Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-03-09
WE presume that the question OF employing


Die opnion OF the State, a. represented through the
Legislature We presume we ought TO thank our
Senators AID, Of this little debt of gratitude, Mr..
Hrpter. Of course is entitled to share. But If we
have 10 thank Mr. Hunter for voting in favor OF the
measure what does be deserve for speaking against
it, We nave no wish 20 censure him yet, we
must say taat, when he made up his mind TO bow 10
the opinion OF hs State, sacrificing his own cOnyic
tions It would bse been at least graceful in him to
cast silent vote. Many hyors are robbed OF their
merit b. the manner in which they aretonterred
and this Is precisely the kind Of favor that Mir
Hunter hasbest0wedion the people OF Virginia. He
viii consent 20 vote as they desire but not without
telling them that while be Is peculiarly wise, they are
particularly stupid aud that the measure GU which
they calculate for their salvation, is a measure
which may prove their rpm. Which is not very
complimentary to the pdblc Of Virginia i, is true
out, then tue pubic OF Virginia have the indispu-
table shl OF thinking Of their Senator very much
- their Senator seems to think OF them.
Mr. Hunter says that when we left the old Gov
eminent Le thought We were forever rid Of thi,
slavery agitation from which it Is to be Inferred
that he accuses the fieudsut she "Hegro" measure
~ reviviug the sAsery agitation. Does Mr.. Hunter
suppose that - vast an interest as that involved in
. slave population of tom millions, is never ODE
the subject Of legislation Is every man who pro
poses O. i1 something in rezari To the negroes t.
be denounced a> a slavery aguator Or is il onl,
discussion that Is 10 be censored as agitation l.
So Nr. Hunter might have averted the agitation
Uy closing his lips, and yielding gracefully 10 the
Uud1ubtei wishes OF his constituents. Mr.. Huntei
s5ys that the power 60 arm the slaves involves III,
power o. el5ncipate.. Aud why Does the power
20 tmrr,s property Involve the power to plumber
Does the right 10 take prv ate property for publ,
use involve the right 10 take the property Of III,
citizen ar0itrarl, and without com pensetion 1,
tho Government ha, right 20 take horses or other
property for military purposes, why has it not tn,
EglJ 70 take slaves Tor miGt AIRY purposes, Blu.
M Hunter SAYS that to do SO would be an aban
d1nUicuj 90 the ground on which We seeded from
the Old Union. Aud Wis., Is it because sla.
very NC, the prozuuate cause OF secession p
Well suppose that any other kind of prop
erty bad been the object Of attack-suppose 10.
instance the North had wanted 10 coudscate our
cotton aud ve had gon. 10 war in consequence
would sr thereby deblr ourselves from clothing GU.
soldier, Or even from burning up the cotton to pre-
vent 10 from falling into the enemy's hands Sup
pose the North had wanted 90 sel,e our bacon an,
on bacon and corn, Suppose the North had waute.
u take away our horses, should We be giving up n,
contest by organizing cavalry force Is slay,
property more sacred than any other kind Of prop
ertys Are ,iaye-rwuefs 10 be freed from the obi
CATIONS imposed ON all other proprieyors Do ",
support the cause by putting the negro ia a ditcl
with q spade ia his hand aud give mp the cause D. /
putting tt-- negro ia trench with musket on hi,
shoulder, VITA all due respect to Mr.. Hunter, hi
argument is an .bsurdity
BUT, says Mr.. Hunter IL We are tigbt In adoptiu.
this measure, we were wrong 10 denying 70 the OLE
Government the right TO interfere with slavery
Which is much say that if a man Is right n
spending Eis money be is wrong in resisting an at
tempt 90 plumber him or IL. IL addition Mr.. Hun.
ter conyi,ts the Southern public Of incousistenc
in supportu. measure which NAV involve pGrtia
emancipation, as a loon 10 the faithful and vaiiau,
negro soldier, when the same Southern public lac
coutenIej that slavery was the best and mo-,
desirable condition cor the negro. There is really
NJ Inconsistency in This, because. the question
would not be what We might think on the subject o
emlncipauou, but what the negro thinks. II d,
would Hsht better ioT being told that he is so b,
freed, u IS of not the slightest consequence
OF en- Injury to hin. OF no consequence, We mean
from Mr. Hunters point Of view. But what shall We
say for our Senator's consistency when, afer as
sorting the sincerity OF his own previous dcclara-
tons on the sGhect, he tells us that negroes wh,
are made soldiers must also he made free tia,
&c there &, something in the human heart and head
that tells us it must be So" And what is there j,
Mr. Hunter, heart and head that tells him So l.
&c chat he coa,esses himself that tSere is some
thing IN tEe ilea Of freedom which viii make tn,
negro Eglt, and something ia fighting which make
,lru. deserve freedom Some people say that nc
sroes think SEbfom boon and viii Ugh. better
iyr f.. These people are inconsistent. Mir. Hunter
ha, something in ms heart aud head which tells
him that freedom is a boon to the negro and he j.
not only very consistent now, but was very sincere
when he declared slavery to be the negrO's best
condition.
As 70 the other arguments against the measure
which Mr.. Hunter makes use Of We shall not at
temp, 20 Iefute them They NAY possibly be good;
but the Sena. and the public do not think them
g,oi. Nor does General Lee Who is a very toler.
able i.dge cC m Etary affairs. We do not assume
that the measure wil accomplish all that IS claimed
tor G.. IN sct in the present condition Of political
science. the wises; Statesman cannot foresee the
effect OF any important measure. Bat there is nc
reason 10 thirk tbat Mr.. Hputcr is wiser than the
1rst OF las, WISER than she majority Of Congress,
wiser than the Presideot wise5 shau General Lee,
wiser than the Legislature CT virginia. wiser than
tie people OF this State, wiser than the people OF
the Confederate States.