Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-06-03
sEThe InvIncIBIIity of the virginia Demo

A VOTER

CEaSysD
Under this head the Richmond Index sketches the
state of things in Virginia tits very satisfactory
explanation Of the losses in some portions of the
States
The Wilmington Journal is not far wrong in its
remarks upon the invincibility Of the Democratic
party of Virginia For more than fifty years, the
Opposition have indeed tried to conquer them, but
In vain. Thus far the Journal speaks only the
words of historical truth Nor does it "traVel out
of the record" very far when it asserts that in the
late canvass, the Democracy tried very hard 10 de-
feat hemselpss, but could not make the effort success
full
About twelve months since the Gubernatorisl
canvass commenced in Virginia. As the outset Of
the controversy, as the conductor Of journal in
this. city, declared our dissemination TO adhere
to the policy Of the elder Ritchie far il related
TO the claims Of rival aspirans for the nomination
That policy was to open the press to fair and cour
teous discussion of the claims of s without becom
ing involved as the pArtzan the opponent Of any
We acted in strict accordance with that policy from
the commencement to the close Of the canvass for
the Gubernational nomination, as many articles
from our pen will show. But most unfortunately,
as we think, our Democratic contemporaries gener
ally adopted the very opposite course Letcher was
proposed by leading presses and politicians as the
candidate and ss the only candidate, that ought to
be thought Of for the GubernstOral nomination.
This called forth strong expression of dsapprobs
ton from other leading presses and politicians The
controversy assumed q hostile character from the
start. On the one hand, the inscription was nobody
but Leteher on the other, it was anybody except
Leteher. The feeling between the parties became
bitter in the extreme-mOre so than ought to be
tolerated in contes between friends and foes
We commanded the peace, but in vain. We were
lucky, indeed, in not experiencing the fate of q
Bedford acquaintance who, in attempting to make
peace between two friends on the public highway,
got knocked down by both!
The Letcher and anti-Leteher 6ght brought out
new aspirants for the Gu5erna' oFisl office. They
thought that fine opening presented itself for q
compromise candidate. Accordingly they put their
friends to work to satisfy the people that Letcher
was not the msR. To make cut their case, they
said many hard things Of "honest john" This
they did before the meeting of the Petersburg con-
venIiOn and in that honorable body. Letcher got
the nomination, aHd the nomination was made IN
snimous, or nearly SO, and ali the delegates, or
nearly all, subsequently supported him in good
faith; but unfortunately the influence Of many Of
them was paralyIed by their previous uneonPrOmis-
ing opposition.
After the adjournment Of the Convention the
spirit Of disorgsniEAtOn broke out in the Congress
sional districts. Free fights" commenced in sew
eral districts and continued to the bitter end,
with what results the returns in this days paper
will abundantly testify. The Opposition Organizs-
ton was perfect, while We were almost entirely
without organization And yet We have carried the
State