Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-07-10
tate for our worst enemy, and much less for
Cur valued friends ofthe Enquirer We on


tate for our worst enemy, and much less for
cur valued friends Of the Enquirer We on
lymean that if suc7. q 6dN is to be rolled
and they insistupon it, in spite of our adj
vice to the contrary, that they may have
the priyilegeof going alone. We'beg the
Enquirer to reflect for moment what d.
minutive Procrustean h'undle- bed this is on
which to stretch the gigantic form Of the
National Democracy what immense and
noble limbs will have to be Topped off from
the giant to shave him down to a fitting
condition for this baby couch We will say
nothing Of The illustrious Jefferson and q
hest OF Revolutionary worthless nothing Of
The millions Of our Northern friends-but
now would the Enquirer bear the reproach-
ful look OF The ghost Of its own distinguished
founder when his noble form shall be sew
cred from the mangled body Of the Demcc-
racy under tie operation Of the iron rule
The fact is. every fairminded man must adj
nit the justice and truth Of Mr. Letcher's
historical reference, when he says that cat
that day CHE date Of the RufIner pamphlet
such an opinion Gas he then entertained)
was held By large number Of the citizens
fIirginia On both sides of the Blue Ridge. ,
We never entertained such an opinion our
selves, but we protest against the tyranny
and injustice Of making it a test Of fitness
for Office
But the Enquirer says, and 50 does the
Spectator, Mr. Summers was prescribed for
the same opinions then held by Mr.. Letch-
or, and consistency requires Mr.. Letcher's
condemnation at The hands Of the Demo-
cratic party. We reply, first, that princi-
pie and justice should never be sacrificed to
consistency But second, that Mr.. Sum
mers' position was very different from Mr.
letcher's, in two respects, at least. lie
was member Of the Virginia Legislature,
ard as such used al his influence to bring
about the abolition Of slavery in the State
by means oflegislation Mr.. Letcher was
a private individual when be entertained
The opinion that slavery was social and
political evil he took no action on that O.
pinion-but before he came into public life
had taken the pains to investigate the sub
jet we'll aud TO discover his error. Another
marked difference between Mr.. fletcher and
Mr.. Summers is, that the former has always
been q consistent member Of party re.
markable for its nationality, and especially
for the tenacity with which it insisted on
the rights Of the South under the Constitu-
ton. The latter was always an equally
consistent member Of a party remarkable
at that day for it's Northern proclivities ana
affiliations, and always suspected by its ad-
versaries Of anti-slayery feeling It was,
therefore, quite natural that tho conspicg-
Gus part Mr. Summers had acted, in the at
tempt TO abolish slavery in Virginia, should
inspire the friends Of the South with alarm
when he came forward candidate for the
highest Office in the State. We are inclined
to think, too, that Mr.. Summers, in early
life, went a bow shot beyond Mr.. Letcher,
and looked upon slavery as a moral evil as
we'll as social and political one.