Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-05-19
A Couple of Recanters.

Mr.. Le,cher aud his Licutcnant-the famous
Red Fox are both political 'recanters.' Mr..
Le.cher rccants the Rufoer pamphlet, and the
Lieutenant recants the iunumcrablc votes against
Internal Improvements which be gave whilc
member Of the Legislature.
This thing Of recanting is a very convenient mr.
raneement As soon as politician finds that he
is swimming against the popular current. all no
has to do is to turn short round, strike out vigo-
rously down the stream, aud shout out Mt tho top
Of his voice "recsnt.' - "recant."
But there are some men--succcssful politicians
too--who never recant. There is Gov Wise for
instance-who not only refused to recant. but
published that refusal from every stump in the
State. When old jackson Democrats who rccol-
lected his former fierce invectves against their
idol, implored Mr. Wise to knock off little dis
count from his claim against the Democracy Of
Jackson's and Van Burcn's time, no steadily
refused to abate single dollar. lie had pot TIA
ken his position hurriedly and there was therefore
no occasion for any rccantation. lie had formed
his opinions upon deliberate thought and invest-
CATION, and those opinions were rs firm and solid
~ the Rock of Gibraltar itself Gov. Wise, t,
this day, has never recanted his bill of indictment
against jackson and Van Buren,, and,-what is
more-he swears that he never will.
We do not say a man ought never to change nm
opiniou-not at all. When he finds it is wrong,
it 10 his duty to change. And we hope and be-
ieve great many Virginia Democrats will find
themselves wrong before election day. and signify
their conversion from darkness to light by repu-
RAJ Of h.,
day. But We do say that it is best always not to
put too much trust in those politicians who form
their opinions so loosely that they are constantly
changing backwards and forwards, like the vaue
upon church steeple during the prevalence Of
high wind.
Now, Mr.. Letcher and his Lieutenant may both
be very sincere m their protested recantations.
Every voter will have his own opinions about
that. Bot pat the most charitable construction
spoo their professions, and suppose they are sin.
eere-snd re still AJAX the question whether il is
nss b<sser 70 take men who have no med to reeant
xsything, bot whose records, both upon Slavery
apA Issesnal Improvements, as sound rs
silver dsliarf Is it DO, better to trust men who
hare been faithful through evil as well a. good
report, rather than those fair-weather men Who
by recanting backwards and forwards. always
manage to be found on the popular side! An
olkceholdcr in Washington who retained his place
daring various Administrations, Wing and Demo-
cratic, was once asked how he managed it. lie
replied that il Administrations could change any
faster than he could. they would have lively
time oft! We do not mean to say that Mr.
Letcher and Mr.. Montague have changed their
opinions and set their sails to catch the popular
brsese-but il certainly seems better that we con-
fde in those who have been sound from tho be-
ginning rather than those whose vaciation
shakes and unsettles the popular confidence in the
6rmness Of their principles.
Mr.. Letcher was opposed to slavery in Western
Virginia when it was popular to be on that side
,of the question--and Mr.. Mntague in Eastern Vr-
ginia was opposed to Internal Improvements for
thssane reason. Very soon q change of senti-
msnts takes place in both sections and upon both,
squestions--and, prestol Mr.. Letcher and Mr.
sNontaess change front with a facility that it is
wonderful to contemplate. When man chan
,gss from . popular side to weak side there is 9
mach stronger odor Of sincerity about THAN wher
he goes over from the weak side to the strong!
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