Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-10-02
THE SENATORIAL ELECTION.


signed "Accoinac,' to which We call the attention of
our readers. The writer, whom We know to be an
influential Democrat OF high standing il not inclined
10 favor the unjust attacks to which our position on
this question has been subjected by some members
oi the press BY reference TO iiles our co-res-
pondent will become convinced that We have taken
10 part IN the attempts which have been made to Gre
ATE Tue impression Of the existence Of rivalry for the
seat IN The Senate between the incumbent Senator
anu the Governor Of Virginia, and the inputaton
mat we have assumed an attitude OF dsrespect to.
wards MIR. Hunter IS equally groundless.
we nave oeen actively engaged in repsling tue at.
tacks OF preconcerted facous opposition, made on
the friends and measures of the present Democratic
Administration. Different organs Of this opposition
nave openly claimed Mr.. Hunters acquiescsnce In
Their movements against the Administration Under
these circumstances, we have pointed to the necessity
oi disclaimer OF such acquescence on the part of
mr.. hunter His name has been used by the ene.
mics OF the Administration in such manner that to.
ai sence on his part ia accepted ny the hostile fac
ton as an affirmation Of their own assumption. Thus
the name OF Virginia Senator is employed to add
weight to an opposition wsgsd against Democratic
Administration. If Mr.. Hunter shall remain silent
and be re elected to the Senate without an svows ON
his part it will be claimed by the opposition tri
umph of thsir forces in Virginia. Mr.. Hunter owes
1t TO the Administration and to the party which sua
tans the Administration, to rebuke the attempt made
to identify him with these destructionsis.
This act of justice towards the Administration can.
not be effected without direc. and complete disa.
vowal, which Mr. Hunter has not yet made. Vir-
gina Democracy made its fsvorite choice in the
election Of James Buchanan who still retsns their
perfect confidence. Can We then consent TO elect
Senator who by silent refusal to endorse the action
OF the President when the OF bis name by an Op
position faction demands such endorsement, shall
thus assume position which will enable him imme.
diaely after his election to choose the position of All
opponent to the Administration, or even of jealous
neutrality and indifference to its support We have
no hesitation in avowing that We are not willing to
risk the interests Of the Democratic party by repos
ing unnecessary confidence in any politician, how
ever high his position or meritorious his services
These the considerations which have induced
our appeal to Dir. Hunter. These considerations
have never been adverted TO by any newspaper edi
tor who has chosen to express disapproval OF the
course Of the Enquirer" In it's article of yester
day morning. "rhe South" pretends to present lie
tinitive view of our position, and omits oil reference
to these views, which we have already reiterated.
We must also call attention to an unjustiisbe re.
Aection which "The Sonth" makes OH our own
course. Nothing could be more unfair towards The
Enquirer" and even towards Gov. Wise than the
following language
True we did not sssume, a. the Enquirer does, in
the above explanation, that Gov. Wise is exclusively
influenced in the matter by ths selfish considerations
Of personal ambition"
No language Of can be referred to in proof Of
any such assumption Oh our par or ol any admission
that such an implication could possibly attach To
Gov. Wise. The charge has been made that Gov.
Wise has been actuated by selfish motives Of person
al ambition, 30 far as to seek 10 supplant Mr. Hunter
in the Senate. To disprove this charge against Gov
Wise, We have resorted TO plain reduct'o nd a6s"'
dun, by demonstrating that even the personal inter
eats OF Gov Wise are such as to withhold him from
such contest with MIR. Hunter And this il Ia, which
"The South" misrepressnts az an assumption on onr
part discrediable to Gov. Wise.
We repeat the confident assertion that Gov. Wise
hes never lntimated desire TO suppsut Mr.. Hunter
The assertion that Gov. Wise has intrigued for such
purpose is itself the offspring Of political intrigue,
concerted chuckled over and boasted OF BY faction
Of disappointed politicians, who have sought to rem
der the reelection of Mr.. Hunter means Of politi
cal injury to Gov. WISE The fact go triumpbantly
paraded by "The South" as positive disproof'' Of
this, viz that no Democratic journal has rsProached
Gov. Wise by direct avowal Of the assertion refer
red to, offers evidence OF disproof. Such an open
game as that OF editorial publication wonld have
risked exposure and the exposure OF the intrigue in
wolves its defeat.
"lhe South" Is no more successful in IFS attempt at
disproof by reference to obvious considerations Ct
expediency." These intriguers, whether friends Of
Mr.. Hunter or not, had other objects iu view BE-
sides the promotion Of Mr. Hunters iuteresta slai
contents with the choice Of the Cincinnati Conven-
tion they have sought 10 discrsdit the Adminstra-
ton by course OF systematic attack Moreover.
Gov Wise was the prominent advocate of Mr. Bur.
hsnsn's nomination, and hence they have passed the
watch word, "Wise must bs crushed"
"rhe South" will slso remember that tls intrigue
ia intended to injurs Gov. Wise without rsking Mr..
Hunters interests-to create such popular impref
aon OF impoent ambition on the part Of Gov. Wise
as to defeat him even without coDtestto represent
him a. entertaining desire for the contest restrain
cd only by sense of his own weakness.
Another example OF THE South's" logic. Wsaf.
told that because there is now mo contest for MIR.
Hunters seat In the Senate the question Of ths
Senatorial election is not open question.
Now we submit that this reasoning is tvi
IDENTIFY erroneous. Until the election, the pos.
sibliy OF contest which may occur, leaves the
question open. The fact that the friends Of the Ad
minlstaon have not yet chosen to select candidate
to oppose Mr. Hunter and the uncertainty as 10 whom
they may choose to select candidate in the event
thnt Mr. Hunter shall justify the claim Of the destruc
tonists as 10 his position, does NOT orecose the qG.s
lion OF the election in favor of MIR. Hunter.
The South might also be more careful in the Gse
Of terms That Gov. Wise does not occupy the pnei-
ton OF candidate for the Senate. Implies no "wiih
drawal' on his part, or on the part OF his friends
Gov. Wise must first sumo the position Of cani
| date before "gthdrawa' from snch position can
! be impnted to him.
new doctrine Of political etiquette has been As
serted by the assasnts Of the " Enquirer We are
informed that it is Injurious TO the dignity Of cand
date TO define his position at the request Of par
zan, IL such parzan shall presume honestly to avoS
his own opinion as to what position, on the par, of
the candidate, ought to ensure his election or hs d..
feat. This "disnity dodge ia forlorn hope; hut
we are not surprised ths, The South" gives in is
adhesion to this amendment to the ceremonial code.
An avowal on the part Of Mr. Hunter, amounting
to entire disapproval of the pursued by Lac
enemies Of the Administration, woud, indeed, place
our neghbor in q very embarrassing position.
FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON. Sapt. 229th The Commissioner OF P't.
ents is sending circulars with the view OF asc.r
tanning the amount and Of cotton consumed IN TIE
United States during the fiscal year ending e Vth "t
clssses Of good. into which IL is manufactured.
The PRESIDED. today returned from bis T:slt :"
Theatland. :.
Col. Emory. the < S. commissioner sor rurnips IN
Mexican bouudarY. has formally turned over 70 :,
fnts,ior nenartnen, the maps and oEc!a papers c:,
a.o.ad r-.h :hs, rork. .fhe Mexican comutssica 8.