The Washington union., 1857-11-19
Lrunra NOV GoyrRsOn wI.r.
70 dc Editors q The Eaqairer:
RIcnMosp, Va, Nov. l6, 1857.

10 ne EdttTs ~ We EHQaiT"'
RlcnMosD, Va, Nov. l6, 1857.
GssrLsNEy You have seen proper TO interrogate me-
Though the Enquirer" to the position occupy
touching The election of senator of the United States
and believing that they in good faith fair and not un
friendly promptly reply to your questions as publicly as
they put.
For more than twelve months have been circu
lated that was my desire and design to oust Mr. Hum
ter If could from his seat in the Senate OF the United
States and my name in that oonnexion has been banded
about in conversation and by the press with license
which assumed the air Of authority BY whom, with
what motive to what end, these were started it
is not my purpose TO discuss My object to aay
excitement and prevent division in the democratic party
of Virginia and to that end that these rumors
unauthorized by anything said done by me- that they
without foundation, and defy the production OF the
proof evidence that have ever expressed or manifest
cd the imputed dcsig or design.
After my arduous struggle in 1855 for the salvation of
the democratic party fondy hoped to have the sympa
thy and support Of all its sections in Virginia. and to be
able TO act with all in equal confidence and to serve
all in the office nov FILL regret to say that in this
! disappointed short time only elapsed after
entering upon my duties before jealousy and dis
trust where | most expected confidence and
friendly aid and counsel did my best by turning away
from this to avert both its and its effect but in
opportuney for harmony the contest for the nomination
for the presidency early in 1856 and my prefer
for Mr. Buchanan, entertained for many years was
again made known. adhered to his nomination for
reasons which must be too obvious to every candid
and conservative patriot and democrat to need either
gument No other nominee Of the party could
probably have been elected There was not one OF his
competitors for whom would not cheerully have voted
/ had, in fact aided among other friends of Mr. Bu
chanan IN 1852, in nominating Mr.. Pierce, and in
1855 had intimated my approval of other candidates
But having, for his eminent abilisics and services
preferred blr Buchanan in 1874, IS4S and 1852, and
dceming him the only available candidate in 1856, /
co-opcrated xclously with his friends in securing for
his nomination the vote Of Virginia But effort
was made no resort had to any means to this
which could Justly be complained of by his rivals and
their friends. He had, without effort, comparatively
twohds of the delegation of Virginia at Cincinnati and
that majority did not fully represent the constituencies
which preferred him. And notwithstanding the attempts
of those opposed to his nomination to destroy the prestige
Of Virginia by attempting to split her delegation in the
convention and in fact fillfy majority by mi
nority BY dividing her districts well the State and
TO count the Old Dominion naugh in the nomination. her
delegation stoorm it had done In Baltimore in 1882
when thirty successive ballots were cast for james
Buchanan, and the vote Of Virginia decided the
ton in his favor The election proved how prceminently
popular he was in this .good cid Commonwealth. Thr-
ty thousand majority proclaimed him the choice of Vr
gnia by far than twothrs If not four -fths, of
the democratic voters majority of the politicians in
place preferred Others but the people preferred him by
overwhelming almost unanimous voice.
The election was marked by extraordinary manifesto
tions. The contest WHETHER sfDTIoNALsM CAUSED
THE FOREIGN iNYLuEScE OF OLD ENuLAND AND CANADA
ErllrISa OF BLACK REpuDLlcANIsM NEW
YoRK THE New ENGLAND STATES, AND UPON
poRDERs OTHER STATES SHOULD INVADE FURTHER
SOUTH, NATIoNALIsM OF DEMOCRACY SHOULD
DRIVE IT BACK FURTHER North. .&T atBAt5 H# @E#s
Pennsylvania decided that issue but for time it was
extremely doubtful And in the midst Of that doubt
there heard low muteling in the South of sub
ded, but s discone among frc of loe rio voted
for E. Bucdaan's election The feeling, grumbed rather
than openly expressed by them, of hope that the
black flag might be raised u.s. to the southern
peopl. to revolution which would throw off the bonds
Of the Union 1t is well known and proudly admitted
that had that aag been hoised the Capitol Of the
United States under the open procamaons of the cleo
for Iax faI All li
net Of aggression oppression but WAS therefore
the more anxious to secure democratic triumph pre-
vent revolution and to preserve the Union This sepa
rated me from the extremists South.
doubt whether they would Sall have followed me to
the lengths IYould have gone had for revolution
been given but whilst forwarding off extreme is
sues by electng conservative democrat, who could unite
all patriots and save the Union they small and very
cusve clique, for driving upon revolutionre-
lucty supported the democratic nominee and at heart
disappointed at the democratic triumph which saved
from oil last extremitie The horse and the rider
of cpublicansm overthrown but in the gem
eal rejoicing there shout from the hearts of tho
ercsre extremists They however honest were sad and
their countenances dark and dismal in the midst of
general congratulations and smiles that the national de-
mocracy had saved our country more from extreme
peril. M
Soon after the election President and during all of
last winter and spring. that which at first whisper
became and more audible, until it broke out into
loud and openly ntterng yoice-that there was plot
to suppant Mr. Hunter in the Senate by Governor Wise
aud his friends Knowing that there was no founda-
ton for this In agh had said DONE or authorized to
be said done and the hypothesis presenting itself that
there might be enemies OF both Mr. Hunter and myself
who trying to tares between for their own
selfish and sinister ends still avcrted my mind from
other definite conclusions respecting the authors and the
motives Of those reports and continued to remain silent
But the time for the organization of Mr. Buchanan
cabinet. 1t arranged by himself to his own liking
on his own responsibility, to suit his confidential
iatons In office, and composed of majority of south
ern men, of all sections of southern democracy prefer
ring no clique and OF caste designed to haronze oil
elements in the party North and South East and West
II organized the national platform of the Cncn
natl Convention As the head and representative of the
party he generazed well he could the and
material of the great democracy Of The Uuied Saes This
was what President Of Ne United States should have
endeavored TO do II might not please all individually
or sectionay, but 1t was for all and not for ;ar And
the great mass of the party well and gcner
ally acquiesced in the organization But the President
had hardly been naugued had but Just taken his seat
had said nothing and done nothing besides his inaugural
address aud selection of his cabinet defining or indicating
policyhad not been in Office sixty days-not thirty
when rcnpm opposition raised quill at every posf of
poy and al ercry personnel The administration and
he otspyt made 10 damn ne ,rhoe doroie ayfv al he
NORTH and ~ery soaeyR who bs.ed hem srh dola or
darGa ou-spokea doweiniop An affiliated press was
found organized from Richmond 10 New Orleans which
opened It's batteries Of sweeping rancorous and vindct
i've opposition denouncing certain members Of the cabi