Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-06-15
An Eccentric Politician

consented b, be q candidate for the lower House
of Congress in tho yicksburg District in Miss's-
.;nni and has already entered upon the canvass.
Foo>s IL one Of the most remarkable politicians
I. the Union. Bold, talented, eccentric and DASH
ins be never fails 10 make his mark, no matter
whore you place him. Most public men have the
faculty Of keeping quiet at certain times and u"'
der certsiu circumstances Footo seems to he
in stase Of perpetual unrest. Wherever he may
be--whether in Mississippi or California or Ton
nes,ec, or the White Sulphur Springs in Virginia
the people Of the vicnage are very apt to Know
that Foote 10 ..aboat" Not that he is ofhciou-,
or rs;sy. or intsrmeddling But be can no more
keen himself quiet than could light yawl upon
the open sea, during the prevalence Of n's"
wind.
His first prominent appearance before the pub
lie resulted from his fighting n couple OF dnes
with Sargent s. Prentiss in Mississippi within
fev dav. of each other Next we boar Of him as
one of the leaders Of the fre-eating and fllhus-
terins wing Of the Mississippi Democracy. and
displaying 70 much talent and zeal and fervor in
the cause, that he was speedily elevated to tho
United States Senate. Ia this body footc started
off upon an extreme Southern tack. lie went rs
far as he who went fsrthest in asserting "South-
ern rights" lie even proclaimed, on one occa-
sion in the Senate that the Union would be dis
solved on the succeeding day. and we believe he
fixed the exact time when it would occnr-at pre-.
cisely twenty minutes past one o'clock. lie bad
gcred and annoyed old Benton one day to such mn
extent that when the latter came baek ut him
with an insulting reply Foote whipped out pistol
a, him, and threatened to make funeral Of old
Bullion RICH, upon tho floor Of the Senate la
short, the gallant little Mississipinn WINS set down
for one Of the most voracious pyrorhagists OF fire
eaters in the nation.
But when the Compromise measures OF 1850
came up for consideration. Footo espouscd them
with characteristic warmth He united with Clay
and Webster and King and others. and was ac-
counted Immediately one of the lenders Of tho
Union party. A strong secession party in the
meantime, arose in Mississippi headed by jeff.
Davis. and embracing most Of the leading polIl'
clans of the Stae--and, rs an election for Cover
nor was about 10 take place, foote was called
home from Washington TO take the lead of the
forces of the unionists, lie pitched in with his
usual energy aud abandon, and WINS elected over
a man universally and deserycdy beloved in Mis-
sissippi, the late Gen John A. Quitman.
Before his term as Governor expired the scccs-
sion party got the upper hand in Mississippi, and
when Foote went out OF the Gnhernatorlal chair,
he found himself in the condition Mr.. Webster
was, after he had abandoned the Tyler Admins
tration-with no where to 20 to. But he did not
follow Mr.. Wehsters example, and get back
among his old friends. About this time the al
vent Of the American party was noted, and lis
rising tide was sweeping off everything before ii.
The Ex-Governor plunged into tho stream, but
like the rest of us who associated with the
party, soon found that il was from the peculiar
circumstances of the case, and not from any wan,
Of merit in its principles objects. not party Of
victory. The next We hear Of the Governor, he
was of to California, where he came very near
being elected to the Senate from that State. Re-
turning year or two ago, he proclaimed himself
a Democrat, but denounced the Administration.
and refused to worship at the Democratic affairs.
lie even made speech, short time ago, Mt the
Opposition State Convention in Teuncssec-and
when the proposition to declare in favor of the
revival of the African Slave Trade was mooted in
ground against it, and denounced it in terms of
extraordinary severity.
Such is the history, and such the prcsen, polit-
ical status Of this eccentric and distinguished gen
ueman. He is now a candidate for Congress. and
opposes the successor Of Quitman. The main
issue between them is the question of the revival
Of the African slave trade. Footc is bold, aad
eloquent and fearless-bnt we doubt his success
in the enterprise no has undertaken. Mississippi
Of all the States Of the Union approaches nearest
unanimity in desiring a re-opening of the slave
trade. Wefe Gov Foote to make his issue with
the Administration denouncrg it for its extrava-
gance, its corruption, its profigacy, and its inf
deity to its promiscs and pledges, he would have
much better prospect of success.
The Memphis Avalanche. a Democratic iournal'
when it WAS supposed that Mr.. Lctcher had been
defeated for Governor in Virginia put forth the
following commentary:
The nomination of John Letcher was singular
ly unfortunate. He had expressed sentiments
upon the subject Of slavery offensive to the people
OF Virginia and tho result shows that the Dcmuc-
racy Of the old Dominion will never support with
cordiality man for Governor unles he is above
suspicion on the vital and absorbing question Of
slavery.
As it has turned cut that Mr.. Letcher is elect
ed we suppose the Avalanche will of re-
verse its opinion land it will now declare that the
Democracy Of the Old Dominion riH support q
nominee who is not above suspicion ON the subjec,
Of slavery. Atany rate they seem to have sup
ported him with great cordiality ina certain ror
ton Of The Statei
The truth Of the matter ia. the Virginia Democracy
are vary much like the Democracy everywhere