Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-06

TIRE RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
FRIDAY MORNING. NoNEMnFR =.
THE ENQUIRER SHIFTS ITS GROUND,
BY RITCHIE o. DUNNAyANT.

BY RITCHIE g. DUNNAyANT.
FRIDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER q.
THE ENQUIRER SHIFTS ITS GROUND"
80 says "Ihe South" of yesterday. But the read.
ers either OF that paper or this, or both, will, we
think, lind it difficult to arrive readily at similar
conclusion either from the evidence afforded in our
cwn course, or the characteristic abortion in argu
menatlon, with which "The South" seeks to impress
upon otners s own erratc ideas of what it pleased
to term, and doubtless believes to be- IN inconsistent
| yof the "Eoquirer." 1t may be, indeed unles, it
learns lesson in discretion that in its rasb endea
yors to involve in an inconeruity, "The South"
will soon subject itself to some such suspicion. At
one moment the wrath of that journal seems to have
risen almost to an apopectic PITCH ani the "Enqu.
rerIs visited with its most witheriog apprehension
on account of our course towards Senator Hunter
and at the next we tauuted with ian evident dis
position to escape with good grace as possible
from our unenvabls predicamsnt." In one issue OF
that thoughtess and consequently incoherent Journal
it is predicted with emphasis and an air of triumph
that "he Enquirer will beat retreat in less than six
days" But two or three days elap,e before told
that the Enquirer will not find sufficient evidence
of Mr. Hunters acceptabeneas as long as bis seat in
the Senate is "ardenty coveted by its present editor
for some unknown fsvorite." We are also informed
in the same article that "the Enquirer does not mean
to be satisfied" Such contradictory sentiments
would appear somewhat singular, especially when
it remembered that they the utterances of aour
nal which seems to have an idiosyncrasy in ims-
ginning "inconsistencies' in others. But, coming
frorn rbo ~
they must soon cease even to provoke smile from
those familiar with that journals eccentrcities, origi
mating, we believe, in impulse, and from habit of
hasty thinking, perhaps constitutional proclivity
TO Jump at conclusions"
Our neighbor glides along quite gracefully on The
surface of the stream But he makes signal failure
whenever be essays to dive deeply into the sea. Ef.
scs and not causes suited to his mode Of dsserta
ton. Rhetoric and not logic, shis forte. And hence,
with all due Difference to 1.-The South we must be
allowed 10 oonstrue compliments, its charges of
Inconsistency" "sophistry" and "the feebleness"
with which views are supported
| Our neighbor considers that the Enquirer" has
shifted its ground because forsooth, in answer to an
nterrogatory of our correspondent, "Halifax," We
expressed willingness to concede to Senator Hun
|
course when all the evidence in bis favor and against
him, shall be adduced for the consideration of the
Senate; II he will only express an approval of the po
| cy of the Administration 80 far as it has been deve
oped, and condemn the course Of those who have as
sailed it. We submit the question to our readers,
with perfect confidence that they will be enabled to
discover no such change of position as is detected by
our neighbors inaccurate optics. We have hereto.
FORE on more than one OCCASION distinctly stated that
in our judgment, Democrats may differ in regard
to Gov. Walkers course, without disturbing or en-
dangering the harmony Of the party-thst there are
| numbers Of the irmest friends Of the Administration,
who do disspprove his course. We have held and we
still maintain, that Walkers Kansas policy afforded
the only available opportunity for Manifestation of
that hostility to Mr.. Buchanan, which had hitherto
lain dormant; and hence the extraordinary Importance
attached to It in connection with the controversy be-
tween the assailaDs and defenders Of the Admins.
tration All we have ever asked of Senator Hunter
is an avowal of approval Of the policy pursued by
Mr.. Buchanan, and inseparable sequence, dis
approval of the course Of the fsctonisis. We oc.
cupy the same attitude towards him now which
we assumed in the outset Let the Senator assure US
that he has no sympaihies with the dsuDonists and
the more moderate, but not lesa dangerous Democrats
who have opposed the Administration, and the "En.
quirer" will be ready TO advocate his claims for re.
election to the Senate against any opposition. To
acknowledge that he approves the policy Of the Ad'
mnistration so far as it has been developed, would
be to repudate the acts Of its opponensi and an un
qualified condemnation Of the course Of its opponents
would be acceptable as an avowal of friendship for
! Mr. Buchanan.
Perhap, "Ths South " will clutch at this candid
admission as another ard still stronger evidence that
the Enquirer is shiftipg its ground. 1t would be
in accordance with its usual impeuosiy to do so.-
We are aware of the frequency with which the most
explicit expressions, and unequivoca positions, are
| misapprehendeI And the "Euqurers" attitude to.
wards Mr.. Hunter has, therefore, been explained
often and in every variety of phrases which we con-
sidered calculated to place US in our proper position
before the Democracy of Virginia. And our readers
will bear US out in the assertion, that We now main
tain towards the Senator the same position which We
have occupied from the frat. Our Undergraduates in
all their various FORMS have been simply to certain
IT, as is suspected MrHunter has synpathies with the
enemies Of the Administration, who have ss,aled j,
and stand prepared to assai it again so soon as an
opportunity offers. If he Senator is opposed to the
utrass he is with the Presdentif not he is against
him.
If the Enquirer shifting it's ground, strange
that "The South" should not evince disposition to
encourage us in it. as it ia evident that In the es.ima
tion Of our neightor We are inclined to be less exact
>. ing in our tone towards the Senator. In para
graph "The South" berates us most Justify for our
courses and in another while 1t intimates that We are
disposed to compromise If not to refine, it seems moi
only disnclined to encourage retreat, but actually
rnanifests desire to force into an irreconcileable
issue with the Senator. Thus, in one article, il
charges the Enquirer with betraying an inclination
to make an escape from it's unenviable predicament
snd in another, it says:
1.-THE Enquirer very kindly informs Senator Hun
ter that he has only to disavow all sympathy with
the factionsts in order to secure an amnesty from
its imperial power 1t matters not at all whether bis
opinions upon the practical issues OF the day are di
recty opposed TO those of the Enquirer 1t of nc
sort of consequence whether he condemns the entire
Kansas policy of Gov. Walker, and the particular
acts of usurpation and treacbery committed BY thai
official all of which have been cordially approved
and warmly defended by the Richmond Enquirer.
Our versatile neghbor is far too charitable to assa
the Senator account of differences, however ga'
ring and radical, which exist between them"
If "The South thinks us wrong in interrogatine
Mr. Hunter, surely, as friend of the Senator, il
ought not to object to a modification Of terms, il
his favor! Perhaps it will say we ahould be held
to a contest, which we ourselves began, that ths
consequences may fall upon US instead Of the Sena
tor with whom we have wifuy engaged. But We
disclam any contest with Mr.. Hunter. We have
not yet advised opposition to bis re election. VIZ
have called upon him 10 dspel the suspicion Of hi
sympathy with the enemies of the Administration
and we still entertain hope that he may do so
and thereby give us the qualification Of expressing
continued confidence in his devotion to the best in
terests of the Democratic party.
The Senator's answer to the Rockingham reso
lutions, we trust, will be satisfactory, not only to
-. .,oo IN those of our correspoodents and cotem