Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-02
RICHMOND .WHIG.
THE SENATORIAL, CANYASs--NESSRs. HUNTER
AND BARBOUR. .-., ...

/
THE SENATORIAL ,CANYASs--MESSRS. HUNTER
....., AND BARBOUR. :--,s 70
To hs Editor Of The WAiq -... ...-
vritsr in Wednesdays BHg, over the signature Of
a double blank sutes into elaborate eulogy OF Mr..
Hunter and an equally elaborate dspArsgement of Mr.
Barbour TIE writer gISy that to the relaivs
abilities Of the two msa, far Mr.. Barbour is con-
oeraed s vii agree that the leas. said the soonest
mends1; aud yeI he stStss Notwithstanding his
opioiuB, that Ms Seddon is the only in the Com.
mOnweallh fit to be compared with Mr. Hunter that
M. Barbour il the only opponent Mr.. Hunter has to
fear, II Mr.. Barbour is an opponent to be feared in
comparison with this great Mr.. Hunter before able
tribunal the present Genera Assembly, dOcs not that
circumstances suggest this blank gentleman doubt as
to the correctness OF lis Judgment of Mr.. BarbOurs
merits Il that the representatives of the People
disposed 70 estimate Mr.. Barbour higher than this
individual and heAss be Discontinued. Afssr service
fOI several years With Mr. Barbour venture to defend
the representatives Of the People against the assault OF
the two blanks. Upon close personal observation OF
eis public course sometimes agreeing vita him,
times tsagreeingl. venture the opinion that to
their relative abilities and capacity for efficient public
VICE Mr. Barbour has nothing fear in comparison with
Nc. Huater any Of bis set. So far from being Mr.
Hunters Inferior he is bis superior in ect political
courage, unlirng energy and power to control men-
This last is perhaps the best measure of the whole ab
ties aud public character of every man engaged in pO
litieal life. confidently appeal to the Legislative his
tory OF this Commonwealth, and challenge Mr. Barbours
opponents point any who in the last quarter Of
century has EXERCISED anything Ike the controlling in
d dnee uhieh this able young has continually
cised over the bodies Of which no has been member
l appeal to every man who has served with Mr.
Blrbopr to confirm the high estimate which place
upon him. Mr.. Barbour is under forty wears Of age
DE- uPOn the public theatre after Nc Hunter had
assumed Presidential proportions Yet in the las, tiRh,
or ten years which OF the two has most forciby
Impressed hiuselG upon those who actively engaged
il public afArsr Whieh has controlled the course
Of public action in Vrginia Toe friends Of Mr. Hun
themselves seknO Ed;e the superior power Of Mr.
Barbour, even in their complaints against him. This
very writer. referring tho tine when "Nr. Aemmn-
gers suit for Southern conference pending befurc
he VrgiaiA Legislature, says that "ar. Ncmmiaeer'4
defeat is attributable almost solely Mr. Blrbour" Me-
Mr. Huu.eIs po~eE wasaeiVely cblis.ed the side of
M Aemuinger's suit" he was backed by his assoc.
ate Congress- aHd by Of the strongest inflen,es
in this Ss. Nc. Barbour boldly ounsered aad over.
this array-the resu. in the language OF This
writer, being 'amOs. solely attributable to Mr. Bar
bour" NJ. BIsbour agains. Mr.. Hunter and all thi,
6acGag carries shout thirds OF the L,eia,uce n
bad cause tool and yet it Woa't do to compare Mr.
Ba bour, for ,h ctive power with The msn whom he so
biay oyerthre~. Here the two man met bill, to hilt-
" Nour almost solely" solducgg bis side OF the
: Hunter under fsli eseOrt-apd NJ. Huns,r
ttSas overthrow. Yet it won't do to com
n, Ten!
The " Which We are told these Sontlsmeu
Offered, iOn question, las. winter. What
was the POI. y Neither MS for uIcond,
tiOGal sscsssio, san original sscessiouist -
AGer sever.l SN q, Mr.. Hunter declared
for the Union rmpsOmse vas adopt
ed What I. Mr. R1rbopr de
cIaGed by ;sA 'StifIhere should
be fall s,hws SuAl6aIrt" for
the Un' inter adsoe On hi Gail.
ure, abIndoHmsnt, to re-
s.or He was no, for ssees eae
ton, bn, as aa agency to bring abb, rue.
! toa He was not willing ike Mr.. BArbou 10
tiee, to quit f6slly, but only tried to stepo, ~
IN order to attract an Invitation to go back. :
secession ouly for the sake OF reconstruction
t.use love Of the Union was his motive for sc,
Both gentlemen agiils; secession if the C.
compromise could be obtained. Thsy only
"a a. to the mode of obAiOns it. Mr. Hunter "a
the cause of the Vuiou lad not failed in
Presidential election bu' il filsd wAep COngres, ret
the Crtteudeu compromise Mr. Barbour thousbt
propc son had not hccn .1ely tr when il simply fail
I IL 81 O.. -.
bly, again decided With Mr.. BARBOUR The Virginia Ie
sisA;ure byAs iOardiths yo.e, dSed' another effort
necessary, when they initiated the Peace Conference
and the people OF the STATE Confirmed the action of the
Legislature by III jorty Of about one hundred thous
lad a, the polls. Upou this point OF difference the L.
stature and the people thus again decided favour Of
NJ Bubolr over Mr.. Hunter by vote Of f1nr 20
Yet Mr. rbouris to be prescribed for doing in the
aIir OF the Memminger Conference, and Of the Peace
Conference, what fou' ths Of tbs people Of Virginia
required and approved. .... ..
/, il possible that any sane man III Virginia can con.
demn NJ Barbour and Mr. Hua,er for their aversion to
the late American Union: So long its authorities
we're isrely administered both gentlemen professed to
be ardeuuy a;hed 10 it. II that be crime Mr.. Bar
bour has offended by bold act Mr. Hunter by words
softly spoken. Nc. Bubour dill not to destroy the
work Of The great of Virginia in her elder day, sim
ply because II touched by the foul hand OF wicked
SEA lie pteferred to make a thorough, bo'.a hds
effort tn rescue that great work from the foul
hands ~Nich polluted it. Is that small circle Of
public men Who wanted to get the State out OF the
Union, bn. who so bunged the job to compea,e jls
Difficulties now to be st up sole orac,s of political
wOu' Are the mso who with cooler temper add clearer
head cosduc''l the moveueu. ,fnF Sfe failure Of
Mr. Hunter and his squad as to bnopshe aid Common
wealth. s,fs and consolidated upou her Br.s,,e r,oul