Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-08-25

THE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
Bf RITCnIE Il DUNNAvANT.
TUESDAY MORNING C,ACCUsTo5. 1S57

TUESDAY MORNING, ,ACGUSToJ, 1857
'An Editorial hIsstery-;:ov Wise Trying to be-
n second Juniu, -
Such Is the caption Of an editorial in arecent mum.
ber Of The New Orleans "Del:a"
Ii ID remarkable circumstance that the papels
which have been most distinguished for assailips the
Admihistra''on and the National Democracy, have
una rocc opened their batteries against Gov Wise
He, whom they denominated IIotspur in favor of
the South, who was assailed for having been 30
Southern, as not only to have asked a meeting Of
Southern Governors to protect Southern interests
against the outside pressure of rse.soism and Black
kepublcansm, but to have actually attended such
meeting, is now pounced upon with vrulence, for
| attempting to defend the National Democracy, the
only organization in existence which has displayed
the Willingness and the power to stay the march of
Northern aggression, and TO check sectional nterfer.
ence with our rights and institutions. From the
Wing and Know Nothing pressts, this was to have
been expected. They chooae 10 aim their shafts at
the bright particular leaders Of the Democracy
They have showered cloud of arrows upon the
Governor, with or without the slightest provo.
cation. But why Democratic presses should aid
apparent reason, confess We are at loss
to understand. First, "Ihe South" takes the sulks,
turns its back upon the Governor, gives the cold
shoulder, tips the wink, shakes the head in omnous
forebodings, inutters dsapprobaton, tells or prints
| what others cay, aud sneers and scoffs. Then the
Charleston Mercury" follows the lead, brings the
Governor prominently before its readers places him
i'll alliance with the enemies Of the South, and pa
rades him along with Walker end the Kansas shrek.
ers. Then the New Orleans Delta" takes up the
and does its best to derde and bring into contempt
"i.at distinguished aud srrltic p'rso!agc," as it
pleases to deuuminate Gov. Wise. Each quotes from
tie other whatever of harshness or vi;uperation is
cast upon the Governor, with view TO keep up the
fire. and to fright.n With lie noise of their small
arms, il the bullets should hot take effect Thus the
"Della" quotes from the "Slercury," "iLat there is
but one man in Virginia who could get into The same
space such large amount OF urcible trash.' " The
Mercury" from THE South" and "The South" from
the "Delta" and the "Dei.s" from the Mercury"
and then their fast allies, the Wing and KnowNo,h.
ing press, chime in aud ring mighty peal Of "much
a do about nothing"
We ask again. why ia this Mr.. Wise 10 attending
to his legitimate duties Governor oi Virginia. He
has been hunting up her resources, explaining her
lines Of improvement, developing to tie world her
avenues Of trade and commerce. her exhaustless min
eral, agricultural aud manufacturing wealth and pow
er her position in the Union, ler advantages Of c
mate, soil, varied productions. all the attractions
which might captivate foreign capitalists and foreign
emigration to come and aid Ter improvement aud
advancement u the career Of greatness. lie has
| :e..l i.t,. III
'ractive manner and thrilling language. lie has
looked into her finances, sought for new sources TO
sid u paying her debts tried 10 raise her credit and
done all that bis position and the authority conded
to him would justify. Why these assaults 81 There
lie something at the bottom OF this deep and hitherto
.falhomess WELL which wish to draw up and look
a; calmly and examine dispassonatey. We desire
10 have the charges, and .he paternity and the
sponsors for them.
| These thoughts, and thsse enquiries, spring upon
US daily from reading and seeing such articles as the
one quoted below. Why shoaId the Delta" per-
ss. in asorbng to Governor Wise the authorship Of
editorials tha. the Enquirer, when the charge was
fret mado, positively and uneqaivocay denied! Why
unite with the Richmond Wing and declare that
The track Of 'Gzzard Foot lis plain end net!scea
sonal correspondence - We have denied that the
editorials were his productions. We state that when
the correspondence took place the Governor was one
hundred aud fifty miles distant, at place where d
telegraph line has never reached and where no com
munca,ion by mail could have been made in less
than two entire days; whiis The correspondence al
luded 10 took place, from its first inception to its
close in ugbt and mornings and We state further,
that it impossible for the Governor to know Of
its existence before il published in "The South"
| Does the "Deita" believe that the Governor Of
Virginia. the Chief Of this Commonwealth, the cmbo.
dyment Of lie dignity aud power could descend from
his high estate to have "a personal affair growing
ou, of On editorial coutrsversy!' Does it believe
| that he who is made conserva.or Of the peace,
whose duty it il 10 zee the laws faithfully executed
who is sworn not TO engage in duel directly or In
directly, could commence correspondence such as
the "Deta" comments upcn when every body knows
IFS msauiDg, its tenor AID the direction to which
| it lsad-
Why was there any necessity for the author Of the
edoruls alluded 10, TO suppress his naEei There
was none other than this: gentleman. who is no
paid stip.ndiury who is not hired to do his work and
works by the ine but who from motives Of friendship
TO an editor unable from sickness, to prepare the
usual matter for his paper undertakes to supply the
deficiency. lie is not seeking notoriey fame he
wishes his illusions TO be read simply for their WORTH
denounced if you choose for their denert applauded
il meritorious. They pass under the name of the
editor. 1t matters not what may be the reason, he s
forced to avow himself privately, ss the author; be
requires that that svowal shall be kept private The
public has nothing to do with any personal contro,
yersy lie may have, and therefore be does not desire
TO ob,ruds himsef upon the public eye. If the Del
,s- cannot understand such position we cannot
help it, all we can say, is there are gentlemen be.
sides the Governor, who dssire at least not to be
dragged from privacy at the mere will Of others,
against their consent who do not cater to prying
curiosity, and if for other reason, they would pre-
serve an incosn'o. With thess remarks we annex
the article from the Delta" upon which We have
been commenting
"Tbe readers of the Richmond Enquirer have
doubtless remarked signal change in the character
of its editorials relating to the Walker Kansas policy
aud cognae subjects, during the last two or three
yeeks 1t was our opinion that they were either die
tated or written by Henry A. Wise, az, in both
thought aud style they bore, n our mind, unrnsteka
bs traces Of the docrssy OF that distinguished and
erratic parsonage. Indeed, we believe, with the
Charleston Mercury, that tneie "o' out ohe uiau W
Virginia who could get into the same space such
large amount of "forcble trash. A recent personal
norresnondepce in the Richmond South confirms
in This opinion notwithstanding the careful isc9gato
Of one OF the partes-a circumstance that still fur
tber strengthens the conclusion, naslnach there is
scarcely another man in Frgnis, besides the Gov.
ernor of that State, who would be necesstated to
suppress his name in personal affair growing out OF
al editorial controversy.
"Ciov. Wise has failed in his attempt to initiate
Jupius, as far rs secrecy is concerned. at least He
will moi haunt future ages q mighty shadow with
nrt name. He stands revealed, or We are dreadfuy
mistaken. The track of 'Gizzard Foot is plain
and inrfaceabe, in Judgment both in the edito-
rias alluded 10 and the personal correspondence The
Governor with some careful training in the Delta, or
soms other newspaper not quite so provincial as the
Eaouirer, would make very useful Editor in the
slashing line. We don't know but We may make him
an of.r il he fails to 90 TO the Senate, to be prss
dsnt. II he becomes President, however, he need