Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-09-06
For the Enauirer
WHO APE THE n1soHeAN1zERs,

cherishins decided aversion to engage in
conflict with robbers and outlaws.
No stain OF cowardicc will attach to that SEN
timent of sclc:rcspect which anilnates us to
avoid contention with the bascr and more de-
generate of our species. lie who will suffer
an untempcrcd zeal, the ardor Of impulse, the
"gaudm cettarminiis' to push him beyond the
confines of the battle field of honor, into the
denS of thieves, to resent the taunt Of his cou-
rage, or punish i defiance Of his power, may
not always expect TO escape "nnscathed' of the
scurf which peryadcs his abandoned opponents.
and he may well apprehcnd that the polluted
atmosphere i'll which they breathe, will tarnish
chapct hitherto unsulied Each knight will
best promote the responsibility of his order,
assist the cause Of his friends, refine his OWN
skill in the arts Of approved warfare, by rc-
strirting the aim Of his weapons to those who
approach the level Of his station, and leaving
to others better qualified than himself lay taste
and practice, the task of contcnding with those
against wh0m he is not adapted to war. This
is a rule which should prevail As well in politics
as in chivary. With few exceptions ii does
prevail in Virginia, necessarily. for not only do
the convictions Of all classes OF orr people
sanction it, but the politician as well as the
man who pursues any other avocation in life,
is presumed 10 approximate that level which
gentlemen ever strive TO reach and maintain:
otherwise, he cannot enjoy popular favor
Ii NAV be said that this promotes cunning, at
the same time. and in the same degree that it
discourages the reckleSSness and audacity of
political ini9uty Those who contend against
the existence of any such strange anomaly
as honesty in politics, would doubtless
advance this argument with much confidence
in its inSupcrabilty. To this we answer that
our people are possessed of an accuracy Of dis
ccrnmcnt which easily pcnctratcS the meaning
of the most abstrusc sentences in the volume Of
political hcroslyphcs, that detects the kecnrst
tricks of political leger,lclnain, and forces an
insight into the most occult meaning. which 4
thorough familiarity with cabalistic invention
can supply So refined has this popular dis
ccrnment become that it makes its way with
like facility through the go>,amer work to
which the low cunning OF political imbccility
resorts to protect Itself, and into the most re-
mote hidins-paccs of the closet politician,
where, under the protecting shelter of silence
and accommodation, he hopes TO execute lis
plan of scf:promotion and sellaggrandiHcmcnt
With the disSolviny power Of an autulnnal sun
it dissipatcs the irost-work protection Of the
former, and ruthcSsly tears from the latter his
-arb Of sanc;ity, and places upon him
instead the robe of craft and cunning
1t dcpriveS him Of the garments Of the pious
devotcc, and substitutes those OF the Jcsultical
machnator. The Virginia politician is con-
scious that every step Of his public career is
closely watched, that the scales Of justice are
exactly balanced, and that ''evcn-handed jus.
tice will be dealt by impartial judges Of his
conduct and, whether from preference or con-
stlaint, he purSues line Of policy marked by
at least Il show Of principle, and by IN mtcn-
tive cultivation Of the external characteristics
Of honesty and dccency. From habitaal cXcr.
else Inc olcn.timcs falls insclsibly. perhaps in.
voluntarily sometimes, into the practice of po-
litical honesty. In fact, almost every Virginia
politician feels that his destiny is welded to
that of some schedule Of important principles.
since, in the beginning Of his career, either
from DISTINGUISHED or from selfish motives. he
associated himself with those who maintained
those principles and thus from long commune
ion has become thoroughly identified with
them and their advocates, and, sink or swim,
survive or perish" he is apt to be consistent,
since that is his only hope. Thus, conslStcn.
cy. which to that plant, flexible automaton,
called 4 New York politician, is dreaded
shoal, which, if he strikes il, must strand his
ship Of destiny, necessarily becomes 10 the
Virginia politician rock Of refuge" the only
port into which he can steer with safety
But this is obviously not the case in all other
States. In New York, for example, there is
no such safeguard Of political morality. In
that State so wide is the distinction drawn be.
tween classes of politicians, Some rorrnl't, and
very few honest, that members o: the same
party cannot agree 10 stand upon Il common
footing of gcn;iiity, but are compelled TO sepa
rate and form factions. each marked by peculiar
and distinctive features Of organization and
action. Obviously, all these are not gentlemen
in politics.
Such being the case, :. contest between Il
New York and Virginia politician would be
exceedingly unequal In addition to the fact
that the same weapons Of attack and defence
could not be legitimately used on both sides, a
rigid investigation will disclose the fact that but
very few New York politicians can lay Claim &c
an approximation of that level O. responsibility
which in Virginia is an Indispensable requisite
for admission to the privilege Of honorable con
test. Is it. then, at all remarkable, that the
friends of Gov. Wise should manifest disncli
nation to engage in 4 contest with his aS>ailant>
in New York. The villains who were engaged
in the conspiracy against his political aud pri
vate reputation, which has recently been eX
posed there, have been dragged to the light
and. Notwithstanding their disguise, their dis
tortions of feature, and their efforts TO avoid
appearing in ]noprn perso"a, they have beer
recognized, and their delectable conduct beer
held up to the public gaze by those who have
long had to deal with their iniquitieS. The
same public sentiment, which with damnn2
condemnation ha stranded the conspirators, a.
worse than thieves and traitors, has given Gov
Wise every assurance of n firm confidence o.
the people in the purity Of his motives. Hence
there is no necessity for recalling any Of tn,
disgusting scenes which have been depicted, tC
recitc any of the revolving testimony or rc.por
tray the black villainy connected with this fou
conspiracy. Against whom, then, shall we dc
lcnd Henry 4. Wise. the man who never ha,
FILTERED in defence of our rights and our princi
plcs whenever and by whOrusoever they were
assailed: Against whom shall we defend tn,
man who alone couM anil r0uld save Dcmocra
CIV in 30, if not against our enemies and the foe
Of Democracy? The frequent assaults more oI
less cmbittered which have recently been made
upon Gov. Wise, by politicians and Journal,
calling themselves Democratic, furnish the mos
appropriate replies to these questions which
can be given. These will all attest the truth o
my statement, that Gov. Wise is now indebted
for the most unjust and cnvenomed assaults
that have ever been directed against him. tr
those upon whom he should have the highest
claims of gratitude and duty. Now the ques
ton presents itself, shall appear in this com
munication rs defender of Henry y. WISE
1t is task which would cheerfully assume
and with perfect confidence of victory, for moth
ing could be easier than to defend him against
whom no wrong can be justly charged
But defence of Henry a. Wise before tho
Democracy of Virginia would DC a work o.
supercrosation. They know him quite as vel
MS | do. They llyestmatc his value 10 them
and to the country at large They appreciate
his public virtues, and ycncratc the spotlcss
purity Of his private character. Mott is not