Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-10-26


capacity and popularity over other men who are bis
undoubted superiors in both respec:s. te l.. tcheT
faction have attempted TO repress, by every speces
OF Misrepresentation and malicious viuperation, all
attempts however moderate, to demonstrate wherein
olber candidate is TO be preferred TO Mr. Letch
er. They il is who have initiated all unfrendly con-
test by attempts 10 and suppress the open
and fair discussion of the respective merits and de-
merits of the several candidates for the Gubernaroria
nomination. Determined TO push their ow candidate
on the choice of the party, they have not a,lu".c
the harmony of the party to stand between the e!or
and the object. "Rue or ruin" has been thsir wath
word from the start The friends Of Messrs Z ElmuLd
SOD, Hopkins, Brockenbrougb, Smith OF Grrenbrier,
Faulkner, Jackson, Tucker. James A. Seldom, &c.
&C., were not TO be allowed anything than de-
mure expressions of preference. The L-tcheriEei
were TO be free to charge them, or any owe OF them
with unpopuary nferiorty to Mr. Lercher in
amount and value of public services-even with q
want OF patriotic loyalty. IT. on the contrary. i
was attempted fairly, to show wherein Mr.. L.tcbel
was inferior to his competitors, vill6cs!ion
too much for the devoted head of the enti-Letchel
advocate. Every man who would avoid violent
o title from the absurd glorifcston of Mr.. JOIN
LErcHER. ln.tesd Of "ten pluck one" it hss been
agsme of Zone pluck ten"
Now, in the names OF sll tho gods at once,
Upon what meat doth this our Cesar feed
That he Ia grown so gredtf
Agsin s il for Mr.. Lstcher or his advocates TO dep
reca.o the free discussion OF the dement's of cand
date for nomination. Did not Mr.. Lstcher nlS54
AZ
ing vindcvely every species of objection, against
candidate who proved too. the successful candidate
Did he not do this, too, for mere selfish motive
because he was himself background candidate .
Did he stop his Questionable course even after the
nomination was msde7 Did he not hold of and tenn
porize with the spirit Of Know No,hingism. until a
'ses Of upturred faces" in the Tenth Legion warned
him back to his du,y7 And has he not even lately
boasted tha. although forced 10 an unwilling support
OF the ticket he abstained from using the name of the
candidate from ths stump during the whole canvas
Thus Mr.. Leicher himself has furnished US with q
precedent than ample for the free expression Of
opposition TO an Objectionable candidate. L,t the
public Judge whether grounds of objection rot
valid than his own. We prefer TO support q
man whose previous record on the slavery question
admits Of defence. Certainly, the man who endorsed
abolition sentiments aud sustained an emancipation
candidate In 1917, who could sneer at NEGRO oogy"
in 1851 until he became personally offensive to slave
holding colleagues; who up 10 the time OF the late re.
peal of the Missour Compromise, never engaged in
the active advocacy OF great pendiug measure for
the protection of slave property from federal en-
this man is not to be selected, In
preference TO gallant host OF competitors, as the
standard bearer Of Virginia Democracy.
If anything were wanting to demonstrate the par
tisan nature Of the Examiners" superserviceah'e
effort in behalf of Mr. Letcher, it would be found in
the expressions exploded and forgotten charges,
''esry and harmless ipdiscretions." What! When
and by whom was the charge of Mr. Lstcher's en-
dorsement Of the Ruffner pamphlet, and bis subse-
quent vote for Mcdowell Moore, exploded" How
''eary" did these take pace7 just curly
enough to be II years sgo, when Mr.. Letcher was
already middle aged man, in the prime Of intellect
and experience. And the "harmlead indiscretions'
are, indeed trfes; only war against the insti'
tuition Of slavery aud vote In favor OF red not
Whig emancipationist candidate.
As for the sweeping charge, that Mr.. Lstchers op'
ponents have kept their &" motives and names alike
concealed from tine party" we have necessity to
rerute IL. nauu-o amu u,V'I'oo r'-,-., -
forth, 30 that he who runs may read. One prom-
nent motive which sctastes Us is determination to
thwart the movement Of few intriguing politicians,
who for two years past, have held secret oaucuses,
aud subsidized village newspapers, In Systematic
attempt to forestal public opinion in favor of MIR.
Letcher. 1t is for this that the Examiner threat
ems u.s. Ia common with our associates in this good
work, with a"wholesome lesson" should Mr.. Letcher
succeed in obtaining the nomination.
Now, We tell our contemporary, plainly, that We
have assumed the proud position of tribune OF tie
people We etand between the people and the poll
ticians to thwart the intrigues Of the latter Whe-
ther Mr. Letcher is nominated or defeated, we will
maintain this position to the endto the "biter end
if necessary. And whenever politicians newspaper
attempts to ntmidate us with threats, We will only
rise stragbter and higher in s,irrups, and sounc
fuller, louder, c!esrer note of entire defiance.