The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-10

The Approaching Virginia Electaon-The
Great Political Issues at Stake.
We publish to-day sketch of the opening cam
paign speech of Hon. John Letcher, at Woodstock,
Va, in support of his claims upon the people of
that State as the candidate of the democracy for
Governor. The election of this officer and others,
and OF the whole Virginia delegation to the new
congress, comes of in May, and, from all ap-
pearances, the interval will be signalized by
stump campaign between the contending parties
OF the most animated aud exciting character.
Our reasons for this opinion are: first, the fine
opening afforded to the opposition, through the
demoralized and broken lines of the democracy;
secondly, the enthusiastic fusion of the opposi-
ton elements upon their new conservative plat
form laid down at their late State Convention;
and thirdly, the possible contingency from
| these and other causes, Of some serious damage
to the democracy, if not crushing defeat. The
most Important consideration in this matter,
however, is this that the approaching Virginia
| election, like that between Henry A. Wise and
the Know Nothings, in 1855, will be the first
heavy signal gun in reference to the Presidential
election. The late results in New Hampshire
amount to nothing or if they mean anything, it
is only the hopeless prostration Of the democracy
in that State, in consequence of the follies and
blunders and vanities and imbecilities of poor
| Pierce
The impending Virginia election, on the other
hand will 60 very far to determine the important
question whether we shall have purely sec
tional Fight upon slavery for the next Presidency,
or the saving Intervention of a great third party,
upon the middle ground of the constitution, be-
tween the agitating nigger-worshippers of the
North and the fire and birthstone eating niger
drivers of the South. Upon this great point we
maintain that the new constitutional opposition
party of Virginia, from the distractions, excesses
follies and treachcries of the democratic camp,
have fair prospect before them of making
Judgment in the very Malakoff Of the beleaguered
| Presidential democracy. From his opening
| speech at Woodstock, it would appear that Mr..
! Letcber is disposed to make this contest rather
personal matter between himself and his COM
petitor for Governor-Mr. Goggin-than trial
upon the general merits of the democratic party.
But this will not do.
Mr.. Letcher and Mr.. Goggin are the represen-
tatives of certain political principles and issues
respectively, which will overshadow the personal
merits Of either candidate. Mr.. Wise, elected
Governor by the Virginia democracy in 1855, it
is claimed by his friends, is now the fayorite
of the party there for the Presidential success
sion. But how stands Governor Wise in
reference to the democratic administration of
Mr.. Buchanan? He stands as bitterly opposed
to it, and to all its leading measures, foreign and
domestic, as Mr.. Bolts himself And the great
central organ of Governor Wise is now the most
valiant champion of Mr.. Letcher. How are the
loyal administration democracy of Virginia to
reconcile this "happy accord" between Wise and
Letcher with the duties of the party to Mr.. Bu-
chanan's administration And if there be not q
pin to choose between Letcher as the candidate
Of Wise, and Goggin as the candidate Of Bolts,
in regard to the administration, the general
merits of the contest will rest between the
governing principles of the democratic camp on
the one hand, and of the new opposition move
ment on the other in reference to the peace and
safety Of the Union.
Upon this point we contend that the demo.
cratic party has been reduced under the control
of an intensely Southern pro-slavery sectional
faction, the opposite extreme of the intensely
sectional anti-slavery republican party Of the
North-that a Presidential contest, limited to
these two parties, can be productive only of the
most mischievous consequences to the business
interests Of the whole country, and to the Union
itself; and that nothing can save the country
from these disasters but the Intervention of
third party, fresh from the mint, and represent
ing, South and North, the conservative and Union
sentiments of the bulk Of the American people.
Does anybody suppose that any other candidate
than one Of the Southern fre-eating sort will
be nominated at Charleston? And is it
not equally manifest, from all the signs around
US, that Seward, or some well known representa-
tive of his Rochester programme, will be the
nominee Of heAnti-Slavery Republican Conven-
ton of the North?
1t follows, theefore, that the Union loving.
and sober, sensible people of the Central States,
on both sides of Mason and Dixon's line, includ-
ing Virginia especially, have no interest in
either of those sectional parties. There is no
alternative of safety and consistency to the
people of these interlapping States, North and
South, but this third party organization, set in
motion in Virginia and Kentucky. This is evil
IDENTIFY understood among the opposition elements
Of Virginia; and their present State canvass thus
becomes an important preliminary battle for
1860. The distracted and wrangling factions Of
the democratic camp are alarmed; Mr.. Letcher
is disposed to beg the question; but he should be
held to answer whether he is with the administra-
ton, or with Wise, or Hunter, or any other Of
the fre-eating plotters for the Charleston Con-
vention, regardless Of the conservative policy
and measures Of Mr.. Buchanan The defeat Of
these Wise and Hunter factions in the camp, in
May next will be, as matters stand positive
triumph Of the administration. and equivalent IN