Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-08-10
gid bn}ou0 Enquirer.
By RITcHIE, DUNNAyANT. TYLER 4 WISE.
FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST 10, 1860
An Outrage,

FRIDAY MORNING, AUGUST 10, 1860
An Outrage.
We regret that the following nnjustifiable
article from the Richmond "Whig" of July
I'D, entirely escaped our notice until within
the last two days:
TIE CRY IS, STILL THEY COME!
Andrew Hunter, ESQ.,, Of Chnres,owu Va who con-
quoted The prosecution against Old 0ssaTaame Brown
Co. and who has long been prominent leader Of the Wing
psy 10 the Jefferson District! has expressed his determ
hatlon 10 support the Brecsinridge and Lane ticket"
" We clip the foregoing from the Lynchburg
Republican for the purpose Of saying that
air. Andrew Hunter left the Wing party some
time ago, and r0ted for John Letcher in pre-
ference to William /. Goggin, in the spring
election Of 1859! The Brown raid was a good
speculation for Mr.. Hunter He was paid by
the State fee Of 81 500 for prosecuting Brown
and his accomplccs; and, not satisfied with
that liberal allowance, he went further, as we
understand and charged the State with rent
for his office in Charlestown during the time
the troops occupied it---that is, he charged a
rent Of $50 for the use Of his office for feao
acechs, when much better office can be rented
even here in Richmond for uhole yeur at the
same price. His adhesion to the Democracy
is Il moncy-lnaking operation
That partisan bitterness should induce such
indecent assaults upon il true, open.hearted
Virginia gcntlclnan-onc who commands ha-
bitually and alike the respect of political
friends and opponcnts-is, perhaps, not alto.
gcthcr strange in this day o! careless vitupera-
ton.
Nevertheless, We know it cannot fail to be
very mortl!ying to gentleman Of Andrew
Hunters sensitive perceptions Of duty and
honor, and especially trying to the feelings of
his own circle OF immediate kindred and
friends, to find him accused by metropolitan
newspaper with having stopped to swindle the
State by successful spcculatons OH the John
Brown raid.
\ succinct statement Of facts will expose the
cruel outrage committed against Mr. Hunter
hy sucll Il publication.
SO soon as the news Of INVASION at lIarper's
Ferry reached Charlcstown, Mr.. Andrew Hun
ter Immediately sent his son, Mr.. Henry Hun
ter TO IIarpers Ferry, and actively employed
his own time and money, in summoning, COL
lccting and cquipping troops
After the incarceration Of the prisoners at
Charlcstown, without any solicitation on the
part Of Mr.. Hunter, he Vas appointed by the
Governor Of the State, 10 assist the States At
torney in the prosecution.
The States Attorney proved to be weak,
illitcratc man, incompetent for the efficient
discharge Of his duties; and thus the entire
management Of the prosecutions was virtually
left to Mr. Hunters skill and exertion. In
this work Mr.. Hunter was busily engaged for
several months.
During the whole time that troops were sta
toned at Charlestown, Mr.. Hunter was unremit-
ting in kind attention TO their comfort, and the
amount which he must have expended in kind
hospitalitcs TO officers and men, exceeded large
ly all the little recompense which he afterwards
received from the State, for months of arduous
labor in very high and difficult capacity.
MIR. Hunter made no application for remune-
ration Of any sort lie held communication
with 10 one concerning the matter, even when
difficulties were raised in the Senate as TO the
amount Of tic fee TO be awarded him. When
written 10 by friend alter friend, urging him to
come to Richmond and by mere statement Of
facts oblige the Legislature 10 make decent
compensation for his time, skill and labor, he
positively refused 10 move in the matter. We
remember taking an active interest in behalf OF
Mr. Hunter at the time, and warmly expressing
the opinion IN thc presence Of members Of the
Legislative committee. that it would be shame
ful, if fee Of less than $4,000 should be ten
dcrcd him. Instead Of this, the Legislature
chose to appropriate miserable pltance oil
81, 800, which Mr.. Hunter received without
complaint or murmur at the gross injustice
done to his professional services.
This ,cns the entire sum receired by Afr.
Hunter ,from the State eJ' IiTgiam, and for
this sum he puid twice the amount in hospital
ity extended to the volunteers at Charlestown,
and more than thrice the amount in professional
labor.
The statement that "he charged u rent of
$50 for the use Of his ofice," is altogether
untrue. Mr.. Hunter made no charge for the
use OF his Office, and received not iarthing
for its use. When the committee Of soldiers
and citizens appointed 10 assess the damage
done to buildings, &c, orcupied by the troops,
they eXalInrt, among others, cOmmodious
law Office belonging to -M. Hr~ry Hunter,
which had been employed By different compa-
nies as kitrhen to too& in the damage suf-
frrcd by which, the committee, acting without
the knowledge ur- concurrence Gl either MIR.
Hunter or lis son, fixed Ut the very moderate
estimate Of $I5n. By SOME mistake this was
credited, u!I the accounts sent 10 RlcflnnEd, to
Mr.. Andrew Hunter
Such il The material uut "I which lle Rich
mumd "Whig' has manufactured charge OF
corruption against generous and minded
Virginia gentleman, oi distinguished intellect
and reputation, simply because lac has chosen
to support the only Presidential ticket pledged
to the maintenance nf Southern lights against
Nnrthcrn aggression.
~-<S'e>
ss Justice"
We have no hesitation in promptly admitting
10 our cnlunr,s The well.wrtten and courteous
article, which appears over the abo'e sIgna-
tlIrc.
lt vii! lie Iiutcrd al unce, that our CORES
pundent is arguing "n premises not only differ
cnt from, hut altogether rreconciliable with,
those upon which our nwn views are BASED
lie assumes, lst. That Mr.. .Ames is the most
sliillGul and competent mechanic in the world
engaged in the manufacture of arms. I'd. That
wc have, iutlccd contractors i'll Virginia who
miyht lu the work we'll, bat whose capacity
and fitness for the work offer nv entirely relia-
h1o ,,,,r,pfv tl,ut IL will i, D.OmDtly and