Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-11-30
for me EH2"uTf.
Democratic Meeting in Fluvanna-Failure Of the
Letcher Party.

Letcher Party.
At our last court day, the Democratic party as
selnbled for the purpose Of appointing delegates
to tho Convention to be held in Petersburg.
Due notice of the time and place for this
meeting had been given by the friends of Tctch.
or. who were confident Of Success and came
with their resolutions Of culogy and instruction
elaborately prepared and written out.
Ii is true this meeting was not a full one. but
the Letchcr party considered that il would fair
" and truly express the sentiments of the pro-
plt as we are bound in justice to them to in.
fer
The meeting was fairly organized. and COM
mittee of five was appointed by the chairman,
without reference to their preferences or opin-
iolls 4 majority of whom were accidentally the
friends of Lctchcr, to prepare business for the
action of the meeting. This committee retired
but few moments. and then appeared before
the meeting and reported among other resolu-
tions the following which had been prepared for
the occasion, and was just ready for publica-
ton, only awaiting the sanction Of the people
The resolutions read, that without designing
to tralnmcl our delegation with instructions As
to how they shall vote in any emergency in
said Convention, preierring to rely on their dis
creton, and upon the wisdom and patriotism
Of the assembled Democracy; nevertheless, VIC
deem it proper to express our entire confidence
in the soundncss and integrity Of John Lctchcr
as a Southern statesman. and our faith that his
able, Jealous and efficient services to Virginia,
the South, and the whole country. should cntitlc
his claims to any office in the gift of the people
of Virginia, to a favorable consideration, and
ought to have protected him from the repeated
assaults which have been made upon him. for
an error frankly admitted and long since atoned
for by his public services; which attacks we
deem unwiSe if not unjust; detrimental to the
harmony and success Of the Democratic party,
and rejecting upon Mr.. Lctchcrs constituency
the stronghold Of the Democracy Of Virginia"
To this resolution one Of the Committee
strongly protested; it was fully discussed and
| understood by the meeting: several substl-
tutcs were offered, all of which were either
voted down or withdrawn, and then fair vote
was taken and IL count had, with this result:
for the resolution, as reported. tcn against it.
seventeen.
You will observe. Messrs Editors. that it
was net intended to instruct. or in anywisc to
trammel our del,gation." but simply to
"s1prsss our entire confluence an the soundness
and integrity Of Join Letcher as Il Southern
statesman, so that this meeting not only did
not prefer Mr.. l.. as the candidate Of the party,
but actually refused to endorse him as sound
Southern statesman.
Did this meeting express the true sentiment
of the people of the county: The friends Of
| Mr.. Letcher cannot deny it. Smarting under
this defeat, and feeling scnsiby the unfortunate
prcdicamcnt in which they had placed their
favorite they moved that only so much of the
proceedings of the meeting he published as
were approved Of by it, (aarc nc from my
! friends ) to which the meeting consented.
| Deeming II just and proper that the full OK
preston of this meeting should bc published,
I / send you this account Of it. and request Il
| place in your columns.
In conclusion, We urge You onward in the
battle you wage against the politicians, and
the fearless position you have taken in behalf
Of the rights Of the people.
ONE OF TIE MEETING.