The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-09-30
LEXINGTON, Va, Sept. IL. 1853.

LEXINGTON, Va, Sept. Is, 1853.
Shall Slavery be perpetuated in Western
Virginia? La the matter of the election of a
candidate for the Office of Governor of Virginia
on the Democratic side, this constitutes the
main abstract issue; and upon it we have two
of our leading Western Democrats Letcher and
Judge Brockenbrough-ar in direct oppo-
sition to each other; the former representing the
negative side of this question; the latter, the
affirmative side. Both these gentlemen are
residents of this town, and peculiarly adapted
to the relative capacities herein assigned them,
inssmuch as they were the champions of oppo-
site sentiments on the Slavery question. when
it was revived by the delivery of the Ruffner
Abolition address in l847, and It's endorsement
by Letcher. The issue is understood to be
fairly made by the people of this section and
be assured that neither side can suffer BY the
character of its representative; for perhaps,
the State could not produce two men less OBJ
noxious upon mere party grounds, or even in
social point of view, than these are. Geo.
graphically, they occupy the same position so
that there is no obstacle to fair test upon this
issue in the persons of both these gentlemen.
know the fact, that the Methodist Church
IN Western Virginia is exerting its influence
vigorously in behalf of Letcher; but for this
the increased efforts which that fact will in
fuence among the Pro.Slavery advocates in
Eastern Virginia. At first, Letcher's recants-
ton of the Anti.Slavery sentiments which he
uttered during che Ruffner address controversy
in l847 abated the zsal of that powerful agent
in his behalf; but it was subsequently aroused
by the persistence of his competitors for the
nomination, in making his Slavery sentiments
in l847 the grounds of his rejection. They are
now hard at work to secure his nomination and
election ard should they succeed, the prestige
Of the Pro-Slavery cause in Western Virginia
will be broken, and the decay and early disap.
pearance of the peculiar institution" from
that section may well be looked for.
Nor are the exertions of the Methodist church
limited to the trans-Alleghany region, where q
broader latitude of opinion on the Slavery
question is tolerated. The theatre of their
operations extends over the valley, and even to
tide.water. The non.slaveholding population
in these latter sections is deemed as pliable
material, and as susceptible of this religious
irauence, as that inhabiting the co ordinate Sec
ton in the West. The church has its emissa-
ries in all sections of the State and the con-
fraternity in Maryland is acting the part of an
auxiliary in this conflict.
Letcher maintains the most perfect silence
under the repeated charges made upon him by
the Opposition press, in connection with the
Ruffner pamphlet This, it is understood, he is
doing advisedly, that he may avoid the forfeit
ure of a support so formidable as this popular
sect could bring to bear upon him. 1t was the
admonition suggested by this consideration
that induced the abandonment of an expressed
purpose on his part, through his organ, the
Star, published in this town, to reply to the
statements of DR.. Ruffner, charging upon him
an unqualified endorsement of his address, both
as delivered and published One more disa-
vowal would estrange that important aid from
his cause and he therefore adopted the say
nothing plan as the most effective.
Of the progress of this conflict nothing will
be definitely known before the nominating
Convention assemblies, which will be either in
November or December. Speculation will of
course be rife, but, under the secret System of
operations pursued, scarcely enough of taugi-
BILE data will be afforded upon which to base
anything like correct opinion Corr. ~ T.
Times.