Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-03-15
OPPOSITION" CONSISTENCY.

10 The EtGit9rS Of thc EnIUtrtr.
Messrs. EditorS--The Richmond Whig ami
other Opposition Journals in Virginia are
making great ado over the "incoil,l>tcncy
a. they term it, of the Democracy Of this State
in nominating John Lctchrr for Governor. not
withstandinS our strong State Right, and
Southern Rights views.
Every intelligent and well informed .nan in
the State knows. or ought to know that nearly
the entire "Whis party Of the North. has be.
come abuitionized-that there is ~ Viii.
party North of Mason and Dixon's iine--and
/ that the Lulk Of those who were Wings in lsJ2
arr now Black Republicans: savin. aql eyccp.
! ting the small squad who call themselves
! "AmcrIcane. The Black Republicans with
! w. III. Seward at their hcad-the Americans
with Millard Fillmore at their hcad-and the
! Ultra AbolitioniSts with L;crritt Smith ~ their
, head-constIIutcS tue ''Upposlrlun al tho
/ North
; 1t is with such as these that the - Whg5 and
Americans oi Virginia propose 10 unite as II
combination Of all the opposition elements TO
defeat the Democrats in 1860 and those who
have avowed their willingness to combine"
with the Black Republicans, Nc., are now
striving 20 defeat John l.ctcher for Governor of
virginia. because. rs they assert. he once enter
tuned views inconsistent with those of q true
Southern man. admit, Mr.. Editor that il
would be the height OF Inconsistency if the
! Democrats oi Virginia, OF Of the Union, were
to support any man Tor = high and responsible
office who was regarded by them a. unSouni
on the slavery question. But neither the De
mocracv OF rginia, nor Of any other portion Of
this Union believe John Lctchcr unsnund. nor
do those who are trying to defca, him in Yir.
ginia believe 50 either.
Those who supported Miard Fillmore in
1852 for Wee President Of the United States.
notwithstanding his Buffalo letter of lS3S and
his pardon Of Drayton and Savers. the negro
Stealers. while he was acting President who
supported George W. Summers for Governor
Of Virginia in 1851 and who are now the fol.
lowers and admirers of John Minor Bolts. not
withstanding his opposition 10 the repeal Of the
Missouri restriction and his recent avowal Of
his willingness 10 accept the aid of free ne .rocs
to defeat the Democracy; and whose candidate
VIM. h. Goggn. opposed the annexation of
Texas. hccall>r ii. would extend the area of
slavery" are the last persons in the world who
should rcproach the Democrats cf this Stlte
for their support Of Mr. Lctc!ler who they
themselves admit i, true friend of the South
and her institutions ao,-, notwthstandin. he
may have entertained views in 1877, in com
mon with those Of thousands If Others in this
State. Wig. we'll a. Democrats. that were
not approved of by majority of the people of
the State.
But sat nut. Mr. Editor, 10 Show that the
candidates OF the "WhiSS and Americans" do
not ,to'r hold consistent opinions in reference
to their own party organization. nor lo they
agree about the great and important question
OF internal Improvements in this State
Mr.. Preston. their candidate for Attorney
General. and i"r whom entertain the highest
persona! respect. was candidate for the Lc is.
latnre in Washington COUNT in le55j on the
know-No,hing ticket. and in public address
delivered in the Court House, with vehement
emphasis and with uplitcd hands, proclaimed
that the Wing party was dead. and that the
great American party had risen in its stead,
and expressed his opinion that "its principles
and its policy could alone save the country
FINN 'thc evils OF disagreement. Mr. Pres.
ton not only cschcwcd the WhiS party as be-
Ing no longer able To serve the country, but
held that the Know Nothing or american
party which had risen upon the ruins, and
in spite Of both the Wing and Democratic par
ties, was the oriy par'g to which the country
could look for salvation or delvcrancc.
Notwithstanding these views Of the worthy
candidate Of the "Oppostion' !or Attorney
General, y" was 'ictcatcl by ;hrcc hundred
majority.
Mr.. Preston, in the same canvass, also cy-
pressed himself as being opposed to The James
River and Kanawha Canai--thc lc'ttD' H@t-
which it appears Mr.. G"sgin is for ani has -
declared in his letter Of acceptance.
Now. il seems to me, Mr.. Editor that the
"Opposition" had better address thclnSclvc, 10
the work of rcconciling the inconsistent and
conflicting vic"s Of their own caniatc> in re-
ference to party policy, as well as state
policy. before they proceed any further III the
hue and cry against the Democracy OF this
State for their "PPartH' inconsistency III the
support OF Mr.. Lctchcr.
Mr.. Lctclicr's record. os' p"Li'c m"0, will
compare favoraby with that of any man in
the State: and his course in Congress * far
more acceptable to the people ofNir.inia than
that of Vim. L. Gosgin.
Henry Clay's letter in opposition to tine an
neyation Of Texas in ls4i. contributed mate
rially to his defeat for the Presidency; and VIM.
L. Goggin is surely not so far superior TO Mr.
Clay, that he could do that with mpunty
which Mr.. Clay could not,
Our candidate Is above SiSplci"ii, anu ano'c
rcproach. The breath Of slanirr Itself dare
not insinuatc ausht against hi, honesty Or his
fidelity to his native State; and tn" fact th1,
not Il single act Of hi, long public life has been
condemned 10y his opponents. speaks volume,
in his behalf He hs> no sympathy with Black
Republicans. BIne Light fc'leral>tS, or the
followers of sam nor is he nm apoiosist for
thosr who invoked the Mexicans during the
war. ITO welcome our soldiers with bloody
hands to hospitable graves. lie i a firm sup
porter Of the Union under the Constitution,
and will he orr next Governor. and will prove
10 be suitable and acceptable successor, 10
our present great. patriotic and distinguished
Executive Officer. SorTH-WEsT.