Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-11-02


public journalists we stated our honest inpres
sions, 10 mrre the Stats ersn at the risk Of in,
jury 10 onr 7Driy It We erred in our ,iudg.
ment upon these important facts, does such cr.
rors constitute us disunioniStS Does incor.
rect reasoning upon circumstances by which
We arr surrounded make lis Yin favor of a dis.
solution of the Union:' Does the fallibiltv
Of reasoning constitute disloyalty TO the Union?
The letter Of the friend from Cupepcr who
enclosed us Judge Fields assault, denies
the proposition that Judge Field assumes, and
protests that he does not speak the sentiment
Of Culpcpcr county.
We arc not to be driven from the maintc-
nance Of our honest opinions either by the
clamor of party papers or the uncalled Tor stric-
tures of party Judges. We respect the judi
cial ermine in its place; but when those who
wear it bcdraggle il with the dirty mire Of
party politics, we see no virtue in its purity.
Had Judge Field delayed his letter until after
the Presidential election, he would have cs.
capcd the partisan appearance he now assumes,
and the high character of Virginias Judges
remained unspottcd even by this one intcrfe-
renee N politics; but as he las rushed into the
strife aud descended from the bench into the
political arena-and that, too, not for Bell, but
for Lincoln-he is entitled to no exemptions
from the public press.
The question OF submission or resistance
will, we greatly fear, very soon present itself
to thcpcople Of Virginia; then we shall expect
to see Judge Field upon the stump, the advo.
cate Of that exploded doctrine, passire obsdi-
dicnce and non-rGsistancr, which cost one mon
arch his head and another his crown. We hope
it may not be the means Of losing or procllr-
ing Office for the Judge. Buried beneath the
odium Of ages, AMI cmbalmcd in the cXccra-
tons cr mankind, we had never expected to
sec its slavish principles revived upon the soil
Of Virginia, where "resistancc TO tyrants' is
taught to be obedience to God" We do not
believe that even the crmine Of the judiciary
can give sanctity to submission.
For many years We lived in Fauqmer conn-
ty, the adjoining county to Judge Fields resi-
dence and have always entertained for him
very high respect We cannot account for his
unnecessary assault upon us; but whatever
may be his motives, ne are neither ashamed
or afraid to avow or honest sentiments, his
opinion to the contrary Notwithstanding
The following communications reached us
by mail day Or two since:
T6 tie Eiitors Of the EHquirer:
MADISON c. H., Va, Oct. 90, 1860.
Gentlemen: Herewith I send you slip cut
from the Culpcper "Ohscrver' Of the Goth
inst, containing 1 communication from Judge
+. II. Field, OF this Judicial district, 10 that pa
per. The community hcrsare very mnch sur
1riSed and startled 10 see such romnInica.
ton from such source. AS far as have
heard an expression Of opinion, (Which is very
.cncralJ that expression str"HgIg dtmPrr0tGS
and condemns both the sentiments and state
ments contained in said communication. AS
reference is made to the Enquirer" mot very
complimentary an'l smpposng it possible that
YOU ,lo not take the "Ubservcr,' take the lib
criv to enclose YOU the slip and call ynnr at
tcnlion to it, that you may make such com-
mcnts thereon Us you may deem necessary and
proper, and which hope may be such as it
merits, and the interest OF the South demands
10 the Editors Of the EMqpiTtr.
CrIrErER C. H., Oct. o. 1860.
MeSsrs Editors Find enclosed Il letter
from Judge r. II. Field to the "Culpcper OBJ
server" in reference to an editorial Of yours.
Lis opinions, rs regards Eastern Virginia,
are certainly not authorized by the ma
iority sentiment Of Culpepcr, for which he will
be presumed 10 speak, nor does Culpeper
doubt for one moment the loyalty Of her West
ern brethren. But we send you our greeting,
and bid you God speed in such sentiments as
those Of which our Judge thinks proper TO
come down from HIS BENCH TO asSail. send
YOU this that you may give it the castigalion
it deserves before the day Of election
\ Letter from Judge X. II. Field.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Oct. 1G, 1860.
70 tie Editor cf tie ObSerrer!:
DEAR SlR:-Ion have seen tl.at the Rich.
mond enquirer has taken ground in favor OF
dissolution of the Union, by advising the
South 10 strike 4 blow at once, and saying
that Virginia will 20 with them. Is it not
melancholy to think that any man or set OF
men should he sn ignorant of the sense Of the
people of Virginia on this important subject,
ms the Editors of the "Enquirrr" arc, if they
believe what they SAY, which don't doubt
II Eastern Virginia were TO take that ground
the whole Western part Of the State, to man
would be leaving us. But in truth nine.tenths
of Eastern Virginia arc opposed to it. Yet tho
uttcrance of such sentiments in a respectable
paper is calculated to encourage the tire.caters
of South Carolina and Alabama to treason and
rebellion bring on civil war, and drench
portion Of our happy land with the blood o
our brothers.
These Southern DsunonistS want South
crn Confederacy, mainly to open the slave
trade and thereby become enabled to purchase
African slaves at one hundred and fifty dollars
to cultivate their cotton lands. The price oil
negroes here will fall al least one hundred per
cent. from the serious apprehension Of such 4
result The price Of land will come down III
the same proportion and all persons who arc
much in debt will he broken mp entirely and
ruined. If their debts amount TO onc-halG OI
what their property is now worth, and wonl''
sell for, then utter ruin would be inevitable
Meetings should be held all over the State,
and public sentiment should bcproclaimed and
these opcnmonlhed Disunionists should be 81
fenced. Their cannon should be spiked at
once.
hope also they will form and proclaim 4
determined purpose in the e lection Of 1854, to
lay aside ali party predictions and prcjudices
and mite in electing a President whose OPT,
mons of public policy will be in unison with
our wishes and interests.
In deeds of patriotism Culpeper has ways
been in the first rank, and should be pleased
to sec the Wings and Democrats united in calling
meeting OF the people forthwith to declare that
they are opposed to the dissolution OF the
Union, and the formation Of Southern Con
fcdrracy, and that their determination is to
abide the Administration Of Lincoln, or any
other man who may be fairly and constitution
ally elected President of the United States, so
long as he supports the Constitution Of the
United States, executes, in good faith, the
Laws of the Union, and rcfrains from a course
of measures calculated to violate onr rights
e H. Oh