Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-10-06
THE ENQUIRER AND ITS DEMOCRATIC
CONTEMPORARIES


mocra:ic contemporaries, disapproving the endesyors
of the Enquirer" to induce Senator Hunter either to
| openly acknowledge his sympathy with the enemies
OF the Administration, to declare his intention TO
cooperate with the National Democracy in crushing
out all the elements Of opposition, come when or
whence they may. Some Of those, who differ from
us as to the policy and proprety of the course We
are pursuing, regret to Observe manifest feelings
towards us of not the most kindly character. There
| are others, however, who, while they have remon
stra'ed against what they conceive TO be uncalled for
and inudicous have not exceeded the bounds Of egi.
innate and generous discussion. To those whose dis
agreement 10 expressed in terms of unseemly censure,
We would recommend little calmness and circum-
spection. If they arc 30 dliden of their own inhu.
ence and ability to be satisfied that their opinions
will attract attention uDlees expressed in language
of unusual harshnesa, accompanied with unfriendly
reflections, then they are excusable and We freely
forgive them. And to those who advance arguments
in support OF their respectful remonstrances we
would frankly rxpresa our appreciation Of their mo.
| tves, however much we may deprecate the policy
they would advise US 20 pursue.
The Enquirer has always endeavored to maintain
the most amicable relations with it's coemporsries Of
tho press, not only in the State but throughout the
United States. And especially does it desire not to
incur the d.pleasure of Democratic journals in Vir
gina. Ii devotes its abors to the promotion Of the
principles and to the preservation of the harmony and
effectiveness Of the Democratic party It's course on
every political question is prompted by it's sense of
duty to the party for which it has long and
nesly contended, against its avowed and secret ene
l,,,iac
declarations of its sincere but misguided friends. The
Richmond Enquirer is enshrinsd too sacredly in the
hearts Of the Virginia Democracy to be accessible to
the aspersous which may he upon patriotism,
by any imaginable multitude of inconsiderate and in
harmonious organs of the party. 1t seldom assumes
an attitude without due deliberations; its sentiments
always frankly and fearlessly expressed; it's polit
cal course is dictated either by personal preu
dices or predictions; it never hesitates to question
the propriey of the position of any Democrat how
ever exalted or influential he may be, rhen the inter-
ests Of the Democratic party demand II. And for
these reasons, the Enquirer has always commanded
the confidence Of the Democracy, not only of Virgil
MIA, but of the whole country II aims TO please no
clique, or faction, but with esruestness and con-
stancy undsturbed by the applause Of those whom it
peases, or the maedicons and abuse Of those whose
personal predictions and interests it affects, pur
sues the pathway plainly pointed out by the prin-
ciples Of that party, the unity and purity and
strength of which, il holds in higher estimation than
the services of its members or the claims of its can
didates.
On the occasion in question-we allude 10 our call
upon Senator Hunter-the course Of the Enquirer
is for the partys good and whatever censure msy be
visited upon u.s. that course will not be altered until
its object 10 accomplished. We are are right
| and we mean to 20 ahead.
| To those Democrats who advise Mr.. Hunter to
continue in concealment, we appeal as patriots aud
as party men, to discard all personal feeling, and re-
feet for moment on the consequences of the elec.
ton Of United States Senator from Virginia, who
may not be disposed to cooperate cordially with the
Administration and the National Democracy. Have
they 10 doubts as to The disposition Of Mr. Hunter
on this pointl Do they implicitly believe that lie is
firm friend of Mr.. Buchanan, that he condemns the
factous course of the Ultraiss, and that he will aid
the AdmnistratNy in suppressing the opposition Of
those macontents, whom nothing less than dissolu.
ton can satisfy! They may bs willing to rely upon
| Mr.. Hunter, without any avowsl of opinion. But
can they do 30, perfectly free from doubt
| However it may be with others, the Enquirer"
cannot and will not consent to risk the reputation
and influence of the Democracy of Virginia, in
30 delicate and dangerous o juncure as this, on
the assumed fidelity Of any suspected politician
Should Senator Hunter be reelected, regardless Of his
silence on this subject no could charge him with
treachery, or the Enquirer with derelicton of duty
in the event Of his open snlistmsnt in the ranks Of
| ,L, uia frienda censure
us for calling upon hun for his views but it is they
not we, who are ipuriag bis interests and lmparng
his prospects. Our Democratic contemporaries, who
think differently, are of course, at liberty to exercise
their own Judgments in the matter We would
however again suggest to some of them, that it would
perhaps be as we'll for their we'll the inter-
ess of the party which they claim to represent, that
they indulge little les, freely in ungene.ous imputa-
tons and violent language, when essaying to crtcise
the course of The Enquirer" The most recent mani
festston Of ilnature towards on the part of any
of our Democratic cotemporaries is in the columns oi
the Wytheville Telegraph" of Wednesday last
That paper talks about the "presumptuous fatuty OF
the Richmond Enquirer, the "Hagiiious recklessne,s
of those who have inspired the recent Of the
Enquirer" the anonymous editor of the Enquirer
|
cause of this bitter tone towards us from our cotem
porary of the Telegraph" II any Of our random
Shots fred at the flying fsction,ts, struck him, We
eau only chide him for being in the way. AS to the
charge of "presumptuous fatuty," it would be the
"uukindest cut of ALL" but will not believe the
Wytheville Telegraph" really meant to destroy the
influence OF the Richmond enquirer" 30 summarily
and so cruelty! Unless our contemporary generously
concludes to repair the injury be has done u.s. bygv
ing us "puff," the Enquirer" we fear, will soon
cease TO attract the slghtest attention in hs country
and certainly in Europe.
The Telegraph" mistakes in supposng that our
columns are under the control of an anonymous ed
i,or" There are two responsible names accompany
| iug every copy OF every issue Of the enquirer;
and during the painful and and illness OF Its
senior editor since February. the writer who was
then employed for the purpose, has been constant
contributor to its columns Our cotemporary of the
Telegraph" should profit by our counsel aud be-
come more tractable Democrat and generous jour.
nast 1t would be better for him in the end.
| .
"For thirty years or more the enquirer" has re
yelled in the delightful occupation Of charging or IN
snuating infdeiry to the South against Southern
| Wings. But the tables are now urned-'ts Inns mas
coms at sst-and, kick against the prlcks as II may
its political principles will be examined and It's po
litica course crtcised-so far at least, as we are
concerued-iu "bad TASTE il may be, but yet with
perfect freedom, and under full sense OF the respon
sibiy that belongs TO us"
The "Whig" of Saturday introduced to 'ta readers
reproof Of ours, with the remark, "ths reader will
recognize the foregoing laconc and interesting para
graph as an euauation from the Richmond 'EnQu
rsr" The appropriateness ofthe came preface in d.
rscting the attention of readers to the above eI
tract after substituting the name Of that paper for this
is we think quite palpable 10 all who are familiar with
the style and tone and temper Of the "Whig." In
reply to the allegation, that "for The last thirty years
or more the enquirer bss reveled in the delight
full occupation of charging or insinusns inhdslity
| n tho South aoa;,s, Southern Whigs," We have 10