Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-01-04
COMMUNICATED.
Hon. r. n. +. Hunter-The Next Presidency

Hon. R. n. T. Hunter-The Next Presidency
In the general hotchpotch Of political par
ties, it is refreshing and encouraging 10 see
gentleman like SENATOR HUNTER, occupy
inc the front rank of our abcst statesmen,
who has never stopped 10 conquer, nor
pandcred to popular schemes and prejuoi'es
10 gain popularity. lie is one who mas III
WAYS pursued that course through lie,
through choice and principle, best calculated
to command popularity. instead Of endeavor-
inc 10 win il. and who has ever regarded that
popularity as most enduring that has been at
tanned by strict and conscientious dis
charge of duty, instead Of that obtained by
devious courses "of being all things IA all
men," One who has ever regarded the old
and now almost obsolete adagc Of ''vox pop
uli, vox del, as among the ahsurdities OF an
early age. One who with all the adyentit-
Gus advantages of wealth, family and aristo-
cratic pretension, has chosen To pursue the
even tenor Of his way in plain. unostenta-
tious. democratic simplicity, and without
seeking honors and emoluments, has enjoyed
almost all except the highest honOrs OF the
Republic, and these he is destined inevita-
bly 10 adorn: One who with wealth sufficient
10 establish half dozen presses-that great
lever and manufacturer of public opinion
and public men, vet has never owned a
dimes interest in any political paper, TO
hrowbcat and misreprcscnt, or manufacture
spurious capital and strength. lie has grad
uallv risen by the power and charm OF his
own invinciblc and we'll directed talents, and
perfectly balanced mind. to the proud pre-
rmincncc and distinction he now enjoys-an
elevation far above and beyond any Of his
compcers who started with him in his bril-
liant career only few years since.
We first find Mr.. Hunter soon after grad
ua,ine at College. with the first hOnOrs, and a
classic and finished education, a practising
LAWYER, and in public life in the Legislature
Of Virginia. enjoying the distinguished cog
nomen of the star of the Rappahannock
IA star destined to shine most brightly and
with national lustre We, again, soon find
him, not only in the National Legislature,
ere he had hardly attained the legal age to
enter it, but the presiding officer and Speaker
thereof, and one of the most youthful ever
elevated 70 the chair. and the only draw
backs were his inherent modesty, and diff
dence of his OWN great abilities, and indiffer-
ence To high position, which If he did not
decline, he certainly never sought. We soon
find him again transferred from the House
of Representatives with all his blushng
honors fresh upon him to the United States
Senate. and Chairman of one of the most I'M
portant Committees of that august body, and
welding an influence and enjoying popu-
laritv. second to no statesman who has ever
been a member thereof.
Wenow find him ENJOYING the proud dis
tinction of being not only the first man IN
the Old Dominion bv large odds, but the first
in the South, first III the North, equal To any
in the Senate. among Il constellation OF states
men, and the most prominent IN the Union
for the nomination of Tie Charleston Convcn-
ton for the next Presidency, enjoying, as he
does the confidence Of all men and all sec
tons of our vast Confederacy, and without
an enemy on earth. His splendid admins
tratye talents. and superior ability. are un-
questionable, and in his long career of states
manship and usefulness. such has been the
purity Of his life, that the voice of SANDER
has never reached him to traduce his fair
fame. or attribute the least suspicion of sin
lister. trcacherous or censurablc motive to
him. Hence. his elevation to the Presidency
with all his qualifications and boundlcss and
well earned popularity, would be one OF
those easy gradations and promotions so ma
tural To one who has never been disappointed
in any aspiration. or defeated for any posi-
ton his friends wished him to attain, and who
has always been propelled forward in his po-
II l. L.
rent impossible to resist.
As the North has had the last three Presi
dents, the South or the West is now certainly
entitled 10 one and the principal competitors
in the Charleston ConN cntion must he Sena-
tor Hunter and the youthful and gifted Vice
President. Breckinridgc; and as the latter is
so Young. his claims will. in all probability,
lie deferred To- those of his senior competitor.
HIBSDN