Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-04-02
from the Clarke Ivs.) Jocrnal-By reTueTt
PRESIDENCY-MASON.

MIR. Editor al observed your editorial few tseoet
since, partially deolaimlng preference for Hunter
over Mason for next President Of the United STATES
but do not think you properly stated the position
held 10 my conversation with you about the two Vr
| enio members of the u. B. Senate-f You Intend 10
| honor noe by position among the good cit'5ens;
position more vsue than any Of tbs ofice' now Do
| much sought
| did not ssaaue for Masou, that he would make q
better President "beause be has ieng been cha'rnn
OF committee which has strict relation 20 hfare
OF state !" place his claims Oh higher ground cuu
tend that such body as the Senate OF the Untdl
States, fought TO bs AID presum- Isl would be tie
moet competent iudgs OF tha ststesmanlike quaIi6c
tons of it's members, and OF their different orders
talent-adapred to different stations. l presume ell
will agree. that to hold, by election Of the Senate ),
the United States, the position of chairman OF tie
committee on Foreign Relations, is evidence OF tie
| highest order Of ttGtesmaIke aol;ies-for their w.
lection 10 made from body OF tie chosen statesman
OF all the Sa,-s, and It IL MOTTO be presumed that 20
calm digpi6ed ano intelligent body should time
ter time, elect any but an experienced and ripen,d
statesman to 60 important trust besides It is wdl
established rule not 10 appoint To such trust, any man
In whom the President Of the United States has MT
entire couadence for il places them in rbe most ind
mate political relationto each other. did not rpe
of his qualifications resulting from bis position,
but evidenced bJ It. from the most competent wiz
| nesses and judges, IS proved BY their acts.
Who does not know that the State department ,
consids-ed the most important of all the depsrtn ents
10 Oh nl57 Oy tie most aocoDpUsnso ethtrenrG Ou
this IL the only testimony of the high estimation
in which he ia held by body OF the greatest sates
men in tn, world He has been elected, by y lsrg.
majority, their President pro tenn, ihus elevatinG
him 10 nearer position the Presidency of the
United Srales than any member Of their body-a po
sion that might, under certain circumstances, place
BIN In the Presidential chair. This my positions
nor 10 it shaken by your views that Hamilton was
not less praetised statesman because he had the
treasury department to manage than Jefferson, who
was Secretary Of State" 1t must be rscoleced that
great head appointed both their poststbe immortal
w Washington, the father Of his country, whose sound
judgment could dstipgush the peculiar qualifications
OF different men, whose patriotism disreeardrd party
.ies, and collected for The most important poets the
greatest statesmen. He was sustained In II by tht
voice Of the people Of The United States. That the
two classes Of qualifications are rot the same. ia
proved by tbs fact, known 10 all, that although JEFF
ferson was great statesman, he would probably not
have suited the Treasury Departments for never
heard that be was ever fnanc!er. presume Lord
Bsoon's remark OF, The Revenue 10 tbs State" WIS
only meant to snov It's importance to the State-or
some of Virginias creates: statesmen were the poor
est OF dnsnc!er.. Now. az TO the availability"
consider the public good than the availability;
but how can Hunter be more 30 than hason7 II In
the field can any man doubt that Mason will get the
entire Southern vote1 Men of all parties would sus
tain him or be recreant and ungrsteful to the man
who has, more than any other Of the present age,
guarded their property and interests. Then, If he
eau rot the South, whore 10 be TO come short You
cannot cay 10 tho North-for what public man.
North or South, has aver received anywhere such
showers of honors Mason received there last yearf
Who, except the nations guest, the gredt Lafay
cite. made the guest OF States az Macon was
In the North at that time7 Docs that show him like
~ 10 lose the SOrth7
Now as 10 ''eHdug man in head and heart and
general souudness." / do not deny TO Hunter those
qualities and qualifications. / claim them for hlm as
4 Virgnian am proud Of him. l know him person
ally and appreciate him accordingly. he gentle
hirh. ltt;x. int nE Uiny
bu, cannot consider him ths leading man, when his
colleague is placed by men of the greatest judgment
In the most prominent position of satesmanshlp, OF
all. have no opposition 10 offer to Hunter, have
only preference for Mason. Why ehould Ii not be
sol have always looked up 10 him ss a statesman
Of the right stamp-of the right blood-o the same
family and name, as the immortal author OF the bill OF
rights While allowing high qualifications to Hunter,
must do justice to Mason. After being so strongly
endorsed by u States Senator'S Ia It not fair to claim for
him clear and able head; and IL hls heart was not
Of the right material and In the right place, could he
have commanded from .nch body of mn, such
positions Or could he have comma :ded such re-
spec, applause and admiration, where bis enemies
were thought to reside You may rely upon it that
Mason is that kind of man that will always com.
mand respect and admirationi he is a gentleman OF
the old school-a clear headed satesman-a hospita'
BILE Virginia gentleman, patriot sound In politics,
of enlarged virws-the man that would object TO
them, would object of necessity, to Jefferson and
Madison, for their political principles we're the same.
IL Mason should be brought fairly into the field
doubt if opposition would be- raised to him, tunless
bS the Black Repubiicans much is be appreciated
and admired, even by those differing from him In
politics. for many of :hem caln thinking ueD, who
no, seekers Of Office, have often expressed their
willingness to have him to role them, from their
knowledge Of his integrity, patriotism and dignity OF
character.
Another reason for my preference is he is our
ueighbor, citizen Of adjoining county. In giving
this reason, discIa all vish to raise sectional issues
very far from III were he unworthy, be could not
gs. my vote, on that account; but It must DO borne
in mind that, as often as vrsinans have 6ed that
.thce, not one from west Of tho Blue Ridge in Virg.
uia. has ever been so honored-snd DOW, when can
bring toward q MAD, that 1 can prove to be q most
ripened statesman BY such body Of competent
Judges az the Senators OF the United States. ae de-
csred by their deliberate acts. claim for him the
honor. l nominate the Hon. james NJ. Mason. one
of the Virginia members of the O. Srnste, for the
"fhos of President of,he United States at the next
presidential election. For Vice President, propose
Hon. Daniel 5. Dickinson of New York. What
Southern Inao what patriot what lover Of the Union
North or South, can object to suoh ticket
Clarke County, Va. W.