Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1851-10-14


Sir: received to-day your paper Of this
morning, and although ms time is much en-
crossed with the trial Of causes now in pro-
rress in the Superior Court Of this County.
feel constrained to devote small portion Of
it to the vindication Of myself from most
unfounded attack contained 10 the number
Of your paper just received
/ perceive that you have republished from
the Romney Argus. letter over the sigma
ture Of a. W. H. who is announced to be
Andrew w. Kercheval. a secession Whig Of
the town of Romney in which he attempts to
portray some Inconsistencies in my public
course. and to set forth the reasons which
prompt him to support my honorable Compel
itor in preference to myself Mr.. Kercheyal
is certainly at liberty to vote for whom he
pleases, and shall be one the last persons to
complain TINT | have not the homer Of HIS
support, and of those who concur in opinion
with him. He may seek through Demo-
cratic organ, to enlighten the Democratic
party as to their true course Of policy. and it
is possible that party may place itself under
the lead Of bis gratuitous counsels. Although
] am rather inclined to think, that the Union
loving portion of that party at least, will be
disposed to regard him as hayward aud
Pickering "will of the wisp"-the putrio cree
alton of an unhealthy atmosphere an exha-
lation from the presidential swamp Of disunion
and that they will be more disposed to shun,
than to follow the false lights, by which he
seeks to lure them into the mire, over which
be is uow floating Had the communication
been confined to the County Of Hampshire,
where Mr. Kerehcval's political position is
known, | do not know that ! SHOULD have
deemed il worthy Of any serious reply, But
you having through your widely circulated
sheet, thrown it before the voters of Jefferson,
where the position of my assailant is not so
well known, and where some Of the transact
tons in which he refers may have been long
since forgotten, ! must ask brief space in
your columns to respond to such portions of
it, as deem material to be noticed
shall not seek to yindicate myself from
the charge Of Inconsistency which he has
brought against me- Such charges are ca
SLY made by light and superficial minds, in
capable Of comprchending the principles in
volvcd in the great public measures upon
which they attempt to write. 1t might strike
a pucrile or perverted intellect, that there is
glaring inconsistency in the course Of pub
lie man who originated and sustained tho fu-
gitive slave law--wbo asserted the dctermi-
nation Of Virginia to resist the Wilmot Pro-
viso-and who now maintains the authority
of the Union against the dangerous doctrine
of secession, but apprehcnd all fair judging
and rejecting men will perceive. that the
maintenance ofall three Of these positions arc
essential to the salpa:ioa of the Union, and
that, SO far from their being the slightest iu-
consistency. there must appear, at least to
every lover Of the Union a striking consisten-
cy in the support oc the whole of them If
to be in favor OF the fugitive slave law
against the Wilmot Proyiso to the point Of
resistance and against secession, can con
vict public man of Inconsistency, there are
but few men in this District. or in this State,
who can claim to be consistent thinkers and
politicians.
1t wss not, however, for the purpose of no.
ticing such idle commentaries by Mr.. Kerr
cheval upon my public course, that I propose
to trcspass on your columns on this occasion;
but it is to explode false and unfounded
Misrepresentation Of the spirit and sentiments
Of speech made by me in the House Of Del
egates Of Virginia in 1885, upon the occasion
Of certain memorials, presented by persons
from Eastern Virginia. praying for the adop
tion Of some scheme for the gradual abolition
Of slavery in the State.
1t is well known that in the session Of
1872 there occurred debate in the House
of Delegates of Virginia, upon the expediency
ef adopting some prospective plan for the
gradual extinction Of slavery in the State -
This debate took place shortly after the
Southampton massacre, and when the public
mind, especially of Eastern Virginia, was
narrowed and excited by that tragical event
at period when Southern markets were clo-
sed against the expectation of our slaves
when the public anxiety was awakened by
the unprecedented increase of the slave pop
ulation Of the State--when our agricultural
products were at low POINT of depression
and when slave property in Eastern Virginia
had become in great measure, burden to
it's proprietors. The movement originated
with the Shareholders of Eastern Virginia.
was sustained by numerous memorials from
that section Of the Stately large public
meetings. assembled at their court houses,
and by their public presses. Amongst the
persons most active and Jealous in urging ac-
ton upon the Virginia Assembly was Thomas
RIrchIE, the venerable editor of the Rich
mond Enquirer-the Nestor of the Virginia
prcss--the Palmrus who for thirty years had
stood at the helm and guided the rudder of
State; also, General Broa8nax, of Dinwid-
die, Philip A. Boiling of Buckingham. John
A. Chandler of Norfolk City, Thomas Mar.
shall of Fauquier, Thomas Jefferson Ran
dolph of Albemarle, VIM. NJ. Rives Of Camp
bell, Samuel Garland of Amherst, VIM. II.
-Roane of Hanover, afterwards Senator from
Virginia and many others from the most
dcnsely populated slave Counties of the State.
In this debate, participated with the gen
tlemen above named from the East, and with
Governor Mcdowell, Horny Berry, George
W. Summers and others from the West
Now this Mr.. Kercheval--this secession
Wing, who comes before the District to in
form the people why he cannot vote for me,
y -