Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-11-16
VOICE OF TRhNs-ALLEaHANY.

over last year.
For the Enquirer.
VOICE OF TRANs-ALLEGHANY.
Mcssrs. Editors:-Ncarly all the counties in
Trans-Alleghany have held their county con,
vcntions, and have appointed their delegates to
the Petersburg Gubernatorial Convention; and,
with but one or two exceptions, these conveTi-
tions have been unanimous in expressing their
preferences for the Hon. John W. Brocken-
hrougl. 1t is thus plainly evident that Judge
Brockenbrough is the choice OF the "esteFa
part Of this State, by u decided majority; he Is
also popular in the Valley, and, but Tor Mr.,
L.ctcler's premature nomination by "'rtdm"-
ton q by a few interested ones, he would how
be tie candidate of that section Of our State.
As the matter now stands, however. tits plainly
to be seen that Easierm Virginia, that portion
of our State the most deeply and the most VI
tally Interested in the elevation Of u man hav.
ing q clean record on the slavery question:
say, it is plainly to be seen, SIZE holds the bal
ance Of power in her hands; that the contest
will be decided by the vote Of her delegates III
the nominating Convention. Whoever the Ea"t
goes for, will get the nomination, and, as = mat
ter Of course, the election.
The Democracy of the West, therefore, llav-
ing presented, Us a candidate for nomination,
and having strongly sustained, in their primary
conventions, Judge Brockenbrough. 4 man
every way qualified for the Gubernatoria
chair-a man of character and talent; Il man
who possesses Il record on the slavery question
free from objection; 4 ma who has atcays
been "sound to the core" on this point; in fine.
a man whose whole career will stand the most
scrutinizing inyestigation-the Democracy OF
the Vest having presented such Il man, now
appeals to the Democracy Of the East to second
their efforts, and to stand by them in this con-
test; and not only to stand by them, but TO
stand by and for themselves, their principles
and their own %pecuniary interests.
1t has been tauntingly charged by some OF
the Richmond papers, that the Vest Is I'M
sound on the negro question, and one OF them
recently remarked that it had been somewhat,
of late, "indoctrinated' with Eastern sonnd-
ness, by means of public works, which have
never vet reached us. and one of which is ap-
proxilnating towards Il fashionable terminus at
the Springs. If the Wcst has etrr shown I'M
soundness, does it show it nor. when it repn-
dates one Of Virginia's prominent sons, be-
CuuSc llc, IA llHCo pINt, lSpuhiotNN D"N 'N'
cherished institutions: Is il not the dHfy OF
the East, to aid the West, in defeating the no.
mination of John Lctcher, who, in 1871,
when the spirit Of abolitionism was most
rifc-when the notorious proviso OF VIII
mot, of Pennsylvania, was the watciword Of
the enemies Of our institutions, and when the
abolition Of slavery in the District OF Co.
lumbia, and the abolition Of the slave trade
between the States, was demanded by North
crn fanaticS-and who was then found, not
only endorsing the RuiIncr pamphlet, but aiding
in the elevation of 4 WING emanci pationist. IN
that same Tenth Legion" which is now
claimed to he almost unanimous in his favor
does the course pursued by the Democracy of
tho Vest, in opposing such a mans nomina
ton, indicate M~nsoundneSs on their part? And,
is not the proper course for the East TO pursue
in the premises, plainly indicated: Has the
East forgotten, that no longer ago than 1851,
Mr.. Lctcher, in the Reform Convention, stlg-
matizcd the inhabitants Of Eastern virginia.
as the ".Nfyroocrucy,' and said that they had
but "onc iIea," and that was, a negro?
We are in the midst of u spirited contest
throughout the nation, involving this question
"A contest which has resulted disastrously to
the Democracy in several Statcs-and, is ii
right, is it prudent, is il just, is it wise, is 1t
polite, to elevate to the Chair Of State, in the
Old Dominion, a man who has ever entertained
such sentiments Us Mr.. Lctcher has? Would
it be doing justice TO our sister Southern States:
Would they not question our loyalty to the
South? Would We not bc aiIording laid and
comfort" TO Northern Black Republicanism:
Is it prudent to allow personal prcjudices, and
p~artizan zeal, to blind us to our private and
public interests?
These questions arc deserving Of considera-
ton. and it behoovcs the East. from the stand
point they present, to give the subject due de-
liberation, and not to commit itself hastily
and rashly to Mr.. Lctchcr's nomination; and the
more especially so, as the West has presented
to her u man who has always advocated Virgil
MIA doctrines and Southern rights, who is a
consistent Democrat, who need refer to no
dates to show his soundness, save the date Of
his majority; and who, Ssul-likc, is a "hcad
and shoulders" above his opponent, whose
soundness is Of recent date. The East has also
been presented with the names of other good
men and true" from the West, who are not
unknown to fame"-lIon. Henry A.. Edmund
son, Judge Hopkins, William Smith, Of Green.
bricr, and others. Democrats of the East, if
you do not now avail yourselves of this oppor-
tunity to support a man of your own faith on
the slavery question, you must ever after hold
your peace; your lips must be scaled; You
must cast no more insinuations against the
people West of the Blue Ridge, as being IN
sound on the slavery question; and il You do
not improve the opportunity you must not
blame the West, if they effectively Use your
own artillery against you. ALIQCoD.
KAxAwmA COURTHOUSE, Nov'r 8, 1853.