Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-04
PUBLISHED DAILY AND TRI-WEEKLI BY
EDGAR sNOWDGN.
ALEXANDRIA,:


l847, the publication OF which was ASKED LOT
BY Mr.. Letcber, has come out in Card IN
relation to that matter, induced by MIR.
Le,cher's charge that be bad foisted in the
public address, exceptionable things. AS
part of the political history of the times we
olive MIR. Ruffner's Statement Of the facts OF
the case"
Tn the spripg or summer Of 1917, | was
informed that debate on slavery hau arisen
10 the Franklin Society of Lexington, Va,
and | was requested to attend. as the debate
was expected to be long and Interesting
This Society embraced most OF the probes
siona and literary gentlemen OF the town,
besides other intelligent citizens, and met
weekly TO debate questions. | was an hon.
orary member, but did not regularly attend
the meetings. This debate on slavery was
continued from week to week for d considera-
BILE time.
When attended, l found the question to
be. not whether slavery was right or wrong,
hut whether or not it was injurious to the
public prosperity. Mr.. Letcher and others
took the anti-slavery side, whilst some able
debaters, such as Mr.. (now JUDGE Broken
broupb and Col. Smith, Of the Virginia Mill.
tarv Institute were on the pro-siavery side.
No one, as far as | remember, took the
abolitiopist ground that slaveholding Is a
sin, and ought, for that reason, TO be abolish
ed. With Us it was merely aqusstion OF ex-
pedienoy, and was argued with special refer
epce to the interests of West Virginia.
Joined the anti.olavery eide, and after o
while, having collected some statistical facts,
| made the speech which led to the publica-
ton of the Address. was soon afterwards
requested 10y some of our party to prepare
nv argument for publication, as It was
thought by them to be unanswcrabie, ana,
| was told, had converted several members
of the society. hesitated a, first, and either
refused or postponed compliance with the re
quest; nut wishing to appear before the pub
lic as O partisan on this question, whilst
occupied the Presidential chair Of Washing
ton College; though knew that my broken
health would compel me to an early reslgna'
ton.
But as the debate proceeded, we all became
30 heated under the hammer OF argument,
uro and CON, that we we're ready for an at
' tempt to carry cur views into effect. L COM
menced writing out the whole argument on
our side; aud when about the time the debate
closed, and we had decided majority OF votes
in the society, was again spoken to, consen-
ted to prepare for publication, not my speech
merely, but whatever else might contribute
to the success Of our scheme for the gradual
removal of slavery from West Virginia
But l required two conditions, LIST, that
those who desired the publication of the ar.
gument, should present their request in writ
ing, in terms conformable to the plan OF put
LEGATION which suggested 2nd, that
all should contribute to the cost of printing.
was willing to come out, not as an indlvld'
ual, but only as the organ of respectable
party, and such thought we were, Though
at the outset few in number. The anti-Slave-
~ feeling had been prevalent in West Viz
ginia, and seemed to need only such an I'M
pulse as we could give it, to recover It's for
mer strength.
Mr.. Letcher and ten other gentlemen read
lily complied with my conditions, and al,
dressed me the letter which was printed
in the foreground of the pamphlet. In tbs
letter the ii gentlemen said expressly, that
thew did not expect me to furnish my speech
just as it was delivered, nor did they wish
me to "confne myself strictly to the views
then expressed" On the contrary, they de-
sired to have "the whole argument IN favor
of the proposition presented to the pubic 10
q perspicuous and condensed iorm." Thus
they left it discretionary with me 10 add to
the matter Of my speech whatever thought
proper to give completeness and force to the
argument "in favor cf removing the negro
population from West Virginia. as they ex-
pressed it. Tile arhole contents Of the pdmph-
let pere prittea con formally to tile desire er'
pressed in this letter.
My colleagues added in their letter, that
the views expressed in my speech, were I'm
q shape which could not give just cause OF
offence to even those who were most fasti-
dious and excitable on the subject OF sla'
very" This could mean only that Ey views
we're not of the aJ0lutontSt shape. The ad-
dress presented the same views Us the speech,
and In the same argument've shape.
maintained the moral right of siaveholding,
and assailed the aboGtionists as n morally IN
sane, maligr ant, meddescme ard mlschier-
GUS sect. with whom We would have nothing
to do. But argued strenuously, as we'll as
we oil did in the society, ;hat slavery IN Its
effecte upon the country was "pernlcous In
sttution," &c.
When the Address was circulated by mail
and otherwise through West Virginia, We
soon perceived that most OF the editors and
politicians of the Valley would not embark
with Us in an enterprise CT doubtful success
They objected to our movement as Ill timed
while northern abolitionism was raging
Without their concurrence We must taii.--
West OF the Allegheny the pamphlet was
better received; but in East Virginia SOME |
papers denounced it as abolltonist.
1t is true as Mr. Lstcher says, that my |
colleagues did not contribute to the cost Of the
publication. When the printers bill came
in, aud privately spoke to one or two of
them about it; found that for some reason
there was a disinclinstion to contribute
Therefore paid the printers bill myself. As
several of them aided me in the distribution |
of the pamphlet, and | never heard TIL DOW
the charge of fraud in the publication,
which know to be false, imagined any |
reason but that, and made no enquiry on the
subject. None of our party ever to my |
knowledge. objected to the contents OF the
Address. Now, as Mr.. Letcher's charge Is
vague. l call upon him to specify what Eek
ceptionable thines" ioisted into the Address.
My sole object is self-defence. accuse no
one. Let him specify; then, having def
mite issue, will try conclusions with him.
HENRY RUFFER.
Kama aba Salipes. July 18th 1858.
IT.. Ma Vol Exnress aays that Mt last !