Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-09-29
THE SENATORIAL QUESTION.

esnce.
TIE SENATORIAL QUESTION.
In its article Of Thursday last, "The South dis.
,sys moderation and fairness Of expression, which
$ quite refreshing to readers over powered with
ne usual fervid ssnanaons OF that journal. 1t real
y seems that some "moguus Apsu has al last
matched the rens from the uncertain hands Of that
ohaton who has so direy threatened our Democrat
O world with general confsgration. We will not
INQUIRE whether THE South" has an ''incosnito" of
ts own; but we must say that if the article refer
ed to is really the production of the editor of "The
,outh," that gentleman exhibits wonderful versa.
ility Of talent as we'll as great facility In sup
PRESSING the incnatlons Of hi, we'll known aversion
o all compliments bestowed on the present Cover
lor Of Virginia.
So far as we can Judge, 1.-THE South" does entire
ustce to Gov. Wise In asserting that ne has not
,sen led by personal ambition to seek con-
est with Mr.. Hunter for the Senatorial election,
and the positive assertion that the Governor is not
; candidate for such election is one which "The
South" is fully justified in publishing. That "The
South" should 20 beyond this act Of justice and
proceed to eulogse the energy and efficiency of the
Governor, in his present position, ia however, an
example Of generosity for which we we're not fully
prepared.
As far as our information goes, no politician in
the State has intimated desire to supplant Mr..
Hunter in the Senate. That gentleman stands be-
lore the people Of Virginia as the only candidate
for the Senatorial election, and IS such he is re.
sponslble to the people for the complete avowal Of
his political sentiments and simply because the ed
itors of this paper have chosen to e1ercssthe right
which belongs to every citizen Of Virginia. in ask
iue an explanation of Mr.. Hunter, present political
position, "The South" has chosen 10 fill it's columns
with collection Of newspaper extracts, which unite
in msrepresenting our position.
The case is a simple one, which can be explained
by the merest recital of facts. rumor, which "The
South" now Acknowledges to be without foundation
YVES busily circulated, to the effect that Gov. Wise
sought to oust Mr.. Hunter from the Senate This ru
NOR not only received credit from number of poll
tcians, but the same men acted the assumption o.
it's truth so far as to make the question of Mr.. Hun
,ers re election prominent and embarrassing ques
ton in the elections Of last Spring. II we are right
ly informed, the editor Of The South" was himself
prominent both In caucus and at the hustings, in the
attempt made to pack the Legislature in favor OF Mr.
Hunter. The same men who were foremost in this
movement, were at the time and have been since en-
gagged in course Of general opposition to the present
Administration The foreign policy OF the President
has been attacked even before time was allowed for
Just understanding OF such policy. The friends ant
sppointees OF the Administration have been subject
ed to repeated assaults. An attempt has been made
to awaken suspicion and disrust against the whole
Northern wing of the Democratic party. The sepa
rate sectional organization Of Southern Democrac,
has been openly advocated. The right OF the people
of Kansas to choose their own form Of organic gov
erument has been denied. The President has beer
menaced and openly denounced. He has been charg
I'd directly and indirectly with retaining in office
treacherous usurper. who has aagrantly violated hi
oath of Office and become the parcipstor in scheme
intended to betray the rights and interests of the
South In The midst Of all this, certain newspapers
affiliated with this opposition, have published state
men,s to the amount that Mr. Hunter is the approVer
II not the co adjutor Of this same opposition.
In the face of these facts we have respectfully indl
Gated 10 Mr. Hunter the propriety OF openly aVowinf
or ignoring the position which has been assigned to
him. 1t s our right to do so and it s our duty to suE
port no politician who will refuse to ignore all sympa
thy and afi aton with the precoucerted movements
facous opposition 10 the best interests of our party
The assumption that the Enquirer" has offered th'
approval or disapprovsl Of Gov. Walkers course a
a test of Democratic orthodoxy to Mr.. Hunter, o
any one else, is utterly unwarranted. What we asi
is, that Mr.. Hunter shall make such complete
svowsl as will inform US whether he approves tn
general course Of this unnistakeable opposition
This can easily be done by avowal Of bis opinion
on each one of the points of opposition above men
toned This will inform us how far he approves o
disspproves the whole Of the opposition; ant
this ia the only manner by which We can obtain re
liable information as to the present political attitud
of the man who claims the sufrages Of the Demo
cracy of Virginia This Is all We ask and this can
not be rightfully refused. We are Virginians, an
belong to the same political party to whose sufrag
Mr.. Hunter lays claim. The dignity and repons
bIty of his position demand that he should not trea
a request, which we have the right to make, with un
gracious silence And give the further assurance
that we ask nothing more than comPlets ezplsna
t,on on the part Of the Senator himself, which wi
satisfy reasonable enquirer that he stands oppose
TO all the enemies declared and secret OF the presen
Administration, and the present organization OF ID
Democratic party and iu such case, We will giaol
see Mr. Hunter crowned with the additional mono
of rs.eection to the Senate.
As for the petty misrepresentation to which
have been subjected by newspaper editors some
whom may have selfish objects to secure by an over
Jealous offioiousness in Mr. Hunters behalf, we ca
only ssy that the course of silence which they al
tempt to chalk out for Mr.. Hunter, would prove
updiened as it is uncourteous, and would constitut
an unjusti6abe and unprecedented violation OF IN
rights of free constituency. Nor can we neiieVe
10 case Mr. Hunter shall peraisently refuse 10 olsf
VOW the opposition that the Legislature has been
completely packed and it's members 80 thorough
committed, as TO enable the oracle Of the "Sout'
Side Democrat" to pronounce the conhoent proPnes
that Mr. Hunter ",cW be h'nmphaHty Te'esee1eo' an
in tao ,reeks from the time The Legislature 7neefS-
Marx The prediction ~
Much less can we believe that both the lIeglsatur
and the people of Virginia so irrevocably commi
ted to the interests of two politicians as 10 Jus'ii.
under all circumstances, the prophecy OF the "hoci
inebam Register" Hunter eiH be elected 10 the Tn
ted States Senate, and Letcher riR be the merit Go
| ernor. Marx that"
We must presume that these extracts are intende
TO furnish examples Of that harmless bnreonde,
which youthful editors are permitted to indulge.
And in conclusion, we freely forgive all the sp'tef
.hree which our ueghbor the "South.Side Dem
crs," h.. chosen, for some cause unknown to Us,
.pp)y to the Enquirer" If it can pull itself uph
by tueeine at our coat skirts, it Is welcome to DO
I, will NOT pull us down, nor yet bold Us back.
MCCORMICK CATCHING lT.-Mr. Mcco
mick, the inventor Of the celebrated reaper and no
, res,den, of Chicago, has provoked the Ire OF Il
New FORK Tribune, because be has offered to p'
ton thousand dollars a year towards the salary
of Rev. DR.. Rice, a Southern Presbyterian eierR
man If he will come to Chicago, and preach the &c
neI mot oni,ting those parts which instruct servan
- ohav their masters, and pronounce abolitiont