Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-02-05
From the Augusta Democrat.
TO THE pURI.IC

pear before the public this card feel that il Is &
~ which owe TO myself for the purpose Of vipdicatnv
my conduct from the foul aspcrsons that designing ana
aspiring politician has sought to east upon it, dccplv
regret that any dssens0ns should have been created in
the Republican ranks, and will cndcavor refrain from
saying doing any thing that will tend TO widen the
breach that has been made, through ndiscrcon or the
| to the honors of the Democratic party But AT the
same time, feel my duty TO rcpcl unjust charges and
expose the dupcy and double dealing Of who may
The Card Of John Lctchcr, Of Rockbrdge, issued from
the office OF the Stauuton Spectator Tuesday last
has just been placed in iay handsand by il that
he attempts TO justify by himself in the late
Senatorial election and in his effort cxcupac himself
from the he has received for at least tempo
rary abandonment of Democratic men and measures he
has dragged me from the circle of private life, the
political arena and sought to escape the consequences Of
myself will endeavor in few words, to set THE
matter right and strip that gcntcmans article Of its de-
In the first place, he tries to create the impression
hat nc has been charged with entire Of
cue cue democratic party This is attempt to raise
'iee nc has only been charged with tempo
rary abandonment of his party-as having committed
breach oil datyas having acted unworthy Of leader Of
favors Of the Democratic party Bu Mr. ictchcrss c
duct shows that he felt himself liable TO tho CHARGE or
he would have limited at it. His own mini ha s 49,
worked into the belief that he has actually acted
crously.
But in regard to his vote for Mr. Moore He paro,l..
with an air OF triumphant delight, editorial article
from the augusta Democrat, - of October o. 1916 in
which the editor OF that paper the belief that
Mr. Lcchcr in the last agonics of political suicide hin
gcs upon this to show that he had right to desert the
Republican standard and rally 10 the supporter Wing
abolitionism. WY;s Letchcr pretend to- saw 'hot
e article referred to decided the he should pur
sue! Will he say that if the "Augusta Democrat" had
declared that there ,couid be candidate that he ouI
then have refused to pledge his to MIR. Moore
Can any man believe, or will Mr. Lctchcr admit that
the article referred TO cast TO his intentions THAT
It was his guide The only reply that shall, make to
This lame, and call it bcggarly defence is to ask
miscd Mr.
moore prior TO the 9th of October? and want him to
ct, wen we inc day and draw upon his memory with
certainty, as think he will have confess that he WA
oore avowcd friend before the appearance of the
oie eerreu 10: 30 much then for his attempt skuk
Ia Democrat" NeN'
find too that in his paper of Oct o. before the ap
endorses this Mr. Moore by the following which COW
from the "Vallcy Star" He says: ssT6c reader VIZ,
Is candidate an% we I % hiq Of this county
TO tke people Of The dstrict Here then is ccrtanis
endorsement of Moore and shows feeling his favor
expresses the opinion that he will prove acceptable
TO Me people Of The district? Does this look like the
article Of the 2th Oct guided him in the formation Of
ms opinion! humbly conceive not. Ii shows that he
was Moore man prior to that day.
lie next takes up my address the voters of the Dis
,ric and says that called upon them TO ssdisrccard
National politics, and give their votes without REGARD o
the bias oil partizan celng.' Ii is true / made that
inc w mig party raised the cry of deception TO
conduct the campaign upon local questionstrcw down
the gauntlet of National politics. and the Wing Jour
IVhgs to the support of MIR Moore In the outset Of
,he campaign my suggestions disregardcd and
rty lines were distinctly and openly draw, the contest
assumed that of strict purty roe The Wings eonr for
Moore declaring him to be the Wing candidate and tho
Democrats going for me as the Democratic candidate!
these facts were known to John Lcchcr vet he chose
for reasons best known himself to desert the Repub
Ican Candidate and go to Federal opponents
ana cast ms vote Tor the most obnoxious Wing in the dis
tric This portion of his defence must fall 1t is but
mere sham intended to deceive and by which he hopes
TO conceal or cover up the political treachery of which
he has been guilty.
, No'o as to my cote for Mr. Moore an 1893. admit
circumstances was DONE In this part of Mr. Itcbcr
Gard we have another evidence of the unfairncss that
an aspiring politician seeking uphold lettering
contest for Congress between Mr.. Moore and Robert
and Moore claiming TO be stronger and better
Jackson, man than Craig. 1t was regarded as
ioore because he declared and protested strong
or and better Republican than Craig. admit that was
and file leadcr) practised political deception upon me,
together with large number of my lriends-but the
moment he showed his hand-cxhbiied his true coors,
ana ana was stripped OF his deceptive mask, abandoned
him, and never afterwards supported him. was once
deceived and then denounced the dcceiver
But let me proceed another step, and see how Mr.
etchcr stands in this matter In 1885, for Moore
because he protested to be Democrat and a better
@ GHPpnS" it wh M by
nc knew ,,! HIM to be an open and avowed Whigi He
slaUe,y might be abolished in Western Virginia and he
knew that Mr.. Moore had grossly deceived the Demo.
Gratis in 1888 yet with the whole of these facts fresh in
ms recollection he bolts from the Democratic candidate
ana gives his support TO abolition Whig and hugs to
his bosom the viper that had sung in 1888 If them
was wrong in voting for Moore in 1888, when he pro-
tossed Republican principles, how much greater the
offence of Lccherin voting for him in ls45 with all tho
evidences OF Noorc's guilt staring him in the face.
Let me now go step further. Lechcr not only pofcd
Tor Moore but he active in his support 1t is fact
that John Letcher will deny, that he rode on the
day of the election to the Colcrsown precinct for the
purpose OF personating MIR. Moore Yes, leader Of
the Republican party--a Democratic editor-a seeker
for Democratic votes and an asPrant for Republican ia
ton and urging his in opposition that of Re.
publican candidate What can be thought of such con-
duct as this Does not merit the of all good
Republicans? So much for his Card and his shameful
attempt to justify his position by batch OF miserable
excuses.
have thus, in dcsutory manner, answered all the
charges preferred against the Democratic party and my
SELF and friends in particular, by Mr.. Lccher in HIS
glorious circular addressed to the voters of the lin
Congressional district bearing date the Goth January
and appearing Card in Thursdays spectator. 1t
painful that have been forced to make this defence
should not have noticed the declaration of the profes.
sIona gentleman had he not made uncorteous an at
tack.
1t is not my business, his, write into notoretv
the character and conduct OF men,ncthcr is my OBJ
ect has been his in this casc scale the pale Of So
cai good feliow-fceling, and the anatbemas of
malcvocnt spirit him who seeks the shade and ouet
OF private life That MIR. Letccr may caricature me
by farfctched meaphorcal illusions or whatever cant
phrase he may WISH is quite matter of Indifference
IL can neither excite my feeling the hand, nor
Intmidatc me from an act of duty on the other.
but whenever he attempts 10 charge ''he fait.ful
ticuiar ,oM misepresenting hi-hc transccnds the lin
its of truth and alleges that which he nor 10 other man
can sustain OF MIR. Letchcr and his circular am now
done commit them with this my self defence to the
public and whilst shall bow in humble acauiescenco
to their afad, shall be the less liberal than was
he tome, nsayine to my friend that when he sets out
again candidate represent the people of this Con-
gressonal district in the United Congress- to lay
aside inc panopy OF political wariare and meet his De-
nj TcOof nF