Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-07-23
For The Enquirer.
MIR. I.ErCnER AND HIS ADVOCATES.


would override all opposon and foresaI public opin
ion throughout the State. bad calculation. II has
only had the effect of consolidating against Mr. Lsich.
all the immediate friends OF every other espirani
for the nomination.
Mr.. Lechsr's advocates insist especially on sec.
tional distribution Of candidates, and on this ground
urge the claims of the Valley TO the governorehip.-
But little examination shows that this preext is by
no means incontestible True the Valley has had no
Governor under the new Constitutions but Mr. Letch.
is far from being the only candidate or even the
best candidate to BIZ selected from the Valley. And
Piedmont has had no Governor under the new Con.
stitufon. Moreover, the Valley has now and doubt.
less would like to retain in office Messrs Tucker and
Calvert, the Attorney General aud Treasurer of the
Commonwealth. Piedmont has nothing at all among
the high offices of the State Is then, the Valley to
bold three high offices next mel Or shall Mr.. Tuck
er and Mr.. Calvert be displaced to make room for
Mr.. Letcher1
And these same advocates oi Mr.. Letcher's nomi.
nation were lately very prone to assa the fidelity OF
men ln high places to the Ips.tuon Of slavery. I'm.
mediatey it appears on Mr. Lstchers own confession,
that he wae an avowed aboitlonlst no longer ago
than l847 upon which, becoming bis own advocate
Mr.. Lstchsr himself insnuates that the whole State
was shsky on the question at the time he being only
Of the multitude. But little reflection convinces
everybody that this time was only eleven years ago,
when the whole State Of Virginia as sound as it
ia now the slavery question: and after the greatest
minds of the whole country had thoroughly exhausted
he subject In long series Of able and learned discus
sions our national councils, which had 6Ied the at
tentiOu Of an entire people.
Mr.. Letchers advocates then cry out tha. this CO.
CURED during his "earer years. Now II Mr.. Letch.
shall even succeed in reaching the longevity OF
three score years and teu it will appear that be was
we'll Oh the shady side Of life when he endorsed an
abolition address.
Agsn We are told thatthis is "HoNEsr John Letch-
er," 50 honest that hs past errors by no means
To h.t ,uh mat III W
Mr. Lectcher obtain this Sonbr'qustl VIII his hdvo-
cs,es inform TO the time, manner, and occasion
of the prefix Ifweare rightly informed, it was won
by series Of political gyratons which would seem 10
render it q iucus Mcendo. Take one example:
when bill for the conversion Of per diem
into fixed salary was pending attention was called
10 the fact that similar measure had nearly proved
fatal to many politicians, even TO Henry Clay among
others, come thirty odd years before. MIR. Letcher
took warning and opposed the fixed salary bill with
might and main; bis conscience would not permit
him to regard it otherwise than unconstitutional II
not absolutely currupt. The bill became law, and
Mr. Letcher chose 10 shelter his conscience behind
that of his constituents. He went home and caused
irregular polls to be opened where il should be deei-
ded whether "hones, John Letcher" should pocke,
his salary. OF course there was an unanimous athr-
native; thus Mr.. Lecher eased his conscience and
drew his salary. Do HONEST men resort to paltry
devices and transparent demago9uism like this
The Richmond South" has avowed itself the most
srdent advocate of Mr.. Lstchers nomination. The
South" is not more fortunate than its cOmpeers. In
late number il ventures TO assert that those per
sons who consider Mr.. Lstcber's availability i'm
paired by bis abolition precedents. are playing an
'.insidious" part. Now, if the most emottered op'
position to candidate Ia to be denounced az IN.
sdious," certainly Mr.. John Letoher is to be de-.
scrbed al the most 'insidous' OF politicians BE
fore the meeting of the Convention OF 1884 Mr..
Lstcher openly denounced Mr. Wise as unht for the
nomination. because of bis having voted against
Martin Van Buren in lS4U-because Mr. Letcner at
f=cted to doubt his Democratic orhodoIy-and, es'
,,eciaiy because Mr.. Wise had written severe letter
against Know. Nohngism, which Mr.. Lecher pre-
tended would render him On unavailable candidate -
Not only this. AFTER THE NOMINATION. WAS MADE,
Mr.. LETcHER Is KNOWN TJ HAVE DENOUNCED THE
DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, ASD REPEATEDLY To HAVE
PREDICTED HIS DEFEAT. And although he yielded
reluctant support TO the ticket The could not oppose
it in the face Of the Teuh Legion the nature OF this
support may bs judged from the fact that he has since
boastad OF having carefully avoided using the name
Of the Gubernaioral candidate, from the hustings
so much for the attempt to brow-beat the opponents
cf Mr.. Letcher's nomination.
