Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-09-16
To PoSiln asters.
The War Begun.


form the office.
The War Begun.
An article in the Richmond Enquirer or the
sth inst, entitled "The Approaching Senatorial
Election" may be fairly regarded as an open de-
claration of war on the part of the Wise against
the Hunter faction of the Democratic party In
this State. The Enquirer states that Tor nearly
two years, the rumor has been working Its way
into the public credence that contest was pend
inc between the Governor of Virginia and the
incumbent Senator, for victory in the approach
ing Senatorial election, and enquiries how it Is
that this rumor has reached such stage OF posi-
tive assertion. We are not at liberty, says the
ENQUIRER ''to attribute the initiation OF The re-
mort to q mere effort of the Know Nothing party
to sow dissension in our ranks. There is schem-
ing at work elsewhere" The real object, how
ever. the Enquirer informs us, is the succession
to the Presidency, both Wise and Hunter being
prominent aspirants; and the motive OF Hunter
and his friends is, to get up contest for the seat
in the Senate, in which they anticipate an easy
triumph for Hunter, and thus kill OFT "lseS
chance for the Presidency, by placing him IN an
attitude in which he will appear to have lost
popularity in his own State. This is very
plausible account of the matter, but II IS not
entirely satisfactory to disnerested spectators OF
the strife. 1t seems to US not improbable that
both parties are playing the same game, as the
Wise men no doubt as earnestly desire to get
rid of Hunter as the Hunter men to put wise
out of the way.
Tn view of these facts the Enquirer insists up
on an open contest. 1t calls Mr. Hunter "a non
committal candidate" and says his position on
the Kansas policy Of tho Administration re
ouires explanation" 1t goes further and inti-
mates that "The South newspaper has been ex-
pressly established for the furtherance OF Mr.
Hunters Presidential aspirations, and that It's
abuse of Mr.. Buchauan's Administration IS one
means by which this end is to be accomplished.
"Common report" ii says, asserts that certain
of Mr.. Hunters friends in Virginia have united
with Mr.. Keitt to aid in the establishment ana
snpnort of The South" The Enquirer therefore
declares that Mr.. Hunter cannot remain silent,
till he has taken an accurately defined position
The first response to the Enquirer is from the
Petersburg Democrat, which endeavors to main
tain q position of nutrality, although the editor
is known to be partizan of Mr.. Hunter. The
Democrat objects to the Enquirer's departure
from strict nutrality, and complains that its ar
ticle, which bristes with interrogatories, address
SEES one of these questions to Mr.. Wise ana MS
friends, while Mr. Hunter and those who are
supposed to favor his aspirations are subjected
TO an ordeal of nine or ten. The Democrat also
objects to the Enquirer's designation OF Gov.
Wise as ''the leader of Mr.. Buchanans force in
1867 thus assuming that Wise has the better
start in the Presidential race.
The Fredericksburg Herald is the next Hun
ter organ to speak out, but it manifests o good
deal of trepidation. 1t implores The South and
the ENQUIRER to desist from sowing the seeds OF
discord in the party any further; and, to relieve
Mr.. Hunter from embarrassment asserts that
sit would be unworthy of the man and the posi-
ton he holds" to come out as the Enquirer de-
mands. The South is indignant at tie charge
that it has been sowing the seeds of discord, and
throws all the blame upon the Enquirer.
The South briefly notices the Enquirer's full
mination, in the form of Gan Explanation.
The common report, says it, "upon which the
Enquirer relies for its Information in regard to
any arrangement or understanding between this
paper and Senator Hunter, or the friends Of
that gentleman, is false. We have never receig-
ed line or message from Mr.. Hunter or his
friends. about any position we have ever assum-
ed, and know as little about his views in regard
10 this Kansas controversy as the man in tine
moon" The South concludes by asking the
ENQUIRER to publish its Explanation" "as an
act of Justice to Mr. Hunter" How are the
mighty fallenl After maintaining position OF
bold defiance for months past, The South finds
it necessary, in order to save its favorite from
iniury-"as an act of justice to Mr.. Hunter
declare that he has no connection with that pa
per and is not responsible for its peculiar views.
The Enquirer is evidently lashing the party into
subsection. The Hunter men are intimidated,
and the star of Wise is in the ascendant.
We give the above merely as matter OF gen.
eral interest, without feeling any special concern
ourselves in the contest or its result The Peters
burg Democrat, We may say, however, is great
ly deluded when it traces the rumors of discord
in the Democratic ranks to the interested state
merts of the opposition press. For long time
we were very incredulous in regard to the re-
ported jealousy between Wise and Hunter; but
a prominent Democrat, who is well posted IN
all the secrets of the party, informed Us more
than year ago that strife was brewing and o
rupture imminent The Enquirer is undoubted-
" correct in the remark that "there is scheming
at work elsewhere"
An Alleged Swindle.
An amendment to the Army bill passed st
the last session of Congress, authorized the sale
of all military sites that may become useless for
military purposes. Under this act the Secreta-
~ of War proceeded to sell Fort Smelling, Min
nesota. The tract of land contains 5000 acres,
plro fba lin,