Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-10
gy Exchanges please notice.
Hon John Le!eiler and the Richmond
EnNUirera

rxtR- EAcuinScS Please Hotlcc.
Hon. JOHN Le!eiler and the Richmond
Enquirer.
The Enquirer justly designates the late
letter from Mr.. Letcher in reply to the
Ruffner charges as frank, manly and o
pen," but strangely adds, 'swhether this
letter is satisfactory or not, remains for the
People Of Virginia to say" Can the En-
quirer doubt that the people Of Virginia
will be satisfied with frankness, manliness.
and openness When has such a course
failed to satisfy them Yet the language
Of the Enquirer would seem to indicate a
doubt. Let the Enquirer make itself per-
fectly easy on this subject. If there is q
people on earth who duly estimate and love
frank, manly and open course" they
arc the people Of Virginia. They will not
regret with the Enquirer, that Mr. Lotch-
-er did not publicly renouncc all sympathy
with the principles Of the Rufner pam
phlet' as he discovered the imposition prac-
tiscd on him. They will remember that it
is not Mr.. Letcher's fashion, even now that
he is in public life, to make an unnecessary
parade of his purity, and will properly ap-
preciate the motives Of a young man, and q
private gentleman, in supposing that his
sentiments were not matter Of sufficient pub
lie interest to be paraded in the newspapers
'or proclaimed from the stump. They will
decide that in such controversy, between
young man and a gray-headed and rever-
end Father Of the Church, 'pious and tai
cntcd" as the Enquirer admits, the most
becoming course for Mr.. Lctcher was qui-
city to indicate his disapproval-as he did
They will conclude that it never entered
Mr.. Lctcher's head to imagine that the ''pi-
Gus and talented author had been guilty Of
''an Infamous forgery" or was Cost to cv-
cry sense of propriety' because in remod
cling his address for publication, he inter
polated into it sentiments which he (Dr.
Rufncr) approved, and which, with the
feeling Of paternity that belongs to author
ship, be supposed would add to, instead of
detracting from the merit Of his book. Nor
will they condemn Mr.. fletcher for suppos-
ing, in charity, as he doubtless did, that a
mere unconsidered indiseretion and not a
black hearted crime, had been committed
We have no fears Of the judgment the peo-
pie will pass upon the whole conduct of
Mr.. I4etcher in reference to this matter.
They will regard it not only a frank,
manly and open,' but as modest, unpre-
tending and generous. The Enquirer ap-
peals s'to all fairnlinded and candid men, if
Sfr. Letchcr is not exoncratcd from the
charge of approving this published pam
phlet of DR.. Rufner.'
But the Enquirer rccurs to Mr. Letcher's
letter at a subsequent time, and after all he
had said before, surprises his readers with
the announcement that he is not satisfied
1--WE accepted Mr.. Letcher's explanation,
says the Enquirer, ''of his connection with
the Rufner pamphlet, because we were
bound to believe Dir. fletcher, when he al
leges that the pamphlet as published, was
different from the address" Sc. owe are
not satisfied with Mr.. Lctcher's ayowal Of
anti-slavery sentiments in 1917. The a.
vowal was open, frank and manly, but does
not alter the responsibility that viii rest
upon the Democratic party should any paas,,
be nominated who ercr entertained anti
slavery sentiments This is not cnmity to
Mr. Letcher, but friendship to the Demo-
cratic party, and under this one broad rule
all such nominations equally come"
Thus the scat is fairly out Of the bag"
The Enquirer is opposed, tooth and toe nail,
to Mr.. Letchcr's nomination for Governor.
Not because Of any suspected completely
with the Ruffncr pamphlet--not because Of
any antislavery sentiment Of his-his pres
ent fidelity to slavery the Enquirer admits
is unimpeachable solely on the ground
that no man should be nominated who erer
entertained anti-sisvory sentiments. Mr..
Letchcr says in his letter sAt The time Of
the publication Of that address, [ state frank
~, that I did regard slavery as social and
political evil Ibid not reytrd il hhe4 Of
since as 1aosM erlz, for was at that time,
have been ever since, and am now, the
owner Of slave property BY purchase and
not by inheritance Thea the Enqurer
means by "anti-slavory scntibiellt8" ihe ab-
etract nrininn nnunr acted o. LIZ siANnrH