Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-03
TIT N6 EHY"Wrf
EFFECT OF LETCHERs NOMINATION IN 1850

EFFECT OF LETCHERs NOMINATION IN 1850
McSSrS. Editors Prominent Wings and
Know.Nothings in this city and elsewhere,
make no secret Of their preference for John
Lrtchcr, over all other Democrats, as the nonl-
ince Of the Democratic party. This preference
is not dictated by any considerations affecting
the Guhcrnatorial contest in Virginia, for q
Democratic victory is inevitable in any event,
but is based upon the more important conSide-
ration. that the selection of John Lctchcr
would furnish ample justification for their sup
port Of a Black Republican in 1860. This they
make no secret of, nor can il he denied that
this motive Of preference is plausible and we'll
founded
Apart from any such justification as this
would afford we have had within the past few
months. Il distinct foreShadowing Of the plir-
poses of that party TO support q Black Repuh-
can in 1850. The Lynchburg "Virginian," of
yesterday, expresses a desire to see John
Lctchcr nominated by the Petersburg Conven-
ton. for two reasons: ''The one is, that he is
gentleman and true Tirginian; and the other
that We desired to see stop put to the ever
lasting cry about slavery, which seems TO be
All inevitable necessity Of every election we
have, State or Federal. IF the Democracy
nominate Mr.. I.etchcr it will hardly lie in
their mouths to repeat the old game Of i'm
pcaching the fidelity to slavery of the oppoS-
ton candidate, at the same time that they pro-
claim the superior reliability and soundness Of
their own
Here ls clear Indication of the motives
which dictate the preference Of the opposite
party for Lctcher over all other Democrats
inl - J.. mot ,l,p. IN T;ro;r;, tb,t ,rn hall
hear of IctcherS nomination presented by that
party as n plea Of justification for their sup
port Of Black Republicanism II will he
echoed throughout the South. and the influ.
ence Of such an example will he the more
disastrous. since it will come from 4 State and
Il party who have always cvinccd a characters
tic zeal in behalf of Southern institutions. See
what the effects would bc at the North. of such
a disregard for our own rights and interests as
the nomination Of John Ictchcr would imply.
We recognize in the concession of full and
free enjoyment Of our peculiar rights by
Northern Democrats, the chief element which
has impaired to the Democratic party its ma
tional character. &low can we look for an ar
tive support in the future from our brethren at
the North, if We ourselves prostitute the very
principle which is the essential basis of unity,
How can we upbraid them with inidelity in
the future, when we 50 far forget what is due
to our own best interests, as to nominate Il man
who hut ten years ago endorsed ant,slavcry
doctrines more odious than ever Seward or
Greeley proclaimed. 1t would bc an ncon-
sistcncy little less criminal than the vacillatng
course Of Lctcher in reference to Gov Wise
Every consideration Of party unity as we'll as
the interests of the South forbid the selection
Of u man like John Letchcr, in whose record is
combined all that is obnoxious to the South.
and dangerous as a precedent in the future.
CONSISTENCY