Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-10-19
Nh. LETCHER IN TIE REFORM CoNvEN'
Tim

TUESDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 10
Mr.. LETCHER IN THE REFORM CONVEN'
TON.
The "Blue Ridge Republican" Of the 10th Instant
reviews an crticle from the pen Of one Of our corres
~pondents, which refers to the course OF Mr.. Lstchel
on the question of constitutional guarantees for th,
protection of slave property from undue taxation
So far as the Republican" confines iteelf to an az
tempt to controvert the arguments or statements O
yhe correspondent; Of the Enquirer" we do not deem
II incumbent on us to reply TO its eHsctions. Out
Journal is always open to the publication of articlei
discussing in a proper spirit leading questions ofSta'e
politics-even when they express opinions disnetri
oslly opposed to our own. We are not responsible
for the views Of our correspondents. and are accus'
toned to allow them to fight their own battles
Moreover, we were absent from Richmond at the
time the article in question is alleged to have been
introduced into our columns. 10 the hasty glance
over the files Of the last few weeks, which is sl that
our leisure at this moment permits, We have faiieo 10
discover the correspondence referred to, and have
never eeen the article Of the Republican which
furnishes the subject for commsnt.
But the "Republican," not content with a sin
gle adversary. attempts, by q series Of interrogstories,
70 impute to the editors Of the Enquirer a position
which We have never assumed; calling upon US to
svov 'frankiy' an accusation sgainst several trust
worthy Democratic, which we have never intimated
= :ny shape whatever. And the same paper pro-
ceeds, in q tone by no means friendly, to challenge a
comparison between Mr.. Letcher's position on the
slavery question and our own.
We can promptly reply that We have never accused
Mr.. Letcher Of present unsoundness on this question.
The mos. that we have done is to chow conclusively,
Ly the publication OF q numerous correspondence
,sst many Democrats throughout the State are s'iil
doubtful a. to Mr.. Letcher's orthodoxy. Nor have
We ever referred to Mr. Letcher's course in the coustiiu
tionsl convention, as ~affording evidence OF unsound'
ness even at that time. Thus the entire strain OF
unt.iendly sneers, imputstions, &c, with which the
Republican has chosen to essail us, is at oucs
shown to be gratuitous.
Like the most of Dir. Lstchers jealous advocates
the Republican is unfortunate in the line Of defence
which II has adopted. According to our remembrance,
tbs matter of bis couree 10 the Convention was fret
brought forward by a paper favorable to Mr.. Letcher,
IN such manner a. 10 claim for him the credit which
rightly belongs to other men, and in which he can
claim no part whatever, of originating the existing
constitutions! provisions for the guaranty of slsve
property from taxation. 1t lie true that Mr.. Letcher
wa a member Of the committee on limitations acd
restrictions. who reported In favor Of the exemption
OF slaves under twelve years Of age aud the taxing Of
other slaves at the low estimated value of $500 pr
eap'e. But It appears from the Republicans" own
evowsl, that this was q mere concession on his part,
yielded in consideration Of a prospective analogous
reduction Of taxes on live stock. In other words. Mr.
Letcher was opposed to the guaranty of slave pro-
pe..y PER Sc. This Is abundsntly evinced by succt q.
Give votes.
Mr.. LETcHER VOTED AGAINST THE EXEMPTION
FROM TAXATION OF SLAVES UNDER TWELVE YEAR,
w AGE.
nR. LErcHER VOTED AGAINST THE RESTRICTION
OF THE TAX OF SLAVE, OVER TWELVE YEARS OF AGE,
TO TUE AMOUNT OF THAT IMPOSED on LAND AssEs.rp
Al s3D0.
SIR LsrcHFR VOTED FOR Mr.. SUMMERS rsoro-
sirIos To TAX ALL SLAVES ad volorem.
We are also informed, in = manner which lesves 20
dcub: OF the truth Of the assertion, that AR. Lstcber's
opposition to all such schemes TO-. the separate pro-
lection Of slave property, was evinced in a manner
60 acrimonious as TO become positively offensive to
slaveholding members of the Convention.
Thus the mere publication of Mr.. Letcher's con
uec;ion with the m on limitations aud res
s,:ic;iona, without accompanying reference TO biz
subsequent course, lie eminen;!y calculated to misiesd
nninformsd men az to the real position which be has
occupied. We do not know whether the Republican
has ever presented such q CARRIED extract from Lis
record. But some of its CO ~adjutors, who have prs.
oeded Il in vlndictiye assaults on those who prefer
q candidate commanding more perfectly the con-
Sdence of his party, have not ecrupled to reeo,t to
this unfair method Of puHiog their favorite, nor is
this the only instance In which It has been attempted
10 forestal public sentiment BY unfair demonstration
In his behalf.
Tue "Kepublican" informs ua, with a triumphant
air. that Mr.. Letcher will not hesitate in joining a se.
p.,ate Southern confederscy, whenever it ehall be
erected, and the present Union dissolved, for the sole
purpose OF re-openipg the African slave trade. This
ss.lainly exhibits an eminent attachment TO our sister
States of the South; but, in our humble opinion, it la
very doubtful whether it indicates an equal degree Of
partially for the patriarchal institution of slavery az
i. exists In Virginia. As We view the matter, such a
communication would e~ventuste 10 the complete de-
graduation and generalization Of the institution OF
slavery, a. we'll as in serious depreciation of the value
OF slave property. But we believe that the "Rspub.
lican" does uniptentional Injustice to Mr.. Lstcber.-
We cannot think that he Is an advocate for the 70.
opening of the African slave trade. We venture to
ssy that be considers such q policy as disastrous ~
We believe it to be. And, If so. he certainly would
hesitate, be certainly would stop TO weigh doubts and
alternatives, 10 consider the question as affected by
all the tbep exciting circumstances, to count the cost.
moral and pecunisry, of attaching the fortunes of
Virginia to those OF a separate slave trading confede'
rso:.
ONcpFvSIONAJ DOMINATES