Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-03-08
cd community whether that criticism were


natural should advert to the incidents on
which rely to Justify my hope, that am an
accountable candidate. This was done. hum
bly trust. no, in the spirit Of 4 brasadoco, nor
with ostcntatious selfsufficiency; but in the
plain and simple style of narrative, and insist
that nothing but a captiouS spirit predlNposcd
tn tax, offence could have detected in my Ian
ruure ANYTHING to Justify the application TO me
Of snch phrases as "vaulting ambition - die
tatoria spirit" "sclf:a>sumcd superiority,
VANITY" and "chimeras dire which dance
through that remarkable production IN all
the macs of mctaphorical confusion
Col. Hopkins affects to take offence at pas,
sage in my circular in which he thinks
charge my competitors with intrigue anu ma,
chinations TO supplant me-. This Is founded
on misapprehcn>ion. In accounting Tor the
dissatisfaction which | admit exists among
limited number of persons. refer 10 class
who have'shown their dissatisfaction from the
date Of my election in 1853. and they are
described as those who seek TO supp!aDt me.
No man is justified in concentrating the force
of a passage which describes 4 class, and Civ
ing it particular application to individuals
who happen, at any particular uncturc, TO pre-
sent themselves As competing candidates. My
present competitors may never have been con
nectcd with that class; Oh the contrary. they
NAV have protested themselves my very good
and truS,y friends. As such. they certainly
have been accepted. They come forward open
" to defeat me, now. They have an undouhtcd
right to do so; and. although lmav deem their
present position rs candidates inconsistent with
our former relations. il never could have &C.
Cured to me to charge either with circulating
false report, by resortins to m unworthy "a
pedient 10 defeat me.
Col. Hopkins assumes that the phrasco!ogy
Of nv circular implies 4 continuing title To
the representative office after it shall expire,
on the Sd of March, and, with great gravity,
undertakes to refiIte that prctcnSlon very logl-
cay and learncdly. 1t affords him an oppor-
tunity to furnish dissertation on the verb
"supplant," in which he quotes definition
from 4 dictionary. from which he dcduces the
conclusion. that could not be supplanted al
ter the expiration Of the present Congressional
term readily agree with him in this After
the third OF March, shall have no title 10 the
place of member Of Congress, until my title
Shall be renewed by the voice Of the people
But, insist his own reasoning should have
, convinced MIN that he had misinterpreted my
language; that had not asserted continuing
title and that had not charged my rompcti-
tors with intrgues and Vaccinations TO sup
plant me. lie gives me credit for understand
ins the language employ. lilo proves that
my language does not describe the idea impu-
ted TO me- and he is bound 10 admit that he
imputcs the wrong idea. If had designed To
express the thought which he ascribcs TO Inc.
| should haze employed the word succeed
cannot deem it essential 10 establish the
proposition. that have not asserted title or
claim to a seat in Congress after the expiration
of the present term. founded OH the past action
Of the people, Or Of the Democratic party
iiattcr myself you will accord 10 me degree OF
intelligence inconsistent with a prctenson 50
absurd But respectfully submit that It is
legitimate to refer TO the action Of former Con-
vcntions. and the result Of former elections, to
prove that have enjoyed the confidence Of the
public, and Of the Democratic party; and that,
according 10 the customs and usages Of the
Democratic party, | ain authorised TO receive
them Il, preSumptirc proof Of the continuing
favor of former friends, until the production OF
conflicting proofs-and this is what is claimed
in the circular.
The objection, that insnuate my coInpcti-
tors circulate false reports Of my health, is sim.
ply disavowcd. | have not preferred such
charge There Is no part Of my circular on
which the allegation can be supported with
even the ScEiblance oil fair logic. | did express
hope that the report Of my complete loss Of
health had not been circulated by those with
whom the wish was father to the thought. -
Who were they: | have not ilisinuatcd-l SIM
ccrcly hope there are none. | certainly would
not have gwen the remark 4 personal applica-
ton to either one of my competitors II there
be those who wish me i'll or dead let them APP
PLY the suggestion to themSelvcS--it can apply
10 none others.
Col Hopkins has felt il to be his duty 10
rccur TO incidents Of the long past-to excite
your prcjudiccs or rcSentmcnis. He says
1T NAV be, that Mr. Goode is most excel
lent Judge Of what constitutes an assault on
the Democratic organization, since, in the me-
ridan of his life, with all his powers, mental
and physical, in full yigor and maturity, he
,riod with a right good will to crush it ont
forever" He then come, down TO more
recent date, and arraigns me Tor the part
which bore in the original election Of Mr.
Hunter TO the Senate Of the United States.
l. il for this he would hay, you withdraw
Your favor, and hurl Inc from your conf
dencc: The action Of the General Assembly
in the election Of Mr. Hunter has been twice
ratified and confirmed by the Commonwealth
Of Virginia Twice has he been reelected
the Senate by increasing and ovcrwhelin-
ing majorities, and the action Of the General
Assembly has been hailed with joy by the
Democracy Of America. And ! refer to it
as fact, not altogether unworthy Of notice.
that at the very last session Of the General
Assembly, every Senator from the District
which Col Hopkins now seeks 10 represent
in Congress, and every member Of the House
Of Delegates from that District except one
who was not Democrat, voted to rc-clect
Mr. Hunter to the Senate Of the United States
Are all those to be denounced: Must all give
place to Col Hopkins. and those Of his pccu.
liar opinions: Or, why shall I, among all Of
Tenders be singled cut as the solitary victim,
to appeaSe the wrath Of my competitor:
At the age Of twenty-five | entered public
life rs member Of the Democratic party
now called the Republican party. 1t was my
hereditary party. adopted its principles from
strong conviction, the result Of labored thought.
and supported its policy with all the zeal OF
Youthful ardor In 1889 the Proclamation was
issued. soon followed by the Force bill and
other strong measures, which caused much
dissen,ion, and many devoted States-Rights
mcn refused TO support those measures. And
when Mr.. Van Buren, was presented by the
! Democracy as the candidate for the Presidency
they refused to support him. ! was of this
number, and with them assisted in bringing
forward Juge Hugh Lawson White. true
States.RightS Democrat-the ncighbor, the
personal, political aud confidential friend OF
Andrew jackson. gave to Judge White my
jealous support against Martin Van Buren,
But never supported Wing measures. al
ways opposed the L. S. Bank, the Protective
Tariff, Internal Improvements by the Federal
Government. the General Bankrupt bill. and
the Distribution policy: and when. in 1889,
the Wings broueh, forward Cen Harrison as
their candidate, | denounced the movement,
and Immediately tool, my position under the
Democratic flag.
never adopted latitudinous construction
Of the Constitution; never supported Wing
measures never voted for Wing President;