Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1858-07-06
From the Richm6rd South
M. Letthtf and the Iufinsr address.

s. rom the htE0WUNu HUHlU + &
mr.. Isichtf and the nuffrsr lddress.
We need not assure the Whigof our
detestation for the sentiments Of DR..
R,,yrxrR's address before tie Franklin
Society IN Lexington. va have never
sean TIA production, nor do we know any
thing OF its charactes beyond what mny
be inferred from the excerpts IN the Wlh,a
Of Yesterday. 1tiseyidently an atroc'otqs 8
libel on the social system of the South,
As well as a mos, unphilosophical and ~, !,
accurate representation Of The pelttlcal
and economical influences Of slavery.
unspcskable. then. is our surprise e
find 4 person Of Mr.. LsTctIEa's good
sense and sound principles approving an
ebullition of such intemperate spirit anu
mischierouseffeet. II IS 4 piece Of folly
for which we can scarcely venture an
apology, much less a justification.
EVERYBODY knows that rtihli The last
ten 81 fifteen years public oPiHiofI IN Fir-
ginia has been essentially modified IN res
Z Rect 10 slavery. The time was when very
lew people regarded i otherwise than Is
an evil 10 be endured mil Providence
should Indicate the mode Of its removal.
So snake Mr.. RtyEs in the Senate Of the
limited States, SO wrote RrfCBIt and
p1RAsANrs, and SO thought q vast major
nv ofpersons III The South teanWhilc
however, the attacks Of the a bolilionists
have provoked us 70 resistancs. y Tas
very soon, discovered that SLAVERY could
not be entrefched behind a breast wori
Of apologies. Either the SoHtf mus
abandonThe institution or else establish !
upor, some more impregnable position. y
Under the spur Of this necessity thlnklngg
men were driven 70 explore The fophd''
tons Of slavery, will, the view of lascelr-
tanning IL ii might be maintained upof
prineiple. The result Of their researehe,
Is visible in the present diTectionlof pub:
Elic opinion The authority 4of tradition
is discredited. the prejudice d the pastre-
pudia.ed and instead oflinnid excuses fol
slavery, The living generation of Southern
men. defend the institution on grounds o
intrinsic propricty and absolute benefit
History records not 4 more signal reform
alton IN public opinion, H is anothel
testimony 10 the indestructible vitality o
truth.
If Mr.. LErcHER ever entertained thu
ideas Of slavery promulgated III DR.. RrFF
sER,s address. the presumption i that they
we're the involuntary impressions Of pre-
YailiDg prejudice, rather than the DELHI
crate conclusions OF his own judgment
We hare the evidence Of ipcontestibl'
| facts to warrant the assertion that hi,
present opinions are above suspicion
\ much more reproach.
II But. we5do not allow that, Dir, LETcBEl
/ intended To endorse DR.. RuYgsER's anti
slavery sentiments. Truce the tette
10 which his name is attached very dis
Etinclly adopts the conclusions Of the ad
dress; bit we all know how much sucl
Invitations are a mere mater Of form. =
-IMr. LErcIlER may have heaFd The dis
course. its logical power mai hare, I'M
! pressed him. andMlilc under rs lniittl'
Il spcc he was doubtless induced 20 solicit
\ It's publication. An 'tliis may hare oc'
| cured. without implying on hls part az
4 intentional endorsement Of Il dIatrab(
a,tainst slavery. The letter WIS evident
liz prepared, BIZ S. Med. MookE--7a good
! Win whom our neigtbor hasasince de.
lIiaLted ID honor. was presented TO Mr.
! LgrcuER, and perhaps signed bY him IN
| utter ignorance ofits contents It's thus
! that people habituaily put theft mines &c
such notes of formal compliment. !,
+ AS we are responding 10 The Hhi9 in I
Spirit Of the utmost unreserxe, we vii
frankly own this TO be an embarrassing
business for Mr.. LETcuER' sffriends. Fol-
\ ourselves, we have no nistrustof his &
ldelity 10 the South. however much W.
may regret the circumstance Of his con
Injection with Dir. RuFFSER's address
But others may not appreciate him s.
fjus,Iy: and it is due to himself, the par
fty and the State, that he at once disatos
athe heresies of that abominabie produc
iti9n. JoBN LErcBkR is not "a man Q
lIconcealmellts, and the Wig may be as
lIsured thatIhe willlrespond to the publ
depreciation with lis habituals prompt
l|tude and candor.