The South" is equally unfortunate in another at
:empt at Mr.. Letcher's assistance. 1t proposes 10
couple with his nomination get of strong pro slavery
resolutions, sufficient 10 deny the imputaon of any
completely ofthe Democratic party with Mr.. Letoher 8
abolition antecedents Has il come to this Is Vir
ginia Democracy 80 hard pushed that it must need
bolster up it's candidate with last extremity resolu-
tonsl Most assuredly, that cock won't fight.
But the last sud most pitiabe attempt to vludicate
Mr.. Letchers loyalty to the institutions OF the State
is exhibited in reproduction by The South, OF the
following article taken from the 'Valley Star
.mR. LErcHER's ACTION IN THE REFORM coNvEN-
Tfoh.
"Snce the assaults have been made upon MIR. Lstch
ers fidelity to the State and her Institutions We have
been looking into the journal Of the Convention, to
sce whether any thing could be- found on its pages,
which could BIZ tortured into evidence Of want
of reliability the slave question on bis part. That
examination confirms fully bis statement made in his
letter to "The South" and must prove satisfactory
even to those who most disposed to caviling and
fautfnding.
"On the 9th day of February, 1851 Mr.. Hunter
of Jtfferson introduced resolution, in the following
worda.
"Rssoved, That committee Of five be appointed
by the Chair whose duty it shall be to consider and
report at early day ss practicable, what lmlta-
tions upon the powers Of the several departments o
the government, or guarantees 10 other form, may
ba expedien to insert in the new or amended consti
tntion with special reference 20 the subjects oil pro-
viding ample and efecual protection and security 10
the slave interest and of guarding against the abuse
or unjust exercise Of the tax laying and revenue ap
propristing powers of the Government.
"rhis resolution was adopted, and on the next day
the President announced the committee, consisting oi
'Messrs. Hunter. Letoher, Smith, OF Greenbrer,
Carter, Of Loudoun, and Monoure. see JOURNAL
page l4l.
"This important committee comprised four white
basis men and one mixed basis man. and the second
name the list is that of Mr.. Letcher On the lin
of March the committee made their report, and or
page l54 of the journal this entry will be found viz
MIR Hunter, from the committee to whom was re
ferred the subject Of providing for limitations upor
the powers OF The various departments OF the govern
meut with special reference to the protection OF the
slave interest," and guarding against the abuse of the
tax laying and revenue.appropratlng powers OF INT
government, presented areport, whcb, on bis motion
was laid upon the tabs and ordered to be printed.
ION reference to the report We and the first sector
10 these words:
"'That the right of property is before and higbe
than any legal sanction. The right of the owners
slaves, as it exists in this Commonwealth, is as IN
vio!abe as the right of the owner OF any other pro
perty and the Legislature shall not by any act or de
vice. destroy or impair this right without the consen
of the owner
"And the 7th section of the report declares,
"'No amendment to this Constitution, hereafter Il
be made, shall in any manner affect the first section
this article.
"Thess extracts leave no room for doubt az to th
position occupied by the members Of the committee
in regard to the question Of slavery in this Common
wealth.
"They we're disposad TO protect the institution ant
remove it from legislative action and interference a.
rected to the destruction or the mparlpg OF the rgn
in and to slave property.
Now this partial extract from Mr.. Letcher's record
in the Reform Convention, goes just far enough L
place before the people Justification OF MS wnoi
record, and msntests either an ignorance OF fh'
record, or deliberate indifference TO the interests
saye property in Virginia. Mr.. Letcher was, indeed
a member of the committee, from whose report th
above extract was taken-but the record shows tha
Mr.. Lstcber did not approve the exemption recon-
msnded by that report Tor the protection OF s!sv'
property from undue taxation. Still more was be op
posed to the more eectus protection extended to th'
same species of property by the Constitution, Is finally
adopted.
The report Of this committee on limitations and re
striction. recommended the exemption from taxation
of all slaves under - years Of age.
| The report Of the Legislative Committee suos'an
TALLY recommended in the lst section OF the 4th artl
cle that all slaves should be taxed equally with othe
property.
The amendment of the committee Of the whole
proposed to strike out this section and amend by e1
.motng all slaves under II years of age and taxing
other slaves to the came amount assessed on s'oo
| land.
In Convention, on the l7th July. 1851 tsee journal
page 32s on the motion to strke out the lst sec.ot