Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-10-11
CatethisIpr the Candidate.

Catsehisips the Candidates
The following letter from Mr.. Shelton +. Leske one
Of the candidates for tho gubernatoria nomination
from the Virginia Democracy, appears in the Ports
mouth Globe:
MApIsos, G. h, Sept. so. 1884.
Dear sr:-on returning home from Richmond last night
iound favor Of the ESD ut, and seize the earliest
opportunity to reply.
You tell that at late meeting Of the Democratic
Association Of Norfolk county, il wss
Resolved, That tn. Corresponding Secretary OF this
Association correspond with the prominent Democrats
who may probably become candidates for tho ofce OF
Governor to whether they members Of the know
Nothing organization"
Aud you request an early reply
answer, at once, and ca,cgoricsly, that am not a
member OF that organization.
With high respect, your , friend tT l,s ,r,vr
Tuos. TArkN E.q.. Cor. Sec'y, &c.
So we have the declaration Sin black and white, "
Of Mr.. Shelton F. Leake that he is mot member
Of that organiIation"-the Know Nothings We
have never yet met with any one who did not say as
much in reference to their connection with this mys-
terious order called Know Nothngs, but We will take
the plain English OF Mr. Leakes declaration and
slider it as understood that be is neither Know
Nothing, st present, nor what is commonly known as
such. The Lieut. Governor therefore comes up to
the Euquirer's requisilion the Know Nothing
question, and pass far the organ of the yir-
sina Democracy has the endorsing of him on Know
Nothingism. Provided he holds out faithful to the
end all is right with the Lieutenant
OF course we shall soon have the confession Of the
other prominent Democrats who may probably be.
come candidates for the office Of Governor, as to
whether they are members Of the Know Nothing or
gauiza;ion." The Portsmouth committee we presume
having discharged their duty by addressing them,
and all, letter similar to the addressed to Mr..
Leske, will soon hear from them this vital cues,
ton. The public, having been favored with Mr..
Leake's own definition Of his position Know Moth
ngism, equal anxiety will be felt to know how stand
the CT "the pro nnent candidates this issue
When shall we hear from Wise, Smt b, 6cs Those
prominent candidates" will surely not allow them
selves to be ou,srpped eatrely in promptly respond
ing to the intcrroSatores of catechsiug committee of
their fellow Democrats. Leake has lead the wsy and
SO let Wise, Smith, aud all other prominent Demo
cratic candidates for the gubernstoriL nomination,
hasten to define their position.
Should their State Convention assemble on or sbou
tho last of November, i, is high time they were
making their opinions known, or the Lieut. Governor
may get the of them in the race for the Gubar
Material honors-at eas: with the anti-know Moth
ing Democracy, who swear, by all tina, is holy, that
We shall take the earliest opportunity lay the
Spouse of the balance before our readers. And be,
fore the catechsing is over We shall expect our
Democratic friends who Mortified at the
Know Nothings, not only to satisfy themselves as to
whether their candidates members of the Know
Nothing organization" but, furthermore, 10 go the
whole figure, and obtain from them positive Informs
ton as to whether they endorse the Know Mott ing
doctrines, or have any sympathy with that order
members or not members Of it. This demand, we
feel assured, our neGhbor-the EHquirer-wi rigdly
make Of them, and rest satisfied until is
sured every man Of them, upon the most unqueS.
tionable unequyocal evidence, eschew all member
ship, fellow ship, association sympathy with the
Know Nothing heretcs. How could it be otherwise
with our neighbor, after all the hard things he has
said against the Know Nothings:
II the Portsmouth Corresponding Secretary, acting
a committee of one, on this mOmentous subject
cannot speedily bring the prominent candidates
on Know NothinSism, then let an investigating com
nittee be forthwith appointed in the name of all the
Democracy Of Virginia, solemny to interroEate them.
Let them not conine the high functions OF their
appointment to the prominent candidates so; the
office OF Governor bu: extend their csechsinG to
the candidates TOR the Lieutenant Governorship
Attorney General, members of the Board Of Public
Works members OF the General Assembly; in short,
all the candidates 10 be elected TO ice next Spring
II it is important to have the candidates for Go
caiechised, then why have similar inter.
rosatories put to all oil them-partcularly as the
organ OF the Democracy has announced to the world
that it will not support dly ,lGaid Jit for oice who
IS Know Nothing.
For the benefit Of our coeuporaTy q! the EzID.in-
tr, we beg 10 be permitted 10 make the suggestion,
that they, also, be strictly catccAsed rs to thei
position Hau.sy's L1.a Bill
The ToeioH--s M4itd ueSspaper--aleges tina, large
sums OF money beog ti:bu.si to keep the people
in state Of agitation; Gsnus! that Mr. Soule is the
individual through whose bands those received
aud calls upon him, if be is innocent OF the charge 10
cOue forward and publicly deny it, 1t says
The letter from London tells that large sums are
cent - The Peninsula ard add tG4t the person
designated here appointed 10 distribute them among
he msconIculs Of all periods aud countries IL the ex
French citizen Minister Of the UDited States at our
Court-Mf. Pierre Soue. Nothing Is further from our
intention than aJu, that shs sccuslon as certain or
even &c versmilar; 5u' IL Is publicly affirmed aud We
hope that tue ssd gentleman viii has deDy the par
tcPeton str butcd 20 him In plans of which he sup
posed to be the centre and chief instiyatcr Caudor
being uIottO hope tha; he wall reply 10 US con-
ddiy aud That tie country Tuich has right tn know
what j. plotting Ggaius, IT, Temain ignorant Of
that which should not be concealed from IT, Il Hr Soule
understands PATRIOTISM be, who is the adopted son Of
country cf publicity, will appear the Of public
opinion to deny the charges made against him repeng
such mpUt iDns calIpu1us he will tell this to the
country the county, sfcr hearing him aud doing h.Li
justice, will no lOugr hirO0T sIspicoo aud tranquility
will again reign. hr Sjule, gentleman aud the repre-.
sentative Of proud aud great people, refuse
e1igence which puuIc Vengeance and bis own honor .
teodes imperative Lei us know who are the fActious .
and who ,he !OJaL"
Tue oElolS CT LTEcH L.w.--Fnc Wa.hugton Seud !
mel Of ssIurda7 last has lengthy aud interesting article
Oh toe origin OF Lynch Law j. SAYS.
Lynch Law orgit a.ed 10 is UoE kno.n as the
Peduont country OF Virginia, which at the time the
wese frontier The court Of crnius! ju.isdc
ton held its sessions at Williamsburg which IL but seven
miles from JametoTn, where the first settlement vas
made When the condition ofbe country at tina. time
duly considered will he that practically the nbab,
suis OF the Plejmon; country had law ue:c actually
forced 20 be law uutO themselves. Nsdemeauors and
crimes Of every sort Of frequent occutrauce and vet
the Apprehension and delivery crime Involved 40 mr..
duous Journey OF hundreds Of miles mostly through
wilderness which not only occupied weeEs Int nn,,bs