Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-10-14
>ONNJNiCATED
Mr.. Leteher-Mr. Ritchie--rh. sIz,
Question,

Mr.. Leteher-Mr. Ritchie--rhe SLAYER
Question.
The most Influential, and the most ,,r....
DemOcr.. in Virginia, mp to tie time ofi..
death, for though nominal!y ras.iD, h..
last days in Washington, be was sull -,
moving spirit in his Own State was Tu.v,,
RICHIE, editor of the Redmond Elori,..
One of the most Influential and t,o,,.l
Dem crats in the State, Of this day, is ry
LErCuER.
The opponents Of John L,;cher say in.
he should no longer have Influence a, B,
trusted, because, few years ago be fay,.,;
the idea that it would be better for the D..
pie of Virginia, that there were 90 Slqs,i,
Western Virginia.
These same men ostracised Geo. W. sam.
pers. one Of the most gifted of VIr,,aiy.
sons, for the same reason, and they aap,,,
kill off John Letcher.
But did Thomas Ritchie's well koown AMI
recorded opinions on the suffice, If S,ay-,v
siok him? Did the Democracy .tru,, b.!,
on that account n. They hu.gsi him
closer to their bOsoms.
The following is an Nztract from m Iii.
torial article written By Thomas Rlcia. and
published IN the R'hm,nd + qurcr n Nh.
Sh OF September, 1921. Read it, ye srl,.
ers at the Rufner Adiress--ye, who ar g
stones at JOun Letchcr--ant eli So ys.
mouths! PIEDMONT.
ut is "a fact which cannot BE- deulsi -
controversial, that there Is Som,'4my in the
present policy Of NIrgicia decidedly un,y-.
rable to her speedy adVanoem n. 10 those 90.
li,ical aud internal! improvements uhicn h,vo
elevated some Of the Northern Safe, q 4
pitch OF euvIable emnence, who, Juta few
years ago, were our interiors IN rank, wealth,
and apparent prosperity. And II tn sane
causes continue to operate during 40 tier
such q period, Is they 10 all probability
will, unless we are aroused from .ur erhl,.
gy.) the State OF Olio. one Of the yoangc.t n
t0e Union, ani formed out Of the rid frgy.
ments of Virginia, bids fair to rIva, 10 poaC.
latlou the Ancient Dominion itself VIA
these facts staring Us IN the face, /. become.
the duty Uf every friend to NIrgI"ra 10 pig.:
and reflect, whether there IL StH any ,u.t
cause for the foundation OF that State Erts
which we have hi herto cherished; and II not
TO endeavor to point out some OF the Gauss
of this retardation Of the general pro>perug
There can be no doubt that Siarsry that
inert mass of our population, Is one gre':
cause Of all our mistortunes; for that Is tie
dead weigM which mars all enterprise, 90!
cog, all the wheels Of cur political machine.
No man who has given the III jrct grulU
consideration will deny that II Virginia c.uI
by any means exchange the TyOie uumle' %
her blacks for only 0He-hdiJ that numoe; Vt
whites, she would then be ready 10 take &
fair start ~ thatrace If active imToSrueb':
now running by most OF the tree State
Bot encum bered as she is with her bia (
pOpuls tiOn, with prospect OF that ehcum'
brarce Increasing to q considerable .Ue,
she vii. Fl d more occasions 10 irdtcb t.Iu =
imprOue her condition, under her present .Y:'
ten.
Slavery, even in its milieSt form, !, sri
kind Of civil warfare, where the seus,s
performs but hd!f the ordinary work Of lfe
men, and pliers all be can with saielJ b.
sides. Ii IL useless to expect pure hn,s'y
without pure morality; and who will deny
that the whole intercourse between masters
and slaves consists 10 a demand tor gam coi
paSsie obedience on the one hand, and ap'
Mority on the others The sooner, Therefore,
we make the beginning Of 90 attemFt'o re-
stRs..# O.
er We shall discover Our true. AID rely N cur
OVID, resourc :: and tLeucctorward he pre-
pared to advance, with conf fence and rapid
ity, in the enVlablc contest I.r lmpro" m'n'''
We have roo long done nothing N 70 man
talk and lament the existence # Ms ontaor'
edged eCH, bounded on disregard - al. hfi
principles 'aJ Tito and tue "oF1a Nv *
poets and demands some evidence Of sultfr
ty, and longs to see the commencement o.
sJme system that may promise eV"n'g1Iy v
eradicate Mis stain from orr HGt'oaal e's"'
cheOn."