Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1840-08-06

for thai of the President.-[ SiauniOn
Spectator.
The letter OF Or. DAVIS, which has been COM
muneated to us FOR publication, and will be
found IA our columns to-day, cannot fail, as well
from Us contents as from the position q. the wiz
ter, 10 al,rac, the attention Of our readers Dr.
DAVIS was member Of the Baltimore Wan Bu-
REM Convention Of May last; has been well
known one OF the Union party Of South Caro-
lima has for ten years IN succession represented
one Of the most 7opulons and intelligent districts
Of South Carolina IN It's legislature; and was the
political and confidential friend Of Gen JAcxsos
during the political contests Of has day. and
since IL is certainly no ordinary case Of seees-
sion from great party when an individual thus
situated feels himself bound to break of from
them. We commend 10 our Southern readers
especially the general diffusion of the letter
which explains his reasons for so doing
Nat lat
To The ToirS q ths Th,rtcenh Congrts,iouai Dig
triet Of Tennessee.
Having been sent by portion OF YOU
as Delegate 10 the National Democratic
Convention. held in the city Of Baltimore
Il V,
however painfully, 10 communicate 10 YOU
the state Ofthings here
Alter the adjournmen: OF the Conven-
ton, came TO this city 10 await The pub
lication Of the address Of the Convention,
IN order that nil h; be enabled to send
you copies.
In addition 10 this, transmitted TO YOU
such documents and speeches as suppos.
ed would promote the Democratic cause
IN Tennessee. Things appeared 10 90 on
very we'll until the nth of June, when
Mr.. Boris. OF Virginia, presented 10
Congress the memorial Of Lieut.. HooE,
OF the Navy, protesting against the tesli-
! mony oftwo negroes, who had been intro
duced as evidence against him on his TIL
al before court martial recently held at
Pensacola. Alter I had examined the
case most carefully, in which IT seems
the Secretary of the Navy, the Attorney
General, and the President OF tie United
States all concurred in opinion. j, struck
me that the President had, perhaps, been
misrepresented. This decision involves
at once the great principle for which the
South iS contending, and on which the
Presidents popularity is founded.
!, therefore, determined TO call on him,
and, after few remarks in relation 10 the
trial Of Lieut.. HooE, inquired Of him
whether he knew at the time he approv.
cd the sentence OF the court that two ne.
groes had given testimony in the case -
To which he replied in the afFirmativ
| observed TO the Presiden. that, without
some explanation other than that which
had seen. 1t would have bad effect IN the
South. He then observed that full ex-
PLANTATION would be published by the
House OF Representatives to-day. ! went
to the Capitol, and on entering the Re
presenia,ives Hall found the House en-
gagged in the discussion OF the question.
which resulted IN the posiPonemeni Of the
/ printing OF the documents. The DAY fol.
lowing, however. the Globe gave what
( The President deems " full explanation"
OF the matter. After reading the expla.
nation Of the Globe, could not End a
satisfactory explanation but. on the con.
t'ary, j, appeared TO me that the Pfesi.
dent had assumed the ground Of ius,ifica.
ton by ooniending that i, bad been the
usage Of the Navy 10 admit negro evil
dence on court martial.
! am aware that under The common
! Law there Is no distinction known as 10
/ persons. yet do contend that the Press
dent. IN approving the proceedings OF the
cour, martial, ought TO have expressed his
/ disappTobaiion Of the negro evidence
With this publication his political friends
al leas, would have been satisfied.
/ II will not do 10 tell US that the Prcsi-
dent bad no control Of The mai'ef-ihat IL
would not have been proper Tor BIN 10
have Inierisred. The case is within The
recollection Of many OF US where. sf,er
/ the court martial had decided. the Gene.
/ raj N command reversed the decision.
and ordered a new lnal.
NoE. II Il be compelentthata subalierE
can reverse ihe decision of court. pre- .
sumo no one Will deny that The Comman-
der.in thief hss iho auihofiiy.
This Sc a question n vital importance
20 every white man IN the United States
and u will not DO for The President %
look with Indifference. not 10 say With aP.
/ probation upon q.
! have watched this question through
all its mutations The Opposition will
no doubt. avail themselves Of tbs false
step Of the President 10 promote their
own political views
/ There IS strange indifference. total
abscncs on The part OF the President, OF
that Waiehiul and ardent sobciiude which
The very nature e The subject b. cs.cu-
lated 20 inspire aud which u vas be pro.
vince 80 guard and defend II IL now
said hy members e Congress ihst they
Will pas iaW 20 prohibit IN future ihe
Introduction n negro iesiimony against q
white man u ls too late ise potion
has been infuss3-all The Laws ca eauh
caaaol heal The 1eaJiy influence.
Tell M not % yoar fsnat,cs and aboli.
honuis, when ihe highes, officer known
So your Constitution admits lhc fac, that
r negro g. = competent witness as,insi q