Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-09-10
foy tie EH3aucr.
H0E. JOHN LETCHER.

acsnlion into the enquirer OF such views AZ may
.ntrtsn in opposition 10 those held aud Expressed ny
yourselves and others, re To Nils Donlh'ioh LOT Tue
otce o Governor as well as to carry out my Original
;n,an,,, hand YOU herein the note 10 MIR. * shi
nrocaad directly 10 the suhjsct IN band sha Ell
deayor more by reference 10 MIR. Ls'cher 1e,otn'
than by any assertions ot my own w S"o"' o. ILL.
csn as clear the light OF day itha' ne nae oee
to the Democratic party the dial to the sum- taln
full exponent of its cherished principles III % coheo
entious and reliable friend ofhs institution Vi
and hold that under such circumstances VIC. M
is sought TO be- borne down by an unjust aiu "
opposition. il ia due 10 him, 10 ourselves atu 'ue P
ty he should BIZ zeslously aud pe:Iueciouey Gus
tanned.
The principal objection urged TO the nomination oil
Mr. Letcher that he one. thought that slavery WIS
not social and political benefit To The Th,to race -
Hs never entertained the opinion that il was mora!
evil Al has been recently charged by writer in The
"Enuuirer" He p rfec,y explicit on ihis point
in his late letter TO the editor OF ihe South h.
these remarks: IL did rot then" lat the time of thr
duplication of DR.. Rufuer'n pnmphetl regard it or
since az moral evil, for was lat that time, have
been ever since and am now the owner OF slave pro-
pery by purchase and not 10y inheritance.
His friends belisve and coutend thar the sentiments
hs entertained on this subject in l8i7 cons,itu's M
valid objection whatever, 10 him. rs the representa-
tive Of Virginia or the South. Many years since
more particular investigation OF tho whole quertinn oi
slavery satisfied him that be had been IN error, ami
he became its warm advocate upon every ground
upop which he had hitherto doubted liz policy. lie
thus refers the matter III his letter ust quoted u
think hazard nothing IN saying, that al that day
| (lSi7l such opinion THAT II whs nor soc'a ana
political bl,-singl wa held by large number nf the
citizens of Virginia both sides at the Blue Ridge
Since that time much more attention has been gwen
| To the urestion-it has been much more Thoroughly
examined in all s bearings, aud Is much better ni
| derstood not only in Virginia. bur throughout The
entire South. All must admit. that within The pu't
len Years the question: has been discussed with an
ability never before Xpended upon II, and An lnirt1
sion thus made upon the pubic mind that has resulted
in an almost entire revolution di public sentiment
| Previous Ia lS47 had gwen very little consideration
To il rubsrquently, however, did examine ii aud
became entirely Satisfied not only that my opinion as
TO the social and political influence of lhe institution
WA erroneous. but acknowledged my error"
The sincerity of this change ut sentiment, with Mr.
| Letcher has been made abuudantlY evident in pri-
vat. aud in public. whenever and wherever he IA
hnd occasion address hinsefl 10 The subject No mau
now doubts his priect reli-6iiy on th4 question:
and shall tauur of the Oppo iiioh, that We are aooi'
to run n candidate vino rgs rot bo-u absolutely con
ssten in al o his opinions Il rough lie, when Thee
| il but one being without vs,ihlere5s or shadow OF
change. drive us 10 the sacrifice ct "honest John
Letcher" Never. never.i The argument. that We
cannot 20 info the contest successfully, with Mr.
Listener, account ut his past opinions on tbia sub
| j-rt would eeen Ia proceed upon the idea that thr
Opposition intended 10 run II candidate Wlthuut sI'"i
or heIni-I, when il j. notorious that they confeIn
plate placing in this altitude Hon. e.. w. Summers
|
| friend- exhibit - little "seuse or sentiment as IL
make II mn Issue.
There is another view Of this question worthy Of
confederation. II cannot he denied that large part
probably majority othe people al Western virginia.
and this would include mn lurty ot tho Democrat
10 psrty tor the strength of the party lies in tn. West
held the same opinions with MIR. L.tcher in 1917. II
| the issue be now made, and all these men, oonstIn'
ting great part of the real bone anu snew ~ thc
party ara prescribed aud marked ~ unit associates
| T,r Han, md AZ .,
and honors OF tho party. may they not tufn hroun
in their hOnes Indignation and indulge IN n llttle pro
.crpun towards their self righteous hrehren IN Ihr
shrrp lud and WHERE then would be- tha intiuencr
and the pow ar the party in the StaeI In such con
tinysncy which trust is most remote, 1t would NOT be
difficult Tor any ons Ia understand how alr. S'aniop-
Fiournuy or any other respectable gentleman oil HE
Opposition, might realize those visions ut Office when
have been hitherto eif=ctually shut our from u IN
nv The ma tic of united aud harmonious Dempc: acy
DOES the opposition TO MIR. l.-chrr prore-d l'om ihe
idea that mau cannot honsstiy change his"pn
| ious7 ] pity, from the bottom ct my suul, The
! contracted, the narruw minded creature WI"
cherishes ouch sbsurdity. | have no r.
