Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-11-03
NOVEMBER 3. 1857.

person to be at the head Of affairs for the four years
next succeeding. His farsghted sagacity, his statee
manship, experience aud incorruplible patriotism,
together with the principles with reference TO which
he was chosen Chief Magistrate, sureties of
justice to the South and safely to the Union, which
not only no Democrat North or South would dispute
bnt behind which thousands of patriotic old line
wings IN The slave States intrenched themselves 10
participate in defending our Institutions against the
threatened inroad of abolitionsm. How is it now 2
Has Mr.. Buchanan been cordially sustained since
his inauguration, by all those who's zealousy advo
Gated his election
Was his Administration not assaed almost in ita
inception and that too, by dsaifeced Democrats of
the Southl And yet he has not proved false to sin
gle principle proclaimed by the Cincinnati Conven.
tion nor has he devated in the least, either 10 the
right hand or the left, from an impartial, patriotic
and constitutional Why then this opposition
to him Is it that he s obnoxious to the utrasts Of
the South because they cannot but believe that he
leans to the North, notwithstanding every evidence
to the contrary Or is it that he is pursuing policy
too national, unprejudiced and conservative to an
swer the end at which they am1 IL Mr.. Buchanan
opposed by the disunionss and those who are aflia
ted with them, because they really consider him ini
mca to the Southl Or because his course is calcu-
lated TO assuage tho angry elements of dscord in the
country, to break down the abolition party TO har.
monize the North and South upon the principles of
the Constitution, and thereby to defeat the designs of
those who desire a disruption of the Unionl We
leave the answer TO those who have dispassionatey
observed the acts of the Administration, and the
course Of its enemies.
| lVo bayo tt,
nncaton, which will be found in another Column
the signature of "Halifax" As we have said the
Enquirer is party paper. Whatever, in its estima-
tion, is conducive to the nerests the unity the pur
ty and strength of Democracy, it advocates earnest
ly because it believes tina. by doing 60, it is promo
ting the welfare Of the country Whatever has q
tendency to impair the principles or the power of the
Democratic party for the same reason, it condemns
And hence, We have called upon Senator Hunter as an
net justice TO himself and to the Democracy whom he
ably represents, to say if the suspicion upon his
friendship for The Administration ia unfounded or
not And, therefore, too, we willingly give place,
in columns to the communication of Hall.
| fax" because We would not be understood, as
unfriendly to Mr.. Hunter, rs desiring TO conceal
any sentiment in favor of him, and in condemnation
= io
licstion. The columns of the Enquirer" have al.
ways been open to the legitimate discussion of all
questions Of public interest, and especially if they
pertained to the public conduct Of members Of the
Democratic party. They are not less 60 now than
they have ever been before. Our calls upon Mr..
Hunter close the columns Of this paper neither against
him nor his advocates aud defenders. We are not
attacking him as an enemy, but We warn him as a
friend, and appeal TO him TO remember his own and
the interests of the Democratic party. If he is in
ciined to cooperate with the enemies of the Admin
stration to refuse to defend the President from his
seat in the Senate it is evident, not only that be
would disregard the opinions and wishes Of the De.
mocracy of Virginia, but also that he attaches too
lttle Importance to the harmony and unity of the
party, which be would thus aid in disturbing and
dividing. If he condemns the course of the disu.
uoniss and their conreres in their attacks upon the
Administration why should he hesitate to say sol
: Our correspondent-who, however we may differ
from him in some Of his opinions, take pleasure ir
acknowledging writes in style and tone which be
speak elevated and ingenious gentlem an-pro
pounds 10 us interrogatories, in answer to some o.
which We refer him to articles with reference tc
Senator Hunter. But there are others to which We
will reply briefly and We trust, satisfactorily. We are
asked if Mr. Hunter himself, or any other man, has
contributed much TO produce, apread abroad and
keep alive the suspicion upon his fidelity to the
Administration as ths Richmond Enquirer 2
And also, "what had Mr.. Hunter done to cause sucl
a suspicion" We will not deny that our repeated
illusions to the Senator's supposed sympathy with
the faconists, may have done much towards attract
t;n of off
do we doubt that our continued calls upon him, TO-
gether with bis mysterious eience alao operated
deepen the suspicion. But If the Senator is in any
wise affiliated with those who have been attacking
the Administration, "Hsfax' will surely concur with
u.s. that it was our duty TO disseminate that suspicion
And, if be Is not, there ia nothing easier than
for him to say so; and no Democrat would dare to
dsbeiieve him. In answer TO the second interroga.
tory We have only to say that Mr.. Hunter had dOn6
nothing to justify such distrust OF his fidelity But
he has supporters whose csptious course demanded
the denuncntion Of the friends of the President and
the National Democracy. He neither spoke nor
moved. But there are those who espouss his cause,
who we're active in their opposition to the policy Of
the Administration. "Why cast suspicion on
man and then call upon him TO prove himself not
guiltyl Is that the law7" We would ask "HalifaI''
if there is anything more common, than for the
friends of political candidate to nerrogste him,
that his answer may relieve him and them Of en-
barrassment, by putting to rest idle and'unwarrant.
ed rurnors1
Suppose Mr.. Hunter votes against the appoint.
ment of Walkerl Is that TO be taken az proof that
he s hostile to the President, and intends to make
war upon his Administration"
II the Senator will say.that he approves the policy
Of Mr.. Buchanan, not it is TO be- but as It is and
has been and that he condemns the Of Its OPP
ponents We would willingly concede 10 him the pri-
vilege of deciding upon Governor Walkers course,
when all the evidence for and against him may be
adduced for the consideration OF the Senate.
We have thus, summarily but frankly, replied to
such OF the questions Of our c,.Ir:pondent as have
not been altogether anticipated and answered in our
previous articles with reference to Mr.. Hunter
And, in conclusion, would assure "Halifa1,"
whoae opinions we esteem, that We are not disposed
to be unreasonable with the Senator All we ask OF
him is an approval of the policy of the Adminstra'
ton $50 far as has been developed and simple
denial that he sympahiees with the factionsts. who
have recently opposed Mr. Buchanan, and who are
doubtless determined to raise another warcry against
him so soon as an available opportunity is afforded
them. Our ultimatum b6, nothing unreasonable or
illiberal in it.
Totke Editors Of the Enquirer.
Gentlemen IL am well aware of the disadvan.
tages every labors under, who enters into con-
troversy with the editor Of newspaper in his own
columns Nevertheless venture to call your atten-
ton to objections have to the course your pa.
per has lately been pursuing. With occasional inter
ruption, have been regular reader OF the Rich.
mond Enquirer TOR long time; and although did
not always agree have always entertained higher
respect for it than for any other paper in the State-
mean to treat il with respect now-if did not,
would seek the coIums Of some other paper. Several
info readers that there ~