State Rights party. Without The slightest pro-
vocation, the organs of this faction have plainly
indicated their hostility to the distinguished Gov
vernon Of this Commonwealth.
Wei have never committed the "Enquirer" to the
peculiar organism of any prominent politician. We
have always been silent where the claims of our po-
lltica friends for Office and political hcnors in
conflict. When such contests unsvoidably arise. we
have thrown open the columns Of our paper to the
friends Of all the parss, but have always abstansd
from espousiug the cause of one at the expense Of
the rest.
And this course, where Democrats and friends of
an honest, pure and wise Administration
ed the course which we shall always pursue.
But We should be neither true to the South nor 10
the National Democracy, it, as an organ of the Ma.
tional Democracy Of Virginia, we silently permitted
one OF the leading representative men Of this State,
thorough State Rights Democrat and National
Democrat Of the most catholic popularity to be sssai
ed The Mercury" and the "Delts" without provo.
cation, for which, to their confusion, will
day be ascertaned have recently misrepresented an
honored and cherished citizen Of this State through
their editorials and Because he not
disunionst, and bitter foe Of the Administration,
because lie regards the National Democracy as
loyal guardian and faithful defender OF the constitu.
onal rights of the South he seems to have excited
the venom of the unhappy and dangerous malcoE-
tents to whom we have referred.
They cannot with the slightest preension to vera
city, aliege that Gov. Wise has taken any position on
the subject Of the Kansas imbroglio, innca 10 the
rights OF the South. Nor they allege that Gov.
Wise has in any manner participated in the wrang!e
about Walker. He has neither by speech or letter,
taken part in the pending controversy. He has no.
disguised his individual opinion, that the actual bona
fdc inhabitants of Kansas should be allowed to say
what shall, and what shall not se the organic law Of
the embryo State and there is not Southern man
who pretends to the slightest familiarity with const;
tu;ional law, who does not agree with him.
He does reprobate, and every Virginia Democrat in
dguantly reprobaes the attempt which has been mace
to put down Democratic President, in whose integ
rity and devotion to the South, the Virginia Demo.
eracy place the most implicit reliance. He will stand
by the Administration ss long it is true to the
South, aud Virginia will sustain him, and honor the
manliness and trmness with which he viudicstes his
choice for the Presidency from the assaults Of faction
lists and destractionsts.
The war, both covert and open. which the ''Mercu.
~, L -. ~
will do more than augh else TO show the world that
something else than devotion 10 the South governs
thoss papers in the war which they are wagng upon
the Administration.
They have outraged Southern sentiment and the
State Rights party of Virginia, in the unprovoked
war which they have commenced against Gov. Wise
When they undertake 10 assert that Gov Wise IL not
States Rights Democrat they not only excite The
coneptuous derison Of the South, but they let US in
to The secret of what they san rhen they speak Of
'.Statc Rights Democrat" They mean an enemy OF
the National Democracy-they mean factlonist who
believes that tue South should be guilty Of the suic.
dal policy of driving OFF her friends in the free States
they mean political migrate who takes delight in
vilyins the noble Democracy of The North in spite
Of their repeated sacrifices for the cause Of the South
They mean political raven who ia always croakipg
about disunon, aud who, unwilling to await the vio-
a,ion of our constitutional rights, believes that 'n.
mediate dissolution would be blessing to the slave
States" They narrow minded, shallow politl'
cian who spends his time i'll lauding the devotion Of
the Cotton States to the Interests Of the South, and
in denouncng Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, aud
all the great slave States where grain is the staple
production. It is fortunate for Gov. Wise that long
and splendid record State Rights Democrat,
furnishes a vindica.ion of his pctca! fame from
the attack of the suicidists OF the Mercury" aud
..Dsa" faction. His whole public life has been con-
secrsted to the defence of Southern rights For years
he stood forth in Congress the champion and leader
of the State Rights party.
Every speech and every letter Of Governor Wise is
in.tinc. with his warm devotion to the South. AT
the darkes. moment in the last Presidential election
he spoke the voice Of Virginia, and the heart OF
every State Rights Democrat beat with pride, when
he proclaimed to the Black Republican party, .ha.
the triumph of their candidate would sound the death
knell to the Uniou
And what has Gov. Wise done since then to forfeit
the sfreconate esteem of the State Rights party1 The
factionis,a OF the Mercury" and "Delta," may at
tempt to inure him by hints and ambiguous accuse.
ions but they dare not assign the true reason for
their dislike.
II is that Gov. Wise stands by the Administration,
aud s.ernly refuses to lend the Influence Of his name
10 those who wish to strike dove the National Demo.
cracy They hate him, because he will not assa the
President before he hos had time 10 develop the policy
of his Administration and TO meet his 6rst Congress.
They see that as the most distinguished and iDduen
ta State Rights Democrat in the Southern States. he
is lion in the path Of the impotent little faction
which is now swapping so ssvagey at the National
Democracy.