Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-05-25


the candidates, to the people at the polls. We
see no special reason to look for general result,
as far as the Gubernatorial part of the canvass
is concerned, different from that which has fol-
LEVIED such references in times long and lately
passed, although from the ungainly and I'M
promising aspect of both our State and Nation
al affairs at this time, expect to see the here
tofore stereotyped monotony of our State cleo
tions somewhat varied. In other words, we
think it more than likely that the broken and
lisiointed condition of the Democratic party all
over the country, that the exceeding unpopular
ty of Mr. Buchanan's administration, that the
open reputation of it by many of the Demo-
cratic candidates in this State, that all these
things and many more, together with the en-
barrasing personal and political surroundings of
Letcher, himself, will, quite likely operate to
shake some of the pillars and remove some of
the foundation stones in this great Gibraltar
of Democracy.
John Letcher's position is, in almost every
respect, bad one. He is obnoxious to both
the State and federal administrations Gov.
Wise is his especial opponent, and the sympa-
thies of the whole Wise party all over the State
have been silently and covertly working to his
detriment How far that influence has reached
to what extent it has corroded in upon the
usual unanimity, it is impossible, of course, to
say But there is scarcely doubt but what it
has accomplished considerable. Letcher stands
forth the exponent of Hunterism. It's the aim
of Gov Wise to kill that influence. The Rich
mond Enquirer, Wisc's organ, denounced Letch-
er day and night increasingly, before his nomina-
ton, as unsound, and unfit to be nominated. One
of the editors even proposed groalIs at Richmond
primary meeting, over his prospects at Peters
burg. Since his nomination their support has
been of that sullen, cold and sour kind-some-
what like that which the ArgUs has accorded to
Clemens or the Times to its legislative ticket;
leaving no doubt but that the Enquirer would
be rejoiced inexpressbly to record Letcher's de-
feat.
Again, Mr.. Letcher has been forced in his
speeches to repudiate the administration. He
was threatened by the Enquirer that if he up
held Mr. Buchanan's federalism" they would
open out their batteries upon him. The poor
man has been thus forced to say many things
derogntory to Buchanan'S administration, under
which he has been so lately serving and draw
ing pay at Washington. This antagonistic
position will of course damage him also.
In the next place, John Letcher has a record
on the great test question that will not n in him
any votes-we mean in comparison with what
he will lose. And il his defeat was possible
there is no doubt but what it could be fairly
and fully proven to be owing to his Ruff
ner pamphlet record of 1847, and his votes
at a later date against paying masters for
negro felons condemned to be hung or trans
ported We say that if it was reasonable at all
Tobn
it would be almost entirely and exclusively ow-
ing to the fact that in the gear 1s47 he endorsed
what DIR. Rutfner said: about slavery in the
abstract, and particularly about its blighting
effect upon Western Virginia, together with his
Ietcher's) votes since then against paying
masters for their slave felons condemned and
lost upon their hands.
Does any man believe that the defeat Of Letch-
er could be accomplished by any other influence
than the stigma which Mr.. Goggin may have
been able to put upon the Ruifner pamphlet, in
his journey through the State? Certainly no
man can expect his defeat upon any other
ground. Had any man, other than John Letcher
been nominated, there never would have assem-
bled, in all human probability, convention at
Richmond on the 10th of February last. 1t
was called together, and called enthusiastically,
too, by the fact that man had been nominated
upon whom the democracy divided. and
about whom they were divided, mainly, because
he had an unsonnd record on the great niger
question. Had Judge Brockenbrough been the
nominee, Mr. GOggin would never have been
asked, or had he been asked, would have quick
ly refused to traverse this State from salt water
to fresh water, in the hopes of making in
road on the Democratic majority sufficient to
elect him. And it is here aud for this reason
that we have halted in our support of the Rich
mond nominees, where our sympathies had
else been. 1t was simply choice to US be-
tween man who sought to be elected by sue
cessfully stigmatizing in the eyes of the people,
the doctrines of the Ruffner pamphlet, pamph-
let which we believed to contain as many whole.
some truths as any political pamphlet of its
size ever printed, and between man who had
for the lust of place turned his back upon
his convictions, and sold himself like Judas