Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-06-24
VERY TART.

Our friend Of the Examiner reciprocatcs
our respectful illusions to himself by the fol-
lowin fling at the Enquirer" which, with
every disposition to conStrue him kindly, we
arc obliged to regard as unnecessarily SNAP
pish:"
1--WE assume not to be the acknowledged organ
Of the Democracy ofthc State and We certainly are
no, ofauy faction or man. Wea are but endeavorins
to hid in the advocacy OF principles 10 which We are
attached and u policy which We approve, and hope 10
receive the confidence and cooperation OF the State
Rights Democracy in our efforts. .
We are very certain that neither the statement OF
any individual We have seen, nor the history OF the
party for the last two years, will bear ont our coteiii'
i,orury of the Enquirer in the very modest assuinp-
lion which he make, in his issue OF yesterday.
ftnc Enquirer be the "organ oil the Democracy
of virginia" the individuals and the masses of the
party seem 10 pay very little regard to the %eounsels ot
their ~"orsan." Its self-asserted influence IN securing
Mr.. LETcIER's election seemed TO resemble, both III
the means used and in the result, the mode by winch
it unqucs,ionably secured his nomination. Wchave
no disposition to contend with the Enquirer ex-
cep, by IN honest rivalry in efforts to advance the
cause of our State, country and party. We feel as
surcd that il thnt journal continues 10 press this
question Of Intervention upon the Democracy, the
Objects which the editors have most nj heart VIII
never BE- attained
Now, supposins that We have been guilty of
n little ludicrous vanity, We see no reason why
we should be thus bitterly tainted BY our
cotemporary. But we still repeat our modest
assumption" We still claim, though the "Ex-
aminer' docs not, to be 1.-The acknowledged
organ of the Democracy Of the State"
Indeed, our cotcmporary, very unwillingly,
bears witness to the fact that We truly en-
pounded the wishes of a majority of the Viz
GINA Democracy, when We represented them
us opposed to Mr.. Letcher's nomination. The
Examiner" directly asserts, that the course Of
the Enquirer" "unquestionably secured his
nomination" In other words, our cotcmpo-
rary takes the position that Mr.. Lctcher was
not the ~favorite of the Democracy; but that
his nomination was the result of hostility to-
wards the Enquirer" Now, our esteemed
contemporary cannot mean to admit that his
own vote for Mr.. Lctcher's nomination was
the result of such an influence. Surely he is
too elevated in character and purpose to mis-
represent the wishes Of the party for the sake
Of injury to the Enquirer" But he brings
this very heavy charge directly home to a
large number of his co.laborcrs in behalf Of Mr..
Letcher's nomination. We will not be guilty
of the modest assumption" of endorsing this
charge. 1t would look like self:importancc.-
But VIC still contend that the wishes Of the
majority of the party in the State were oyerrid-
den at Petersburg. Thus far, we agree with
our contemporary.
1t is true, we no longer doubt. that a large
majority in Mr.. Lctchcr's own Congressional
district, and in some Of the surrounding coun-
ties, were earnestly DESTROYS for his nomination;
not from a desire TO spite the Enquirer" with
whom they arc on excellent terms of cordial
friendship; but because of their honest attach
ment to Mr.. Letchcr, and o rother causes equal
ly sound.
1t is also true, thst a very large number Of
the Opposition party brought all their iniin-
ence to bear on the Democracy throughout the
State, in favor of Mr.. Letcher's nomination.
That many Of these men were honest in this,
is evident from the fact that Mr.. Letcher has
SOuiiiiaiiuSu tiib'lSIil'lS VI NOlcS lOul tllC oPPO-
Sition ranks.
But the late election is sufficient TO show
that in very many parts Of the State the De-
mocracy were wofully lnisrcprcscnted at Pc
tersburg. And in some instances, they were
misrepresented, even by men whom, We are
bound to suppose, are incapable of wilful mis-
representation. Take an example. Our CO.
temporary of the EXAMINER and another
worthy gentleman united to cast the unit vote
Of the good old Democratic county Of Powha-
tan, 327 votes, for Mr.. Letchcrs nomination.
A large majority, 1913 of these voters, refused
to vote for Mr.. Lctcher, even after he was no
minated! Now, our contemporary cannot deny
that We were 4 much more accurate exponent
OF the virtues of the good Democracy of Pow
hatan' than were their appointed representa-
tivps, and as it was in Powhatan so it was in
the greater part of the State.
So, You see, %neighbor, even by your WI
showing, that we are the acknowledged or
gan of the Democracy Of the State" If we
had known your feelings would be hurt by il,
we would have abstained from utterins the