Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-04-26
Aitbmono Enquirer.
BY RIrcmIE, DuSSAvAST, TYLER & WISE.
TUESDAY MORNING, APRIL a6.
THE wARRRENroN FLAG-A CORRECTION.

-
THE WARRRENTON FLAG-A CORRECTION.
We copy the following from the Warrcnton
Flag
Our cotcnlporary, the "Rcpublican, returns
to the charge Of false reports made against
Gov Smiths friends, and draws what he calls Il
Legitimate conclusion from their interest III
their truth Now We did not mean to deny
but what they might possibly circulate such
reports, but the accusation brought by the edl.
, tor in the following language: the friends oi
Gov. Smith have abated their boaSting, some
what, and are resortt"A some OF them, to the
lcss reputable plm IF starting .J"lse reports,
namely, that they were knowingly and williully
originating c'putting out or circulating what
was untrue. If the scieMtcr is wanting. the
conclusion" is not Legitimate there being
broad distinction between ingenious and
disingenuous Misrepresentation. The TACT oi
putting out does not involve dishonest in
tent as is evidenced in the case of the report
with regard to Gov. Wise Now, We know that
that report was put out honestly, being based
upon the representations Of man OF the high
est rcspectability And by-the.way, our CO.
temporary has not quoted the language OF the
report correctly; for he publishes it as saying
that .'Gov. Wise expressed n preference Tor
Gov. Smith over Mr. Shackelford," whereas, as
we understood it, (and we ought to know, be-
ing one of the first 10 speak of the letter 1t
was that Gov. Wise said that Gov. Smith
Ought to be clcrted"-(over Mr.. Thomas;) Mr.
Shackcltord being looked upon, we suppose.
Us out of the question. And We have heard
no authorized denial Of the report As rendered
by Us, but believe il TO bc true, the position
thus defined being that taken i'll ls1' under
circumstances similar to the present
Our contemporary will see, then, that false
reports may he started by interested parties
under false impressions. and that its charge Is
unjust as we pronounced it in our capacity a'
editor not rs an individual.
As soon as We read the above We called upon
Gov Wise and laid il before him, and request
ed a reply in writing, which will he found as
follows:
RIcHNoSp, w.. April %, 1850.
To Nat Tyler, EY.
Dear Sir-You have Just shown unc an cX-
tract from the Warrcnton Flag, Of the - inst,
which purportS to correct rllmor connecting
INV name with the canvass for seat IN Con-
grcss, now going OIL III the Faillucr District,
between the Hon. William Smith and Henry
Shackclford. Esq. Itsays the Republican does
not quote the language OF the report correctly
THAT Gov. WISE EXPRESSED \ PREFERENCE FOR
Gov. SMITH OVER MR SmACgELroRD, whereas,
"as we understood it, land We ought to know.
"bcing one Of the first to speak of the letter.
ait was that Gov. Wise said that Coy. SMITH
"orGnr TO nE ELECTED lover Mr. Thomas; Mr..
"Shackcford being looked upon, VIC suppose,
Al, l,tS l.
"Lascd upon the representation Of man OF
1.-The highest responsibility.
Now, authorize you to publish this, my tie
nial of the whole report upon whatever atl-
thority it has been first or last spoken oi, either
in the one form or the othcr-cthcr as mis-
quoted or corrected. have never expressed Il
preference for Gov. Smith over Mr.. Shackclford,
and have no recollection of having said in re.
ference to the pending canvass, toany one, that
Gov. Smith fought to he elected over Mr.
| Thomas, or any one else. And certainly have
never intended, by amy remark OF mine to in-
plv MS the editor "SurroSE>, that Mr.. Shack
elford was looked upon a, out of the question
This is queer statement, or singular cor
rec,ion cf IA statement. 1t aifirms that all J
AcTrALLN SAID was: Gov. SMITH orGnr T."
DE- ELECTED" This have never said. If had
said il alone, il would declare lac ought to be
elected over any and every competitor. The
editor then puts in brackets lover Mr..
Thomas". Is il said that was EkrREssED by
me? If not so meant, by what authority
is ".Nr. Thomas. instead Of "Mr Shackelfor'l," ="
inserted in the brackets: How did the Editor
infer that said Gov Smith ought to be elect
ed orrr .M. Thomas, setting Mr. Shackclford
aside. Why not as well infer the meaning OF
the dcclaration-if it was ever madc-to be
cover Mr. Shackelford!' setting Mr.. Thomas
aside? ! put these interrogatorics to draw
your attention 10 the fact, that the very appear
ante Of the statement shows 1t to be, i'll some
sense, sheer fabrication. 1t, on its face, puts
STATEMENT By ITSELF, ASD IMPLICATIONS IS BRAcK-
ETs, followed by "SrrrosIrIoS,' all together as
q correction.
The circumstances OF IN appointment, or
proposed removal. in Alexandria, in the year
! 1857, as to which was called to speak and TO
act, caused me then to make some declarations
respecting the then pending election of Gov.
Smith, which have been much misunderstood
and misreprcScnted then, when both no
Convention of the Democratic party had been
called or held to nominate a candidate for Con-
gress for the District. and when no Democrat
| would announce himself candidate, without 4
nomination, in competition with Gov. Smith,
said that, were avoter in the District would
under such circumstances, cast my vote for
Gov. Smith Then. and thus only, have ] ever
ventured to utter a declaration about an cleo
! ton of Gov Smith in that District. This was
drawn from me by its relation to another mat
ter, unnecessary to be explained. | have ncv..
CT hati any reason to prefer Gov. Smith, and
have had no prcteXt, and have none now, Il"
interfere in the affairs Of the District by en-
pressing any preferences for or against him.
Yet | am told that some Of my friends have been
mortified at the report that / had "stooped to
hatter" Gov. Smith If have ever prostrated
myself before him, he has paid me dcScrvedy
for the lawning by continual opposition and
cnmity. No respectable man will allege that
have ever expressed any preference for Gov
Smith in this election. or said anything to dis
paragc Mr.. Slackclford, whom | regard with
respect and friendly feeling.
Yours, truly. Henry \. WISE.
This, we hope, will put a qvictms upon this
report. The canvass in the Seventh District is
conducted in most remarkable manner II
kind of Jrtches-poclet-hstterSyle, hitherto un-
known in virginia-vcry little appears in the
papers, though much is reported as being in
5meches pockets. We do not like this modc--it
smells of the culvert, and looks undemocratic
Our long and intimate acquaintance with po-
litical affairs in the Seventh District, being
known to our numerous readers in that section
of the State our silence in this canvass has ca'is-
cd us to be misunderstood, and given rise to
dissatisfaction ON the part Of our friends
The absence of Mr.. Wise from Richmond
having thrown the burdens Of the Gubernato-
rial canvass on the other junior editor, We have
been so fully occupied with our duties that we
could find no time TO throw the weight OF our
mace in the balances Of the Seventh CongreS
sional District Our silence. We feel assured
will NOT he attributed to timidtv or lndiler-