| spect Tor the integrity of any man who can believe
such men as Hon. X. NJ L. Hunter, Gov WISE
James Lyons and host of others, who were once
| Wings and ARE eloquent champions of Dem"
| cratic principles. were aciunted ny dishonest mo-
tlv.s in changing their party relations, Inr Tor The
man who charges II upon MI Leicher Tor his chang
| Of sentiment on the slavery question. Give mo hon
| ",
cessarily, "a he advances III life. modify aud chang-
many of biz opinnns Unless this were So tn rights
of eXperieuce would Do vsueless, would be NJ ghis
ut Nil. lie would hs Cropping ni"ng in the darkness
and suprreiinUn which chnractarl2rh ihe period ~
Tia, trial BY battle aud the ordeal al lire ami wsrr
instead al standing up nin'st The Rights and acll'cv'
m-nta of -ci-rce-n this day al stegn and ri t-ic
graphs But hi ounce OF practice : worth pound o.
| theory, and the nets at MIR. Le;chers hi; viii
speak louder Than any argument on The suit
| i..f.t n hs yl-Hr.
rusted on this question OF slavery. 10 his sPccr
| previously referred Ia, delivered 2th February
| 1855, in the House of Representatives he remarked
in reply TO Giddings of Ohio: "Now let me tell the
gentleman from Ohio, that whatever ho may think oi
the spirit Of the South, he will lind that there is
spirit there that will not snoot 10 -uch requirements
| | speak tn the gentleman a. cody ANA rh'uiy ~
ever uttered sentiment III my liir when shy MAT
mrn of ali uhrtts in the South, Democrats. Nhlgs
by whatever name known or by whntrver orgnniz,
ZION they ure united, will ne found faithful III ii- hour
of trial 10 The rights interest, honor and insiiuoiis
ut the section ui the country IN which their lot IL cas-;
They will consent that The Southern section vi
country shall occupv in this I'm on that craven bns-
| and degraded position which ms has assigned 10 us.-
Whenever TINT day shall cone the gentleman may
rest assured that the South Will bs UNI, Thai ali
party ln-g aud party Divisions will be obiierafeG;
tnat there will BIZ one party IN the sIave States Known
| only rs the defenders nl Southern lights. Nhrnhver
VIZ must surrender our rights give up the Union
there " III be hesitation III making The a3econ -
We can live without yor. We ran manage our own
| relations. We have tho means among us that VIII
give wealth and power, and lar better Id II thar we
should 90 and live BY ourselves than that We should
submit Ia such unrighte0us and injurious demands
as have been asserted here TO night. The time has
come when the South must prepare TO defend her in
s;itulions agsine the aggroHrve spirit ot the North
The gentleman thinks the South has no spirit. Sir,
let him wait ill III. next sersion ot Congress, when
these mea ures shall be attempted TO bs carried
out, aud he will see OF what stuff the South
Is made. lie will see whether We shall quiet
Nv sit here and whether our constituents VIII
tolerate the idea Of quietly sitting here and -nb
hitting to such injuries rs he hha proposed 10 ihhIct
upon us. The sunny South il our homc-it ia The
land that gave us birth II il the land in which i. de-.
posted the bones of our ancesi0rs Wihln the DO
rnn of nv own Safe sleep elTprsOn and Henry and
MADISON and hosts OF Others Whose deeds have IL
usra'-d aud adorned the nnnsls III our county
And cir shall We permit our eneIDss tn invade IN"
-snc,ity o thoae homes aud hnsc fre.sdes' No. sir.
Til. South will be protected snd defended by her -ois
Al whatever cost. and you will find that there il spirit
enough loft 10 rep. aay attempt al interference with
our rights our interest.
Such have always h-en John Leicher's fervid and
manly expressions nt opinion in regard 10 h- South
her institutions and the spirt and determination pf hi
u-nple His voted, all the acts ut hls iis hav- uni
urmly conformed 10 them. II any man doubts him
il il because he docs not know him. Whatever h.
ssserts he beeves-whalever he baliaves 10 be right
he ia ready exert all his power TO accomplish. He
ia no tide. water-nO popularity seeker-no dsma
gogue. He does not seek 10 ride into office BY show
ny that he il The least of two evils. Tina, if he b.
objectionable his competitors for tho nomination are
more ao He has no lsnca Ia SILVER with any asp
rant for the position. II any QUE else be thought
more worthy Of Democratic s.pfor; than himsef and
is presented 10 the party ty Convention. hs will
now HI always, acqulracs c.Isariuiiy W the general
lndymeni aud lend all u! hrs weight and influence 10
the end thar he may ~ triumphsnlly elected. He
wishes stand upon his own inertia Here his friends
plant him. IT, occupying th- p"HIt'on. he s success
iul il will be an honorable satisfaction 10 him and
them that il was d victory fairly won. Ju-TICE.
THE FINCAAILE TRAGEDY
Cmrcspondcpc. cf the Richmond enquirer.
FiSCAsTLE September b 1873.
Massrs. l. ura- In my letter al Friday lart in