Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-05-06
The Author of the RuH1er Pamphlet -
Spenha.

The contest in Virginia, we have taken occa-
sion to inform our readers, turns on the Rutt-
ner pamphlet. This was Il production of DIR.
Henry Ruffner, and advocated emancipation in
Western Virginia 1t was first given TO the pub
lie in the form of lecture, ard was printed
and circulated as n pamphlet by request of the
Hon. John Letcher and others, who were
pleased with the vigor of understanding it dis
played the force Of its logic, and the Pertinence
of its suggestions. The pamphlet has just be-
come famous because it had the endorsement
of Letcher, now the Democratic candidate for
Governor of the Old Dominion. Letcher has
repcnted and retracted his appreciation of the
doctrines set forth by DR.. Rutfner, but the OPP
position, anxious to show that they are more
pr6-slavery than the Democracy, howl loudly
and continually about the Rutiner pamphlet
and seek to hold the Democratic candidate re-
spunsible for it. So much is said OF TINS mat
ter that the following will be ofgeneral interest:
LETTER FROM DIR. RUFFNEK.
- '''' --''' MALDEv, April 22d, 1859.
Mr.. NEwToN:-In looking over last week $
Republican, | find an article by some friend
who signs himself "SantOn," concerning Mr..
Letcher and myself, in relation to the newly
famous "Ruifncr Pamphlet
would not say word to the public on this
occasion, did not fear, that my anonymous
friend may have unwittingly done Mr.. Letcher
injustice in one particular He may be mista'
ken in thinking that Mr.. L., circulated" the
pamphlet, and then declined to pay his sub
scription. If he took copies for circulation, 1t
must have been while they lay in the print
ing office for the use of subscribers. Some may
have taken copies then without my knowledge.
But | never, until last year, heard of MI H.
or any one else ohiecting to pay his subscrip
ton because the pamphlet contained objection
ublc things or varied from the speech My
conjecture was, that most of the subscribers
nd tI,a qualification discovered
that our enterprise was not likely to succeed
and determined to back out without taking any
further part III it.
Since the publication Of Mr.. Lctchcr's letter
have discovered that one at least of the sub
scribers-Samuel Ned. Moore, Esq.-had failed
to pay under msapprehcnsion, which neec
not explain. lie has since paid me his sub
scrption with interest from the date, like al
honorable man, such as | have long known hin
10 be.
have written this for the purpose Of ex-
onorating Mr.. LetchGr, so far as my knowledge
of facts will warrant me in doing so.
| | thank my friend Stanton for VindicatnG
me against the abusive cpithcts which 1t Sult
the present purpose of clectioneerin5 editors
and stump orators to heap upon me. But !
my friends cared little for these attacks a
! | do, they would pay no attention to them.
| The political squabblers have chosen me as
n SAFE medium through which the one party
may gull the other; and the other party may
save their candidate by making me his Scape
goat They kn0jo Mdt / an u hnrmtess 0bt man
q non-comJatant 6y profession, and that carr!
neither pistol, 6OWie knife or horse ,chip. Hcnc
they 5oll2y apply to mO epithets ohtcd tile!
could not 7citAOut same suspicion OF danger, Gf'
lply to Others. But enough said Of this trWiH!
! circumstance Wien tie clGctiOn is 0rcr, shat
cease 10 be either traitor or aboHtiont".
Yours, HENRY RuFFNEE.
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