Richmond Enquirer

The Mendacious Spy.

The following is an extract of the last letter of "the Spy at Washington," published in the N. York Courier :

I have heretofore informed you, that Gen. Jackson held the venerable Mr. Ritchie in perfect contempt, and I have stated, and truly stated, what the President has said, to use his own language, of "Tom Ritchie." Since the adjournment of Congress, he has become more disgusted with the Richmond Enquirer than ever, and his abuse of its editor, is virulent and unceasing. There is a settled determination to establish, in Richmond, a new paper that the administration can depend upon. Revolutions are at hand. Treason is in the camp, and I know it better than those who sit in high places. "I repeat what I said in a former letter, Mr. Van Buren controls every thing here. He is operating with great tact. He understands both Blair and Ritchie. I have no doubt he will mould them as he pleases; but it will not be done directly. A portion of the cabinet irresponsible, are beginning to feel the influence of the Vice President's residence at Washington.—He knows the loyal and the disloyal among them." We meet this thing at once. We have proved that this hireling scribbler of a hireling Editor was a liar and we will again prove it upon him. Some weeks ago, this shameless calumniator affirmed, that the President had dashed the Enquirer against the wall, with indignation and contempt. We requested a particular friend to ask the President the truth of the story—and the President at once pronounced it to be a falsehood. We cannot doubt, that the latter part of this statement is just as false as the preceding. We do not expect Gen. J. to be pleased with every thing we have said about the course pursued in the South Carolina affair. But if there be a man in this country who knows our opinions upon this subject, he is the man. And we are sure, that when he knows how straight forward and consistent we have been in our course, he is the last man in the U. S. to speak of us harshly. No man had less to ask of him than we have, and no one could have given him, when we conscientiously could, a more honest and faithful support. But, even to him—nor to any other man breathing, will we ever sacrifice our principles. We are sure that he would be the last to ask for it—and the first to allow for the honest differences of opinions in others. If we should be mistaken in this, we should most deeply regret our ignorance of his character. As to Messrs. Van Buren, and Blair and ourselves, it is all fudge—and is unworthy of the slightest notice. As to the settled determination of the administration to have an Editor in Richmond, whom they can depend upon.—We have no belief in the insidious suggestion.—We believe that A. Jackson is the last person who would play upon the people—that Virginia is the last State who would submit to it and we know we should be the last Editors to be dragooned into the support of any man, by the hair-suspended menace of such a competitor.