Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-09-21
WESrMuRELAND."

The subluined COMMUNICATIONS e'ineo ou ""e
biiity Of temperament highly announcement 10 con
tributors to newspapers. AS 10 the dental c""o'"o"
of Northumberland" though he may have passed tht
staxe Of primary denihion," yet be eVioeh"y mar
not "cut his rlsdom teeth in politics. AS 10 'he
| Editor of the Enquirer" who was IN Inc slan"'o"
| Convention, having any distinct reco'iectloh OF 30
pn;nno,taut a matter as who "Westmore'snd advo
Cat, d, his impressions are that "Weslmoreiand dd
| advocate lone Extra Billy Smith" for Governor -
But We shall dismiss the subject, With the remark that
there are three Editors of the Enquirer IN no wise
connected with the Governor of Virginia, and one OF
them, al least, chooses to give public lectures for
"Westmoreland's" benefit upon courtesy and dehca'
cy, Justice and good manners and hopes ne may
profit by them:
To the Editors of the Enquirer:
GsDtlemen:-Permit me TO make a lew obserVa-
,ions on your introduction to my reply 10 "Letcher =
Friend" in vindlcatlon OF myself from tne IuD!as' sno
g~rstuitous accusations" Of that article. In Inc mist
place the author OF the reply did not hoio tue hdIt0r$
of the "Enquirer'' responsible for the statements oil
"Letcher's Friepd." for the simple reason that he knew
at least one OF them, who was in ths convention NJ
stauntop. was aware of the unfounded nature OF Inc
principal charge it contained. 'ihst the pretensions
of one Extra Billy Smith, to the Governor'hip OF 'lr
einia'' were extinguished by the advocacy OF west
morsland'' and presumed, Of COURSE that ne Wouo
no >. rspudiated from it's columns any such calumny'
rba .Enou,rer," in common with the press every
where, was rebuked in general terms LOT tne aomls
sion into its columns, ot any "snesr or eianderous
impeacbment of its correspondents, and IN defending
myself, such terms we're used a. the vigor oil the war
mon ma justified. The Enquirer" permits sn Of
fsnsiye article to appear anonymously against me,
without the least scruple, 10 which am charSed
with being in a state of primary deniltion 10 De-
mocracy. and because forsootb l speak OF the many
49,. IL mai pho QvA mi Ala ~
Joined the party, | am straightwsy lectured tor indel
icscy aud injustice because | mentioned Faulkner
and Wise as brilliant specimens OF the new corners
Now | submit to the Editors and to the Democratic
marty. IL this should be the course OF All Impartial or
9an- if this does not smack too much OF the guillotlne
and ths boSstring, for a Tree country like Old NIr
eipis, where men have been IN the haot OF ~iilhs
with untrsmmeled pens and speaking IN UNDATED
tones OF the political actions OF public men, however
hiyh their p~ositionsi The charge l made that these
gentlemen were new corners in the same sense that l
was, was not designed 10 be. nor WAS II unlust, IL
them. They certainly are not oldIinere III Inc party
and it was perfectly iuslitisble for me to defend my
self from any future attacks founded upon my youtn
in Democracy by referring 10 the brilliant galaxy Oh
youny converts with whom | am now associated. In
n word, gentlemen, your charge against me Ia "gra
tuitous and unjust" The files OF the "Enquiror
would have informed you, how zealously the author
OF "Westmoreland" had labored, at the call OF his
party, for the election of Governor Wise. and your
inference from the piece WAS uncalied Tor. l never
designed "a sneer' at him by placing his name in the
category of new converts or novices, in Democracy
because | have ever considered it honorable Tor Men
to change their political opinions aud party relations
when convinced Of error.
You have laid down a rule in your article to which
am replying. with which all honorabls men viii
agree, viz, That hereafter a disrespectiul sneer At
tsched TO his (Goveruor Wise's) name shall not IL
future receive publication in the Enquirer. lh's
is right, gentlemen, 80 far as your rule goes; but per
init me TO suggest an enlargement, an amendment, IL
give it q universal application in the case of The ehi-
tors themselves and the rest Of mankind: land bt
il further resolved that hereafter a dlsrespectful sneei
attached 10 any gentleman's name shall not in future
receive publication in the Enquirer, be It written oy
the editors themselves or any one else And he Il
also further resolved, fat yuShtsa rnnt catum . Pass
these resolutions, gentlemen, and act upon thsm, hnG
you will acquire a reputation more lasting than brass
and more valuable than %gold-the freemen of Virgl
MIA and the mothers, wives and daughters OF the OiC
Dumion will rise up and call yOu b~!essed-peace vii
have come, the war will have ended, ADD henceforih ih'
old men OF the State may sit under their own vine
and fs trees. without receiving public lectures frou
editors OF ne newspapers or the con OF Il Governor, uroI
courtesy. delicacy, Justice and good manners.
Respectfully, NEWFOUNDLAND.
WAsHISGToS CITY, Thursday, Sept. 10.
Gentlemen:--Should you do me the injustice to re-
fuse q place 10 your paper, tor my vindica'ion agaiIie
your own STRUCTURES, pleas. have the article delivered
to the editor OF the South" and obiigo,
Very respectfully, your obsdi-nt servant,
"WEsThoRELASD."