Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-10-26

| By R!TCHlE. DUNNAVhNT, TYLER WISE
TUEsDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 20
THE LAST BUNCOMBE DEMONSTRATION
INFAvOR OF MR. LETCHER-IrS AMOUNT
| AND EFFECT.
| The little clique OF politicians who have been busy
for the last two years in eDdeavorng to fOresta public
opinion in favor of Mr. John I.etcher, candidate
for the Governorship, are certainly we'll organized
Every possible resort OF al capandum demonstration
and specious management has at length been eI
hsusted. The almost simultaneous endorsement o.
Mr.. Letcher by some three or four county meetings
have been ratified off much in the ofa French
eu de the sound OF "csnnons initiated on the
keys of piano forte in school girl executions Of the
"Ba,tle of prsgue." Srraghlway, Mr.. Le,cher's me
tropolitan organ sings an ode TO the tune OF "Tht
voice Of the people" and Lstcheres generally catch
up The chorus if the management of politicians r
ahandful Of counties we're an imperative msndate to
be obeyed per force By the people OF the State.
| This Buncombe is indeed pushed to the verge Of
arrsnt humbug and instead of creating serous
"impression" 10 favor of Mr.. Letcher, even among
the time who have hitherto awaited the turn
ing Of the tide, hos only given rise to alterations OF
Nor is this all. The intrguers are fact getting them
sslves into trouble. Even among fair minded .nen
WHO the true personal and political friends of Mr..
Ls,cber, hs critical position is appreciated more
than ever before. This is amply demonstrated by
the late action Of the meeting in Rockingham. Here
it WAS found necessary. while expressing prefer
ence for Mr. Lstcher, to exclude the conclusion Of
sympathy with his previous opinions Oh the slavery
question, by coupling the resolution in his favor with
one ustifying the institution Of slavery az "norsl
good" Indeed We shall not be surprised, If this
frank acknowledgment results in resolutions in other
counties protesting directly against the nomination
of Mr.. Letcher
But in The midst Of ths disgust go generally evinced
at the absurd boasing of Ls:chsre politicians our
neighbor the Examiner" ia all at once ex-rcised'
With the sudden conviction bst Mr. Lecher il BOT on
y ilused man. but very likely indeed to be elect
ed by acclamaon in the State Convention. So sudden
and violent hs, been the shock, that contemporary
seems 10 have been driven involuntary from its de-
-umsd neutrality, and to have forgotten even the
mpartislity requisite to jas; statement OF existing
acts. Witness the following article, extracted from
Fridays "EIsminer':
The GUBEREATORIAL CONTEST IN VIRGINIA.
The bitter parllzHn feeling which marked The
earlier esges of the contest tor the nomination of
the Democratic Guberna;orisl Convention, in this
State, s glad to obs.rve, rapidly disappearing,
and besithy tone Of public sentiment is sprnging
up in its place.
il is evident at glance that although all the canG-
dates have warm and devoted friends lhe prospecis
nf the nomination of JOHS LETcHER are Of the most
natteripg character. His popularity, originally great
be, II ncrensed by the unwise, unjust and ground
!ess assaults which have be~n mad upon him by one
or TWO Democratic papers in this ) a'e.
