Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-09-24
& Voice from Tennessee.
10 the Editors Of the Enquirer:
CHATTANOOGA, Sept. IS, 1861.

CHATTANOOGA, Sept. IS, 1861.
When Davis and Stephens were made PreSl-
lent and Vice President OF orr Provisional
government, tie people felt that better men
Irr the respective positions could not have
been chosen. From that day TO this, every
act Of the government, seems to have been a
wise one. We have been gradually and GER
iainly approaching the contamination OF our
Indcpendcnce. 'Tis true, we bear occasional
complaints; but. whether well or i'll founded,
they como lrom ha6iLual croakcrs who are
continually dissatisfied. Irregularities creep
into the operations Of the oldest and best reg.
ula.cd governments, and get absolute pcrfrc
in. in even the details Of business, is requir.
ed bv some Of our professional fault finders
The government is a nov one. Springing into
existcrcr amid the thrccs Of n revolution and
called upan 10 meet IN battle a half million
uf men be:nrc TIC days Oi tile Provisional
government arc ended, We venture that 1t
shows, oa lie part 81 :AGse @ho have d;rucied
it, an amount OF wiNlGm. prudence, sasacity
and courage fJr whicl! history furnishes 70
parallel. And yc:, Notwithstanding all this,
evil spirits are n: work. The proposition made
in. one nr tTO quarters to supcrccde Mr.. Ste
| DupUS UOuGS Ill Styf w l'.S I'NS
! Mr. Stcphens is preaui:ItntlY qualified for the
position, all must admit. lie has all the e!c,
ments of character that 20 to make mp n man
tur the tinas al"i Gm lila. place. The rea-
son offered i,y tAGs.: who ask Tic place: for an
| other, wiIlhago 10 Weigh; nos 'or Nr. Stephens
will not I've affected by il. The people, eSpe.
cilIlv Of sou4u Ct the Dyrder States, would be
ius;l. a!arg4ed It he WEIR thrust aside. J.;
ml;i net Le dune. D4; il i: assumed by these
| c-osk:rs that the Vice President should come
fionl til. horGnr States. There is evil lurking
h.re. The border States ask m such ching.
srd they would BE- dissatisfied il 1t "as done.
This CRY oe hryiar md GOTTEN States !nrSt nc
hushcd now. II tns5urag:i, i: will cu'minats
in irfe:onci:ahlc j.~al"n~ieS and anm:;y. Before
the war las scarcely hcGun; before the :lfSt
election u!:!-r the permanent constitution,
men ar found, who are wiling. while OUR cne
| mics are preparing to invade the country, to
advocate an equitable distribution eJ Offices
IT'S shameful. I envy no such patriotism;
everything noa' for the good cause. If these
| hateful %ouarrrls about Office arc ever to d5
grace the Southern ConGclrracy, in the lame
] Ufhr.n,n freedom. Let them be postponed until
the revolution is over. | believe tho people Of
this State would support Davis and Stephens
If thty li:e:l ia the same State, cou;tT and
lown. The are :!e men FIR ,hr times. and it
makes no difference where they hsil from.-
Lei the 4Hpnaris for Tics President who hase
set scribiar.; 70 mor!!; in this matter, be hunted
out snl wn!aacd--.hcy arc Office hunters, end
nni patriots.
ii sc "aluc the prosperity Of this ne" gov
crrincnt Gr ours, let us no~ lrown upon every
rnt"e, which Is calculated in the end to create
s~:rctionai feeling. 7; will he no easy matter 10
es.raacc tie cotton AID border States from
each other, bat ii may be donc. The best
way to accomplish that object is 10 adopts rule
for the distribution Of Offices based upon the
idea tina. It is division Of spells between the
cotton and borrler States. Then let unworthy
men charge uniairncss in The diTision--in
legislation &C., and peace may be endangered.
veal! il will be at an end. live profit by the past,
and can create a public sentiment that will re
pndiate place hunters and political trickstcrs,
our. may be u brilliant future; but if the
corrupt practices Of political schemes are TO
control the new, as they did TIE old govern
men,, it is scarcely worth while for us to wiz
in battles an independence that is to be bascly
battered away in peace.
Please put On record n protest against ;he
first appearance Of coming evils. II.