Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-04-06
A DISUNION NEWSPAPER.

TUESDAY MORNING, April. 9, 1883
A DISUNION NEWSPAPER.
"The South" is mistaken. We have not been
| Obliged to search among its "hidden motives to
discover disunion sentiments. Even in it's article OF
yesterday, the latter sufficiently apparent. lts
Jamaica phanrssy is an acknowledged "ioks." But
"The South" does not pretend to disavow serious
argument In favor of the ultimate dsconuection Of
the New England States from the rest Of the Union
''The South" may convince itself that its proposal to
expe six States from the confederacy, implies an
anxiety to perpetuate the principle and substance OF
the Union" but we are wellconvinced, that the peo
pie of Virginia will recognise in this contradiction OF
terms nothing short Of dsunonism itself From its
own language, We are obliged to describe "The
South" as disunion newspaper.
We are ready to exercise every reasonable for
bearance towards a Democratic co.aborer; but no.
thing can restrain us from rebuking anti Union
Gment, come whence it may. Moreover, We cannot
regard "The South" ss a eolaborer in the cause of
the Democratic party. Only in exceptional In.
stances. has it yielded anything like co incidence of
views, or concurrence Of endesvors, 10 the policy Of
a Democratic Administration.
Constantly 1t has evinoed distrust towards the
President, not unrequsny betrayed in open express
sons of contempt. Even since it has avowed con-
currence of views on the Kansas question. with
those entertained by the President, it has not hes
tsted to describe his policy waverng and vacilla.
ting. When the Administration was defeated on the
army bill, the President was advised in contempu.
GUS irony, that he was no Jackson and had best ao-
stain from any attempt to draw the bow OF Ulysss'.
In the Puenta Arenas affair." the President has been
charged with gross omission Of duty. In its Gen.
trail American negotiations, the Administration has
been represented abetting a policy calculated TO
defeat the just interests Of the Southern States.
Besides these editorial indications, the special cor
respondents of "The South" have been permitted
to indulge in systematic of attack, the prin.
cipa burden Of which has been the discovery OF most
alarming indications of Executive weakness ard
treachery The last specimen of this sort, which has
attracted our attention, gravey exposes an Admins
tration plan to admit Sierra Madre to the Union and
exclude Slavery from the borders Of tho new State.
Under all the circumstances, beg to be excused
from extending to "Ths South" the same forbsarance
which we cultivate towards our Democratic cotem.
poraries. We do not recognise "The South either
as Union paper, Administration paper, or an or,
gan Of the Democratic party.
As for "The South's" attempts at reprisal. in con.
sequence of our rebuke applied to its disunion edto
rial that journal will find it than difficult to per-
susde reader of the Enquirer" that we have ever
written an "apology for abolitionism," or ever eI
tended indulgence to aboonists. We are deter.
| mined, 30 far as in us lies, that the weakness and
wckedness Of abolitionsm shall not effect it's darling
obect-the disruption Of the Union, either with or
| without the cooperation of " The South"
We accept neither alternative offered by the same
paper We will tolerate neither abolitionism nor
disuuionsm and We warn The South" that in
affillatng with either, it WILL inevitably, Cooperate
with both.
"The South" lays at our door some grave charges
But does not assert that We have ever yet express
ed desire to strike single sovereign State from the
| list of the Union.
As for its accusations, we deny their Justice in eve
ry particular. To the ntmation that we have beer
animated by pal:ry desire to compete with il
for patronage, We will not condescend to reply.
| We are accused Of having "stigmatssd" many o
the wsest and .truest patriots in the slaveholdin9
States as 'disunionsts" 'schismatics' and faction
ists." Buntly and unhesatingly We deny this as
serton, and we challenge "The South" to produce
list which will even give color to it's accusation
When the New Orleans Delta vilifed the Presi
dent and the Democratic party with abuse, as unus
% It was indecent, we exposed its undignied viru
lence to we'll nerited contempt. Did "Tbe South" d.
| likewisei When the Charleston Mercury assailed
the Commonwealth Of Virginia with epithets as oppro
brous a. "The South" itself he's applied to New Eng
land, we denounced the trsitorous irreverence which
dared thus to polute the honorsd soil Of South Caro-
ina. Did "Ths South" vindicate the honor Of Virgi
mia, or did it become the apoogis of the Mercury 7
"The South" cannot point out an instance in which
we have asssiled the fair fame Of any State Of thi
Csnfederaoy. Nor have we affixed stigma to th
name Of any patriotic Statesman. In our structure
on the dishonesty and tmidity Of disunionsm VI
have but repeated the judgement pronounced by thu
Southern people, from Maryland to Texas. We d.
not "toierate' the "enthusssm Of an intensely South
ern spirit" We embrace and cherish it. II ia tru
enthusiasm. 1t is magnanmous spirit. jealous o
State rights and individual honor, sacredy observan
of pighted faith, selfreliant and forbearng it afford
the best guaranty for the integrity Of the Union. /
has no sympathy with the fears and the intrgues of
corrupt or deluded few, who struggle pretend t.
struggle for the dismemberment Of the Confederacy
| When "The South" shall openly present other &c
cussons which at present it does not choose to pre-
sent in an snswerabe form, we will be at liberty Il
furnish suitable reply.