There is strong sense OF Justice, fairness, and
humanity IN the breast ot every man, which is out
ragged by the persecution of an honest, abIs and
faithful public servant The attempt TO excommuni
cate Mr.. LETcHER, and the fact that he has been
singled out from all the candidates for special de-
nuucistion, has greatly increased his popularity with
the hoDest musses Of the party. This, added TO his
life long services TO the Democratic party, and the
wide reputation for integrity and ability won by him
member Of Congress, have placed him far before
all the sther candidates tor the GubernatOral nom-
| nation. We are daily furnished with evidences OF
the fact that there is portion OF the State where
hia popularity s not great and increasing
Our readers will remember that some weeks since
deprecated the attempts Of a fsw partisan cppo-
nents 10 make capital out of the Rufner pamphlet, az
';'- ,ere..~1 endorsstions - - IL IL
cy of slavery in Congress- rendered the charge Of an
slavery sentiments too absurd and ludicrous 10 re-
auire grave refu.ston. The view of the matter
seems to have been taken by the Democracy of those
portions ofthe State where the people most deep
| y interested in slavery Internationally, OF all the
candidates. Mr.. Le'oh-r is the most popular in East
Virginia. This is not denied by the few partisan op
poaents who stll continue to sssail him. in spite OF
their assaults increasing his popularity. II the friends
Of any of the other candidates have been parties to
the unkind and unnatural war which has been wsged
upon Mr.. Lstcher, they have made grave mistake
and mistakes in politics are little less than crimes
Looking, we do, 20 the success OF our pnrty and
not 10 the triumph Of this or OF that candidate. We
| have more than once commended the conciliatory
zone of the friends o: Mr. Lstcher. With every in
ducement to wage an aggressive war; they have acted
ON the defensive repepg unjust attacks but never rs
sailing other candidate Their course has been worthy
Of the Democracy Of Virginia in its beat days, and they
are reapng the deserved reward OF their discretion
and patriotism in the rapidly increasing strength o.
their candidate. Should the present prospects Of Mr.
Letchers nomination Lot prove fallacious, 1t vii!
read those who have ass,iled him wholesome lesson
It will teach them that Democratic candidate for
the nomination ofa convention shoud not be assaleo
by his party, where his life has been spent II
vindication and deienceof that partys principles. II
will teach them the sbsurdity OF trumping up e1plo
ded and forgotten charges against men whose repeat
edendorss;ions by the Democracy and whose brilliant
services have long sucs stoned for early and harm
lsss indiscreiobs. II will teach anonymons sssail
| ants that the favore champion of the ever faithful
| Tenth Legion cannot bs crushed by enemies wboat
| motives and whore names are alike concealed froU
the party.
Without designing 10 become the psrtizan frent
Of MIR. Lstcber or Of any Of the other candidates
We deem it duty, as faithful chronclers OF pass
ing svents' to ray that from present appearances w
anticipate the nomination of Mr.. Letcher upon th'
first balo-if indeed the formslity of ballot shal
bs required"
Now We positively deny that any Zone or two De
mocra;c papers in ;his Slate" have been engaged il
| ..np t,fc Nr Late
or. We challenge the Examiner" to specify h
Democratic papers to which it refers, well as Il
produce evidence to support the charge thus prefer
red against them. This thing Of empty assertion ha
gone too far already among Mr.. Lstcher's advocates
Face the music, gentlemen. Present your charge
in form in which they can bs met.
For the frat time, We informed that the oppo'
nens Of Mr.. Letchers nomination "do not deny tha
Mr.. Lecher is "uuquestionably" the most popular
candidate "n Eastern Virginia" As among "the fe1
partizal opponents go dim,a4iuely otjurgated bJ
the Examiner" We desire 10 place our denial ON the
record. We deny most emphatically, in view of a!
the Information which has reached us from every
quar.-r that Mr.. Lstcher is the fret choice, or th
secon! choice the choice at all of Eastern Virginia
and We consider the "Examner's" boast as empty a
any che OF the 6ltDar lnslances OF ordsHauocia WIN
which Mr.. Lstcher's friends have amused the public
Indeed we do not believe that Mr. Lscher can carr!
the united strength Of any one congressional distrc
in Es.te.n Virginia. So much for the "Exsminer'd
Eastern boast.
Now will that paper deny that large majority o
Western Virginia s decidedly opposed TO Mr.. Latch
er1 Our own calculation is that Mr.. Le;cher will los
ay.rv J;strict in Trana-A AlIaphany and will carry
but single one in the Valley.
But the best joke of oil, ID the Examiners" coo
endorsement of the "conciliatory E!ll tone Of tn
friends of Mr.. Leteher." This ia piling the sgon.
entirely too high. When Mr.. Faulkner has beer
sbuse4 like pick pocket, when this abuse has evei
! L...x .-.-.i..od To annsa- In ali ita In ih