South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1859-05-06

ted IN dishonorable thing by the imputa-
tion cnst On him. called on Mr.. Lctchcr TO
point out n solitary thing in the pamphlet
that he had objected to; ana TO this dav
the gentleman has never designated which |
expression or argument ought not to have
been IN 1t. according to the terms Of the a.
grccmeut! What is that pamphlet? Whv,
there arc hundred expressions in it he-
sides the argument, which l of course en-
not now read, as it is n pamphlet of MANY
pages. "lIer black children have sucked
her SO dry" 90. &c.
A great deal has been said about Bolts.
in this canvass. in connection with aboli-
tionsm. Now. sirs. think MS the gentle
man has talked so much about Bolts, it is
likely that. in this state Of things. Bolts is
his mental dread and Bolts probably had
reference to the gentlernan's improved
class of free negroes" when he said he
would be glad TO get their votes to defeat
the Democracy. Oh the terrible Bolts.
That state Of things existed once in the
State Of New York, in North Carolina and
Tennessee. and Bolts possibly thought that
it might some time exist in the State of
Lctchcr. and stated that if such state of
things did exist, he would like to have their
votes to beat the Democratic party in 1860
but he (Alr. G } did not appear there to
defend Bolts; he knew how to defend him.
self. When he Uctcher) closes with
Bolts, and makes him his text he will sure
ly die of Bolts, and the Bolts will be the
cpitaph on his political tom mbstonc. trust
the turf for his last resting place will be
far away. hut say he is doomed to politi-
cal death. just as certain as the sun rises
and descends again behind the horizon.
Mind you my friends. all this was to be
done, by him. and why Because, as the
gentleman tells you. the canal stopped at
Lynchburg!!
The boy said to his mother "givc me
some bread and butter" But she refused,
and he said, then I'll pull down the chin
ney if you don't-so she could not refuse.
just so with the canal, I suppose, if the
appropriation had not been made-but the
appropriation was made in March, 1877,
AMI the pamphlet Was issued in September.
by the by, challenge Mr. Letcher to
produce speech delivered by him i'll favor
OF internal improvements in the whole
course of his life. He has been many
years before the public He long conduct
cd the Valley STAR" and I defy him to
produce anything written or spoken by him
advocating any plan Of internal mprove-
mcnt save one. and that was for little
canal from the mcuth of North River to his
own door. in the town Of Lexington.
! Now, | happen to have record on the
/ subject. voted for all these objects twcn-
! ty.two years ago-!or the Norfolk, the
Richmond and Petersburg, the Louisa the
! Virginia and Tennessee railroads. and for
/ tie canal, for the Scaboard and Roanoke
railroad, and have only to fear that went
| too far. have a record when n member
. OF the Legislature, and was then quite 4
young man.
, Now. when he claims to be on internal
Improvement man, | only ask him where
! Is his record, and echo answers "mheye p
| But do not intend to drop the Ru.Encr
pamphlet. have just opened the lst c.
Pistlc general of John. Now, sirs, come
to the Ind cpistle general of John. want
to show you the opinions entertained by
him in 1877, and, by the by, the imp prove
ment on the canal. which he says settled
the question, was made on the lst March
and his request to publish the Ruffncr
pamphlet was in the 'uagtIstHe Sn1 asl;
: special attention to the fact that the an
preparation was made to the canal in tho
month of March, 1917, and Mr.. Letcber's
expressions OF his purpose to divide the
state and free the slaves. were in the month
OF September ntirrru.is.
But this is not all These were his anto-
cedents when he came into the Reform
Convention. Now | call attention to some
OF his expressions in the Reform ,,,pv.n-
tlnn which framed the present constitution
OF Virginia. He says "iHcrcst" is the
cause which actuatcd the gentlemen from
the East IN their efforts. Now, may not
ask him If it was not interest that actuutoI
HIM when he rcnounccd the opiuions hc
entertained? If he charges all the neo,lc
"f Eastern Virginia with this thing, did not
'"c'e" induce him TO proclaim in the
county OF Augusta. which has more than
o'ooo slaves. that his mind had undergone
change on the subject of slavery. and
what nc used to think a social and politi-
cal evil he now believed to be moral
social and political blessing? What omen,
ca MS eyes so suddenly 10 the truth? Suul
OF larsus. on his way to Damascus. to pros-
ccutc them who held the true faith. seized
10y The way side, with the power of his
spirit which | trust has directed the ,lcs.
times OF this nation. and will forever nm
h"li them. was made blind. But Lctcber
on his way to Richmond. was seized with
marvellous light cmanating from some
where and MS eyes were opened do
po' say ne was actuated by selfish or inter-
cstcd motives; but when he charges nil
,hc people OF the East with being moved
6,y interest in their action on the nucs,;on
does he not lay himself liable to the snnc
suspicion? But here will call your attcn.
ton to some other facts connected with his
speech IN the convention.
In speaking of this place-not Of this
pace alone but of Eastern Virginia aud
ner marts OF commerce, he says:
Gwen. have been looking TO SEQ whcro H..
commerce Is, and confess have no. boon ,p,r
10 nha anything more than fcw scows and small
vessels plying along the rivers. Il,yc seen ,,,,l'
'ns wof,hy OF what should be the commerce of,
E,.o' i,, osa'c Hkc This. il certainly wouli not