Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-03
THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 3. 1857.
WHEN SHALL WE HEAR FROM SENATOR
HUNTER AcAIS7
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BY RITCHIE & DUNNAVAST,


WHEN SHALL WE HEAR FROM SENATOR
HUNTER AGAIN7
The protrac,ed and persstive silence OF Mr.. Hun
ter, which was broken few days ago by his letter
to the Hon. s. F. Leake contributed little, We think
to dissipation of the doubt az to lie attitude TO-
| wards the Administration and its enemies. He had
been most respectfully informed of the injurious sus
picon upon his fidelity to the national policy of the
Democratic party. He must be we'll aware Of the
disposition of the Democracy of Virginia, to sustain
Mr. Buchanan cordially and vigorously against fac
tiOus opposition. He has been assured that the "Enqu
rer' not only does not desire to displace him, but
that he can command its support simply by paying
without equvocaon or reservation that he approve,
the policy of the Administration far it has been
developed and that he condemns the course Of those
disaffected and factous Democrats, who have recent
ly been assailing Mr. Buchanan and portion OF bis
Cabinet. This all we have asked of MIR. Hunter
We ask nothing more of him now. We hold that we
have right to make reasonable request of him. or
Of any other gentleman who may be offered as candi'
date for the suffrages Of the Virginia Democracy,
whether he may desire seat in the State Legislature,
in the House Of Representatives. or in the Senate of
the United States. We wish TO make no war upon the
Senator and therefore, our Inquiries have been
companied not with what were intended as threats,
but with expression of the nope that he would
frankly dsclaim any such sympathy as that Of which
he is suspected.
Mr.. Hunters letter, as we have previously said is
not satisfactory to His ssnce wns significant
enough to add daily the dst'ust oil his friendship
for the Administration-and unless his letter was
carefully confined to nterrogaiorles which did not
embrace the question az 10 his approval or disap
proval Of the course of the aconiss, it cannot be
construed otherwise, on that point, than as suapi
clous evasion of the most important que.ton, with
reference to which Democrats lesre TO be advised.
We truly trust that Mr.. lIun'er did not rean 10
avoid an open and above board expression of opinion
with regard to the disunonisis. and those who co op
crate with them in their opposition to Mr. Buchanan.
II he does sustain them We canrot, consistently with
our sense Of duty TO the Democratic party, support
him for reelection If he does not. the Enquirer
will stand by him, faithfully and fesressy in oppos
ton to any man who may be brought agalnst him.
Senator Hunter has urged as bis reason for not an
swering us that our interrogatOries were accompa
have, distinctly, dsclaimed any desire to coerce OF
intention 10 offend; and the Senator should not hesi
tate to answer us now. The course of the "Enqui
rer'' is the result, not of any animosty towards MIR
Hunter, but of an underwriting devotion to the prin
ciples and interests and unity Of the Democratic
party We make no attack upon the Senator. W.
concede to him, or rather claim fot him. extraordina
ry ability. We take pleasure in procaiming that h'
has rendered valuable service TO Virginia and to thu
nation. We ask of him ony to disavov
afiliation with the untraiste, and to express
40 appreciation Of the conservative policy 50 ia
pursued by MIR. Buchanan. His letter to Mr.. Leak
contains no such disclaimer or avowa. We therefor
appeal to him again, respectfully and kindly, 20 tell
whether he as or is not friend Of the fsctonists VIII
are opposed to the Administration. His disspprova
Of the course Of Gov. Walker affords no good groun
Of objection to his return to the Senate. That IL
question upon which Democrats ma, and do diIrr
without disturbing the harmony Of the party. Bi
whether Mr.. Hunter condemns the disunion doctrine
Of the fire eaters and the attacks upon the Admins
,ration by the disaffected Democrats Of the South,
the point upon which We wish to be enlightened
and why the Senator should hesitate for moment
to answer us il he is determined to defend Mr.. Buc
hanan against the assaults Of the enemies, We ar
really at loss to conceive.
The Rockingham resolutions, we hope will be an
swered satisfactorily TO all who are constrained Il
doubt the fidelity of Mr.. Hunter We are free 10 ad
init that the Senator's position is one of exalted dig
nifty. But at the same time, We claim TO have inter
rogated him in tone Of perfect respect. We, there
FORE cannot but feel justified in again asking him fo
an answer to the interrogaores we have repeated,
submitted to him. He owes it to himsefto speak ou
frankly and fully. In responding to MIR. Leake, h
has not satis6ed the public on the most mportan
point, on which he has been questioned. The Sena
tor may think the "Enquirer' is disposed to take
captous view Of whatever he may write in e1posi
ton of his sentiments with reference to the Admins
traton. If co. he much mistakes the motives tha
prompt, and the feelings which color our course. W.
desire Mr. Hunter to place himself in an attitude
above suspicion, because we wish no opposition t.
bis election His return to the Senate rests will
himself. We will not believe that he will decline an
swering the Rockingham resolutions. And in tina
RESPONSE we hope to see an unequvocal disclaimer
of any sympathy on the part of the Senator, with th'
utraists who are opposed TO the Administration The
enquirer is still desrous of rebuking any effort
oppostion to Mr.. Hunters reelection. Will the Sen
ator satisfy US On the single point We have mentioned
Will he tell US whether he condemns or opposes tbs
caurse of the Observation-Disclosures be will defend tht
Administration against their attacks upon it's policy