Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-07-05
Another Presidential Aspirant.


Let Wise aud Hunter and Douglas ct cstera
"stand down the hall" The Hon. John Letch-
or, encouraged by his wonderful achievements
in the recent gubernatorial canvass and shrewdly
suspecting that the peculiarly striking points OF
his political record would be of immense adj
vantage in o national contest, is now brought
squarely before the country by his home organ,
the "Valley STAR" as prominent candidate ior
the Charleston nomination. The enquirer Is
slightly mistaken if it supposes that the Dem
ocratic sentiment of the State is divided be-
tween Hunter and Wise and that al the other
great Democrats of Virginia are to be unceIe-
moniously showed aside by those two grasping
individuals and their excited partisans. MIR,
Letoher is in the ring, ''and that he has strong
hold upon tho affections of the people OF this
Union no man eau for moment doubt" SO
says the "Valey Star," aud that the Star" knows
no man can for a moment doubt. "his Is no
mushroom reputation, but acquired through in
dustry, energy ana display or SOUND Judgment.
That his name will be prominent before the
National Convention no one can have reason
able doubt" So says the Star, and that such
will be the fact no one can have reasonable
doubt. Mr.. Letcher's organ proceeds toremark
that "his election to the Gubernatorial CHAIR OF
the mother of States, but adds another wave to
the already immense tide of popularity that at
taohes to him. But for the unbounded popular
ity of Mr. Letcher, we should have lost the Gov
ernor at the late election, as we do not believe
that another man could have been started,
through the broad limits of the State, who could
have overcome the Opposition party, so complete
was their organization Mr.. Letcher being now
fully endorsed by his own State, the South can
have no objection to him upon the slavery
question; and as to his Democracy, the entire
Union wants but al opportunity to endorse that
too"
Thus, il win be seen, the fight for the Presiden-
tial nomination in Virginia, has assumed tri-
angular shape. Who knows what may be &C.
complished by Mr.. Letcher's "unbounded pop
ularity." Perhaps we may yet ParaPhrase that
antiousted poem about the hon and the unicorn,
and sing after the adjournment ofthe Charleston
Convention:
Run-mad Tom and Gizzard Foot
Fighting for the Grown,
Up Jumped Honest John
And Knocked 'em both down.
The Star alludes to "the continued and lsbored
efforts in certain quarter" to detract from Mr..
Letchers popularity, but is decidedly OF the o.
ninion that all such assaults will be fruitless.-
We do not know exactly what certain quarter
Is meant, but we hardly suppose it is the Oppo-
sition. So far as we are concerned, we 60 Tor
Mr. Letcber against the field! We were his
staunch friends and ardent supporters for the
Petersburg nomination, and we shall not desert
him now when with laudable ambition he likes
his eve upon the still higher prize. In fact, we
claim the honor of having frst brought Mr.
Letcher prominently before the people, more
than year ago, as the "Star" will doubtless re-
member, and when he gets to be President of
the United States, we shall expect in consider
alton of our services to DO favored with rea-
sonabe share of the public printing.
Asthe "Star" is the homo organ of Mr.. Letcher,
it is fair to presume that it speaks by authority
when it states that Mr.. Letoher will be prom
ineptly before the Charleston Convention; and
we shall therefore expect to see IN the "En-
ouirern a re hash of the spirited editorials upon
Mr.. Letcher's Ruffnerism which appeared IN
that paper before the meeting OF the Petersburg
Convention. If he was "vile abolitionlst
when he aspired to the position Of Governor, the
mere fact of his election to the office does not
clear him of the stain. How much more We
hement, therefore, win be the opposition of the
Enquirer, when Mr.. Letcher takes q prominent
stand for the Presidency. For consistenoy's
sake, therefore, let the batteries be opened at
once, before every thing is swept down by Mr..
Letcher's unbounded popularity, aud the South
with her peculiar institutions is placed at the
mercy of Southern President with Northern
principles.
Closing of the Schools.
Within the last two weeks, the sessions Of the