Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-07-08


ernor. So likewise do many others of the in
tense partisan papers. The case of fletcher.
although it may neither ''adorn q moral" nor
"point a tale" is yet something which conveys
alesson. The course of Hon. John Letcher on
the question Of slavery or no slavery in this
State, has been that of many others, even of
modern Virginia politicians. We took somc
:, pains tn show, the other day, what we're the
opinions of the Virginia fathers of the Repnb-
lie, on the question. We showed Tint Mr.
Letcfer had merely expressed what the concur
rent wisdom of Virgi:lias palmicst days Of
craftsmanship had expressed, concerning the
evil which n serflom and serf labor was to
our State. Orr readers are aware, however,
that SIR Letcher has retracted these senti-
ments expressed by him eleven years ago
lie finds it necessary 10 diSown them, OF sue
his proposed nomination melt away from
before shis eyes like the dew of morning.
Mr.. fletcher does not hesitate. For him
the doctrines of JefTerSor Madison, Monroe,
Marshal, wist, Randolph have no charms when
they embarass his plans of aggrandizement =
We ask, can such a tnan I've trusted? ought
such man 10 be elevated to the Governship of
this State? Look at the matter. John Letcher
was upwards of forty years of age when he en-.
dorsed the RuFner address. He was then in
his prime lie had full command of fully ma.
turcd faculties. He had read and heard and
observed great deal on the Institutions and
politics of the State and nation. And having
been all that he was eleven years, ago, he comes
forward and requests that the ''unnnswerable
arguments" Of DIR. Rutfner be published to the
world. We are bound TO presume that he was
sincere when he did this. Yet we are likewise
bound to presume that he is insincere in
the reversal which he avows, of his opinions. =
lie was, as we said, in the enjoyment ofthe full
measure of his intellectual resources-had had
the benefits of extended intercourse among the
dispulants on every side of the question dis,
cus$ed by DR.. RufFuer. 1t would he little short
of a phenomenon for man of this sort in the
sixth decade Of his life, to undergo thorough
change. Men do change-hnd change ma
teriaIy often, but few men niter maturity ever
exchange one set of opinions as a complete set
off to some others lie, 50 of at a moments warn
ing.
No, the truth is that John Lctcher is good
specimen of the terrible greed which the poll
ticiaus Of this State, in these hitter times, have
manifested for the flesh pots Give them the
''leeISs aud onion" and they will be ali ,hings
when required. Look at Huater--ouce a Wing.
I.uaIi-qt Mason, uniting in himsclf the inconsis-
tenries OF a blaek-ceckaIe federalistS and the
professions and distractions of ultra State
Sovereignty. Lnok at wise--nnce Whig-a
bitter one, too, then a radical democrat now
nondescript cross between a democrat and a
free soiler. Look at Faulkner, once almost in
ftllowship,with Northern abolitiuniStS, now
phatSee nf the straightest sect. Such are the
shifting phases of Virginia politics now-adnys.
One of which phases is visible in Mr.. John
Lctchyr.
TIM WEATHER AND CROPS IN EunoPE.-It
appears the weather has been equally as hot in
Europe as here. The London correspondent. of
the New York Commercial writes on the 18th
ult,:
Fora fortnight the heat has been extraorCii-
nary, and the day before yesterday the Their
,nnnct,,r IN the shade stood little unrler %
degs This is believed to I've beyond any former
experience iB the month of June. The conSe-
Oueuce is that we have the prospect of an carly
and abundant wheat harvest. As there was
fair amount. of rRin before the setting III of the
unusual warmth, the hay crops likewise promise
60 GcNery good From the continent the ac-
counts are of similar character, and there
seems to be well grounded hope, not only of
tine vintage, but also that there will be re-
cOvcry IN the silk crop.
TuE EAKruquAEp IN CoxxEcrrcrT- New
Haven Comm Courier, referring to the shock
ofan earthquake felt there on Wednesday,night,
says-:-
In Derby tie earthquake was felt perhaps
more sensibly than here. The houses, and even
the large stone actnries in Ansonia were shaken,