The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-04-29
The Virginia Ccntest-The Opposition and
the Niger Agitation.

the Niger Agitation.
When the new opposition party of Virginia,
some weeks ago, took the field we gave it libe-
raj support, under the impression that it was but
the beginning Of a new and powerful organiza.
ton which, upon broad national and constitu
tional grounds, would hold the balance Of power
in 1860 and save the country, between the two
great sectional parties of the day. But, alas /!
this promising conservative party has rapidly de-
teriorated into mere niger agitating faction,
out Heroding Herod in its supreme devotion to
Southern rights, Southern institutions, Southern
niggers and Southern slavery. Thus this new
party has already ceased TO be available as the
nucleus Of great national organization, in be.
ing reduced to single sectional issue, and thus
the result Of this Virginia contest, in broad ma
tional view-whether Letcher or Goggin shall be
elected Covernor-becomes matter Of little or
| no consequence.
| The all absorbing issue with this Virginia op-
position party is the alleged aboltionism of John
Letcber. For example, the leading editorial of
the Richmond Wing Of Wednesday last, under
| the head of "The Emancipation Democracy in a
Strait" exults over the idea that the Virginia
democracy are played out on the slavery agita-
ton; that 'the charge Of abolitionism is now re-
torted with overwhelming force and effect upon
themselves" and that here, at least is one vast
benefit resulting TO the oppoztion) from the
nomination of John Letcher." And wherefore
Some ten or twelve years ago Mr.. Letcher was
one Of number of gentlemen who endorsed
and asked for publication certain lecture
of certain Mr.. Ruffner, advocating the policy
of the gradual abolition Of slavery in Western
Virginia (the mountainous division of the State),
aud its erection into separate State, and free
State at that
This is the cause Of all this hue and cry Of this
new Virginia opposition party to the election Of
Letcher. They denounce him as an aboltionist,
an emancipatonist, faitbless and unreliable on
the slavery question, and they are thus moving
heaven and earth to save the Old Dominion
from en- abolition Governor. Meantime, Mr..
Letcher has confessed his error in regard to that
Rufner pamphlet. He no longer believes
slavery to be "a moral social and political evil"
but very good and excellent thing, morally,
socially and politically. The democracy are
satisfied with this recantaton, but the opposition
hold him to the Ruffner pamphlet, and to that
pamphlet the contest in question has been sub
stantially reduced. Says the Richmond Wing, "in
all previous political contests these crafty spos-
men (the democracy have had it in their power to
bosst Of their candidates spotless record on the
subject OF slavery, while they had some pretext,
ct least, for assailiDg the wing candidate. But
the tables are now turned on them, aud they
know not what to do"
Here then, is the sum and substance of this
Virginia opposition movements vain attempt
to cut under and cut out the democracy on the
niger question. We are thus taught that
the slavery issue overrules and overrides
all other issues In the South, and
that the opposition In Virginia, from
sheer necessity, have thus been driven to
this foolish experiment Of outshouting the demo
crazy as the defenders Of slavery. In Kentucky
and Tennessee they are pursuing holder and
broader line Of policy upon the great practical
Issues OF the times, and yet the shaping of this
virginia canvass is suggestive Of anything but
an opposition revolution, either there or else
where, in the South Make the slavery aeita-
ton the paramount question where The pro sla
very democracy hold the ground, and they will
continue to hold It.
In the meantime another epoch of financial
and commercial prosperity has set in, which will
soon render the federal administration iuyulne
rable to the assaults Of the opposition. The
South is democratic; and with the return of bet
ter times, good crops, good prices, plenty Of
money and plenty Of business, the people Of the
South, at least, will be satisfied With the party
in power Thus, the prospect of any positive
opposition reaction in the Southern States will
become more and more shadowy as the influences
OF this commercial and financial reaction are
more and more widely dl6dsed. And thus, not
ei!y = &c SgUlh, hut ~ tlc North Tho nroeooot