Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-12-30
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP:

The ONSLAUGHT ON SENATOR HUNrER.-So |
many inquiries have been made OF us with |
reference to the Richmond Enquirer on |
slaught on Senator Hunter, ,as to incline us to
accord brief notice Of IL specs in the Star's
now SO crowded columns, which we had not in
tended doing, simply because anticipating that
it would be correctly appreciated By all with
out such notice on the part q the. press.
The truth is, it is but continuation or pro-
longation of the Enquirer old quarrel with or
grudge against Senator Hunter, 50 manifest in
its glaringly abortive effort to defeat his late
reelection to the United States Senate. Its
remarkable war against the late nomination OF
Mr.. John Letcher was but another anti Hunter
move on its chess board. In that, II was quite
rs signally defeated. The Enquirer is deluded
with the idea that Governor Wise is promi-
nent aspirant for the Presidency, and that
| Senator Hunters aspirations for the same po-
| sition are q stumbling block in the way OF
Governor Wise in that connection. The sweep
| ing defeat of Governor Wise's efforts Through
| the Enquirer to prevent the reelection Of Mr..
| Hunter to the Senate, and the subsequent
horse foot and dragons rout Ct the "Wise
party in the Gubsrnst,risi convention, would
have been sufficient to teach any other news
paper than the Enquirer the folly Of attempt
ing to argue to the world that tho eccentric
Governor has a considerable party, for the
Presidency, in the Old Dominion's democratic
ranks. But what was thus made patent to all
the rest of the world will never be compre.
hended by the Enquirer, We apprehend-that
journal having become entirely oblivious, ap.
parently, to aught but Governor Wise, his past
present and future. 1t is now simply the hero
of any number of glazing defeats, and the ex.
ponent of the Governors idiosyncracies of the
hour. Unfortunately, its turn" for the last
few months has been in the way of rivalline
the Philadelphia Press in raking and scrapine
together arguments and plausible pretexts t.
be used against the Democracy in the canvas
OF 1860. The now so manifest sale of the in
fuence Of the Press in favor Of the politica
schemes of the Republican party, will proven
that journals back handed blows against tn,
Democratic party from resulting in harm; ant
we entertain every hope that the evident devo
ton Of the Enquirer to the fortunes of tn.
eccentric Governor of Virginia only, will be 81
apparent to the world as also to prevent th<
capital it is some how so industriously maxim;
flor 1860 for the Opposition, from proving
available to them.
On the occasion to which we refer above, i
repeats an on dit alleging that the Presiden
has declared himself for the nomination Of Mr.
Hunter to the Presidency in 1850, and makes
it the basis of various disparagements of tina
distinguished gentleman, who is powerless il
Virginia according to the Enquirer of late
yet always powerful enough as results prove
to defeat the schemcs-political supported by tn,
Enquirer. Now, We have to say that Their,
never was moro glaring roorback than thi
story that has startled the Enquirer into ina
ginning that Governor Wise has a considerable,
party for the Democratic Presidential nomina
ton in Virginia. Wewill wager our bead tina
) no responsible man can be found who will
allege that President Buchanan expressed t
. him preference for the Presidential nomina
ton of Senator Hunter or any one else, over thu
rest of Senator HIS many distinguished com
| petitors for that honor at the hands of tn
Charleston convention. Doubtless, Mr. Hun
ter was as much surprised as all others here
at the prom ulgation of this foolish story tina
seems to have turned the wits of the Rich
mond Enquirer, as we explain above.