Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-11
Another Know-Nothing Attack on the Governor Of
the Commonwealth through the Column, Of the
Lynchburg Republican"

Another Know-Nothing Attack on the Governor Q
the Commonwealth through tho Columns Of tn
Lynehburg Republican"
The regular Know Nothing Richmond cores
pondent of the Lynchburg Republican fur
nishcs another attack on the Governors exercise
Of the pardoning power, equally unjustitiabl'
with his previous assault; and our Democratic
cotenporary, after asserting that the first assault
would have been stricken out, had it me
the eye Of the editor before publication now
publishes the second attack without comment
We have no intention, whatever, of answer
ing this persons attack OH the Enquirer" Il
is mere re-hash Of the same observation:
which the Republican" previously issued ir
editorial, and which VIC neither reproduced mol
noticed at all. We have repeatedly stamped
the statement, that the Enquirer INDUCED
in unjust assaults on Mr. Letcher as totally
untrue, and ou. assertion in this respect has
not been and never will be retracted. Nor will
We publish the name of the "Republican's y
Know-Nothing journalistic coadjutor. We are
unwilling to give that individual the notoriety
which he evidently seekx
We repeat however, the undcniable fact,
that he is Bolts Know-Nothing, (not a
"Botts Whig"-thst is the "Repubican's' ex-
prcssion-not ours; We entertain too much
respect for the old Wing party to employ it,
Being, then, Know-Nothing of the very
worst sort it is by no means surprising that
he should indulge in unjustifiabc imputations
on Democratic Executive That u Demo
cratic editor, after becoming convinced Of the
political sentiments Of this person, and after
recognising one of his attacks as unjusliiiable,
should Immediately publish another, without
tho opportunity Of deciding as to its justice or
injustice, if not surprising, is at least signifi-
can't
If the Republican" falls back upon its
reserved right to permit the Governors acts
to be discussed" it must certainly admit our
right TO criticise both the critic and his pub.
Usher.
The attempt on the part Of the Know-Nothing
correspondent Of the Republican" to justify
his previous assertions with regard to Adding
tons case is sufficiently pitiable to be allowed
to furnish its own answer. We find it necessary
to notice only the following extracts from the
last attempt of this person to inculpate Cover
nor Wise:
Upon the authority Of Democratic truth,
assert that he has pardoned a man named Hen
ry Richter, charged and convicted Of three
cases of forgery, before the criminal had SEN
tence passed on him The books of the Circuit
Court, this day, show that felon to be in the
CITY Jail, yet he is as free as the Governor him.
self. Upon the authority of Democratic reraci.
ty, assert that he pardoned X. l.. Saunders,
(who was convicted of misdemesnor and
sentenced to three months imprisonment in
the city jaiD upon his being informed by the
counsel for Saunders, that though he admitted
the theft, he was a subject for Executive Gle
mency, because he had sick wife Does the
case of Richter exhibit "aborious study prior
to the exercise Of the Executive power? Or,
does the case of Saunders exhibit clean sheet on
the conscience page of constitutional right:
By reference to his biennial Message, | find
that the Governor has exercised his privilege
in tifty-seven cases, and am oticially informed
that since that time he has extended the favor
to as many more
The filty.seven cases referred to were sub
mitted by the Governor to the Legislature at
its last session. BY the Constitution, he is
obliged to give the facts in each case, and rea-
sons for pardon to the Legislature, at each ses-
sion; and to the Legislature alone are the par
ticular facts and reasons required to be given.
The Legislature, during the whole session that
it was cognizant ofthereportin each case, did not
censure the grant of pardon in single instance.
Nor did any member Of the Legislature ever
call for further inquiry in any case. If the
Governors act in any case required ccnsure, it
was the duty Of the Legislature to have e1-
pressed such ccnsure. Thus it appears that a
Democratic journal now lends its columns to
a Know-Nothing correspondent who takes a
Democratic Legislature and a Democratic Go
vernon both to task, under general imputa-
ton, and without being able to produce any
specific recital whatever Of official dereiction.
He pretcnds further that he is "e6ieialiy"
informed that there have been as many more
cases of pardon, since the preparation of the
Governors last biennial message. The facts
arc these He inquired of the Secretary of the
Commonwealth, who told him that he could
not give him the information; that he had not
time to make the necessary search, but suPpos.
ed the number of cases since, was about as ma.
ny rs those reported to the last session of the
Legislature 1t is unnecessary forus 10 enquire
whether this supposition is accurate. The
Governor is certainly not responsible for the
number of pardOns granted, but only for the
propricty of the pardon in each instance. Our
readers will doubtless be amused at this Know.
Nothings definition of official" information.
Had he received "offlcial" information, he
would have learnt that his statements as to the
cases of Richter and Saunders were both un,
true; the one suppressio eeri, the other di-
rect misstatement
If the Know Nothing correspondent Of the
Republican" was not ignorant of the facts in
Richter's case, he is guilty not only of wilful
untruth and injustice towards Gov. Wise, but
also of wanton cruelty to Henry Richter
This boy (of sixteen years Of age, as we are in
formed was indicted on charges of forgery
He plead guilty" The persons whose names
he had forged, testified unrescrvedly to his pre-
vious good character and all expressed regret
and surprise at this, his first and only offence.
After his conviction, jury was impannelled,
who assessed his term Of imprisonment in the
penitentiary at two years. Immediately al
forwards, the whole jury and other gen.
tlemen present signed petition for par
don, which was certified by the Clerk oi
the Court-the petition and the certificate
L.