Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-06-15
s"The Opening of the CampalEn.''


the Richmond "Whig" of the Goth Of May, in
which some allusions are made to myself that
my friends think should be answered and al
though do not doubt Mr.. Ridgwav, with his
accustomed courtesy, would grant me space in
his columns for reply, yet considering the
partizan character of his journal, might tres.
pass too far upon his patience for strict propri-
ETY., perhaps, and hence ask the favor of your
columns that advocate more closely my own
political sentiments
1t gives ME some pain to have disturbed the
delicious reposc Of "Lounger, on the occasion Of
''thc opening Of the campaign" as he styles it
in his caption, by the "Citizcns Of James City,
Charles City and New Kent assembled at the
"BankS" 'nhile 1olling" as he says, "rih
rareless indifference beneath the pleasant shade
rhich Tie romantic spot AFFORDED" | claim,
nevertheless, in some measure, the thanks Of
the public for so doing, otherwise the readers
Of the "Whig" might not have been so amiaby
cdifed by the viyacious pen of "Lounscr. -
That, like it's master, loling so swectly under
the shade afforded by the neighborhood Of the
"RoNASTlc" DIAscry, would have continued,
perhaps, indolently dormant. Let my Of
fence therefore, find some pallation in this
consideration.
The dreamy condition out of which "Loun-
ger" seems to have been startled so suddenly
BY my "roice," supcrinduced, as it appears, by
"the romantic spot" may account for the ina
gination displayed by him in his romance of
the 29th May BY suppressing some facts and
astorting others, he has impressed fiction on
the character Of the scenes he portrays. Why
did he not say that the call made upon me for
a speech cmanatcd from Mr.. Taylor and others
of his political friends, if not from himself, and
that this call was Immediately afterwards re-
sponded TO by Sheriff Lacy, and then by the
general voice ? Was lie in fact so deeply en-
gagged with the beauties Of the romantic spot !;
so transported by the spirits Of this new.tound
drcam-lahd so cnwrapt in the ccStaSieS of soft
indulgence beneath the shade, as to be igno-
rant OF all else passing around him: Happy
the man for moment so blessed. Why did
my friends cause me to awaken him from his
Arabic &prf and so to annoy him? No wonder
he should have vented against me such wlther-
ing satire and terrible sarcasm through the
columns of the "Whig," causing he to writhe
before the public with intolerablc agony
But in my remarks, favored, in the
strongest kind OF terms. the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF
the Federal Union, though spilling it all by
pitching into the Constitutional Union party,
pronouncing Bell an old broken.down politl-
clan of Tennessee, and Everett New England
Abotionist, for which the sub-Elector Of the
Constitutional Union party, for the county Of
New Kent together with their favoritc for the
Office of Commonwealth Attorney. in reply,
blew blast upon the trumpet Of the Union,
and for Bell and Everett, that quite over
whelmed me, and found hearty rclcome IN
the bosom Of The people, irrespective Of party" "
HEu NE MlsEnAN. Why did my friends so
thoughtlessly expose lie to such avengng pa
triotism and rnerciless wit?
To speak more seriously, who were the peo-
pie that called upon me and to whom spoke:
and under what circumstances Of public intc.
rest, local and general. did speak: Let us
irnpute the silence of "Lounger" on these topics
to his "lolling' propensities, rather than to
wilful disregard Of the subject matter as to
which he volunteers his testimony like a swift
witness. Strict veracity required of him not
only the truth, but tie uhole trnth They
were the people of James City, Charles City
and New Kent, among whom the bones OF my
ancestors, maternal and paternal, reposc and
to which fact alluded in my opening remarks,
as he well knows; among whom | was born
and reared and educated; and yet, if Younger
be one of the gentlemen who replied to Inc, he
was so ungenerous as to aliude to me rs
".Yorthcrn man.. Many Of whom are my
blood relatives; more Of whom arc friends Of
my house; and all Of whom, themselves and
their ancestors, have been represented by
the various branches of my family for two
centuries continuously, not only around the
hearth.stone and the sick bed, but at the bar
on the bench, as marshals, as legislators, and
in the Gubcrnatorial, the Senatorial and the
Presidential chairs Of the State and the nation
am proud Of the fact. I am still more PROUD
to be able to say that we have always preferred
advancement, in the line of public hOnors, al
the hands of the people direct, rather thar
through the patronage of government and
glory in the further fact, that while thus acting
50 variously and so long in behalf Of the peo
ple instead Of becoming the snbservent IN
strumrnts Of government, after the preTailing
fashion oil the times, We have invariably en-
dcayored to stand as sentincls and guards over
the constitutional rights and Liberties Oh oul
| constituents against the encroachment OF the
government upon those rights and liberties
The local circumstances under which spoke
were associated with the existing canvass
first, for the vacant judgeship, created by thu
death of the Hon. John Clopton, in the dis
tlct composed Of the counties Of Henrco, Ne"
Kent, Charles City, James City, Elizabeth City
York, Warwick, Gloucester, Matthews, Middle
sex. and the city of williamsburg; and second
for the attorneyship of the county Of New
Kent. within whose borders was the scene o.
thr "fsh f.y." and the 'r0mdntic spot where
"Lounger lsilGL So areetly beneath tie pleasant
s5o1e" The candidates for the jud scship were
Wcssrs. Gregory, Scawcll, Mallory, Bowden and
Davis tic first three being Democrats,
and the last two being Unconstitutional Union
lists" and supporters of Bell and Everett rs
President and Fice-President The candidates
for the Attorncyship were Mr.. r: l. Lacy, tht
sable orator and mastery" "rhetorlclan anc
logcian" of "Lounger," and, consequently
closely affiliated with the Bell and Everett fac
ton, on the one side; and Mr.. John T. Pierce OF
the other side whose happy and really commen
dable speech on the occasion, Gin my opinion
Messrs Editors, the very happiest of all,) wa'
not considered, it seems, worthy Of being crit
ciscd by Younger" These various candi
dates. as TO both offices, were otherwise divi
ded. Mcssrs. Gregory and Seawe!l were my
blooa relatices, the first on the maternal lint
and the second on the paternal line; and Mr.
John P. Pierce had intermarried with my ma
tcrna! first cousin The official returns OF the
election show that Mr.. Pierce defeated ane
ousted Mr.. Lacy for and from the attorneysnp
by handsome majority. They also show ina'
the three Democratic candidates for the Juuse
ship received 2, ,494 votes, while the Two oon, y
stitutonal Union, or Bell and Everett tngii' Th
only polled in the District ,61o To'es Is iheS eS
further show that the vote IN favor OF my t%o
relatives m Messrs. Gregory and seawell, reach
eJ so7o, or majority o $50 rotes oser
au sompetitors-my maternal relative, and late
Governor of the State, John NJ. Gregory,
heing duly elected Did 'Lounger" imagine
that This people would not bear in grateiu!
-aa.llao4;ar, THAR aast and present taithful