Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-31
sncs ID relation to the whole theory and praa.


ence Ia relation to the whole theory and ptae.
tlce Of our governmental system.
In surveying rapidly the development Of
new aud potential incidents, in the midst of
war and revolution, l cannot help the impress
zion which "reminiscences Ct Mr.. Hunters
earlier days in the school o. politics enforce
upon my mind. The brilliant Southern lights
of that day, Mr.. Calhoun and Mr.. Clay, how
ever widely they differed as to SOM points Of
constitutional construction, agreed IN their
reverence of the sacred rights Of person and
property as secured by that instrument They
equally spurned tho supremacy OF the military
over the civil. The right of the writ of habeas
corpus, the right Of the trial by jury, the in
volatility of the person of the judge, and of
tho representative, whether of the nation. or
Of q State, all constituted a theory for practi-
cal action, in which they concurrsd.
They also maintained that the Senate should
be elevated above tho Executive, and that the
dignity of its members. the powers, and the
conservative character of thu body should fur
nish n cDunterpoiss to the dangerous and grow
ing influence Of the vast and absorbing patron
age of the President These were the lessons
which MIR. Hunter then learned, and he has
carried their practical use into all his public
life.
At this moment when the Government Of
tho North, without the least change of a letter
10 their Constitution, have assumed monarch.
cal forrus and powers Of actiorrS and have al
ready driited to u point Of dsspotism FROM
which they aeper aoiU and neoer intend to re-
ttrn, it becomes Il matter Of deep anxiety to us
that the Senate of the Confederacy should be-
giu and continue ito lsbors, with e constant
view to preserve all our great principles of
freedom against their malign contamina-
tons. No mau could be better prepared to
aid il doing this than Mr.. Hunter. 1t would
agree with his theory, his practice, and all his
associations. Hs stands between the young
generation, the soldiers who now strike for
liberty, and that older patriot, John c. Cal.
houn, who ~as the immortal prototype O! their
own invineible spirit.
Mr. Hunter is of ali mon the true guardian,
ht TO be selected for that great duty. He
could speak Of the pist, when thu statesmen
giants, who are gone, hold the conservative
t~alalce vi GucerHlusntul power ia their SEGA
toriai grasp liz couli spcak Of the PAST, When
last DAYS, 'a.l oi which lie :a's, ana par: Of
which he WGS."
There would, Indeed, b= digai;y il tic vni.r
Of such ;xn.r:eice, tempered by truth sud
ressor, which would be irresistible.
Such is the language e'hich Mr.. Hunt=r
might hold. Shat Senator Of the Ctriicdsra.
cy could dc as much:
1t is submitted with confidence, that all mere
personal points Of objection or convenience, or
sdvantage, dwindle into insignifcance oou-
pared with the greatest safety, AID interest OF
the republic.
There is but QUE single ,hirg, Il IL u :e!.
which could he urged as 2 sufficient Gauss O.!
objection, sgsinst placing him in the position
where his talents and experience cou,d be sp.
Piled 70 thoSe great interests 70 which sc have
referred. That cause would De tie waat vi :
good public character i: which all men might
conade.
but every mas, all !acn csn trust and Hclid
trust Mr.. Hunter. Atthis dsy>it is immaic:ia!
rs TO the causes Of any old hesrt-burnings wniah
may have followed bis repeated accessiuns to
official station. rhoy we're things of the hour.
They Heva subjects Of criticism for their day
only. They haVs Pass-d sTsy. StsndiHg ss
1e do iG tho midst Of q grand reyolutou-
second in Importance TO no political event
which has ever agitatcd the wor!d-it seems to
Us that the magnanimous mind, imbued with
patriotism, must rejoice that the progress OF
events has brought such a man before the
public md kaps him there. HA is now before
IA 10 al! the proportions Of o s;ateSnan, full Of
public ezoerieDce-its prldsnce, its facts, is
philosophy, it sTaried knowledge. Sha!l there
be a doubtf Can there be a doubt whether we
should carr his tGisnts to tue very theatre
wherc they ere uast needed, and where ;hay
will be nas: successful for the good Of our
countrys
Is it a Just objection that he holds the oM &C
Of Secretary of State. Such All objection vas
ne7rr before urged in the history Of any South.
orr Stats. He neither sought II, nor refused
il But DOW II 6 time, and a pl.ce, where
his abilities may b. more successfully employ.
ed. Ought he 10 shrink from It Or ought
he to be repell"lr Neither the oas, &C. the
! other.
1t seems to me that such 1 fnsn ought tp he
placed, 10 times ike these, where he would
be most useful to his country. It Is not Pro.
per that We should. nov, as a matter of capri.
cious preference over superior qualifications
Of experience, and knowledge, take E man for
public employment, in an Important place,
%i!h c view to wait until lie is taught what is
best TO 10. and how to 20 it, before he can pos.
sibiy reader efficient service, but on the con-
tTayy, We think, i! is far wiser, in cur present
exigcociss 70 employ him who has been vel!
tried, ard who 5es already Oiled the s1,na Of
acialuphsre with honor and SUCCESS.
JUrEyAL.