Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-21
Mr.. Letcher's Address.

Review of Mr. Letcher's recent Address,
in the fredericksburg Herald
Mr. Letcher appears before the public in
an address to the Voters Of Virginia, Of six
columns length.
In this address Mr.. l.. proceeds to discuss
the questions aud present his views upon In
ternal improvements; the Divorce of the
State from the Banks; the Pension Bill; Dis
trbution and the Tariff; and the Slavery
Question, in various aspects.
Mr.. Letcher maintains that he has good
Internal Improvement record, and refers to
the course of policy he pursed whilst editor
of the Valley Star, a newspaper printed in
Lexington, together with his action rs n
member of the Reform Convention, which
he says
Il feel persuaded, will satisfy all reasona-
BILE men that the Internal Improvement poll
cy of the State has no more devoted friend
than myself
Mr.. Letcher next addresses himself to the
subject Of Divorce of the State from the
Banks. He refers to the systems in opera
ton, and says:
MY policy il Glands off," separate the
State from the banks, and leave the two va
rietes to demonstrate their relative advan-
tages before the people, who are interested
only in securing the safest and best system.
Mr.. l.. next discusses the suspension fea-
ture, and argues, we think very positively
to the conclusion that the Banks should be
wound up whenever they are forced to sus-
pend specie payment, and in order that the
State NAV be enabled to do this without di-
rect injury, favors the sale of her stock; for
he says:
"Principle and policy alike require that
the State should be separated from her bank
ing institutions. So long as the union ex-
ists, the State cannot legislate indepen-
IDENTIFY
1t Is scarcely necessary to argue this ques-
ton of winding up our Banking institutions
during monetary crisis. Who, pray, are
the Stockholders in our Banks? Our own
citizens-and to great extent, widows and
orphans, whose money has been invested
And, who, pray, are to be injured by wind
ing up our financial institutions? Our own
merchants, our own mechanics, our own far
mers Each and every one who has been
the recipient of Bank accommodation. In
stead, therefore, of wisely alternating the
misfortunes of the times. Mr. Letcher would
crush out all hope, all means of relief, by
declaring the charters of our banks forfeited,
and sending them into Bankruptcy during Il
monetary crisis Here is the wisdom of the
statesman for you!
Mr.. Letcher has been handling gold in
Washington-he has been paid off his 3d.
600 year in gold, and as he gets gold with
out effCrt, he infers that gold must be plenty!
He maintains in his address that "there is
enough in Virginia to pay three millions Of
tareS." To prove the wisdom of his policy
Mr.. Letcher cites some half dozen States
who pay in specie, but in not one of them
do the taxes amount to orer haLf million OF
dollars, whilst in Virginia three millions will
be necessary.
This is no youthfd opinion of John
Letcher. 1t is the last card of that gentle
man, bearing dated May IL, 1859. We can
not pursue this subject further, but we in
woke every man who is in favor of paying
his taxes in gold and silver to come forth and
cat his vote for Letcher Let those who are
content with the system now in practice vote
for the man who thinks our exactions oner-
Gus enough without feather being added
to their weight.
The Pension Law is next discussed by Mr..
Letcher. He says:
"For my vote against this measure, have
been arraigned by my competitor and his
allies and organs. l have no apology to
make for the vote. gave it after due con.
sideration, believing the vote right when
given, and believe it right now"
Distribution and the Tariff are next pas
sed in the review of Mr.. Letcher. These
favorite questions Of ours are opposed, of
course. We should like to elaborate in their
consideration, but our space precludes; yet
we cannot but exclaim, oh the depth of the
wisdom of John Letcher at least upon one
subject, viz: the expenditures of Govern
ment. lie says upon this head:
81 would like to present some views on
Government expenditures, but this find l
cannot do without making this address un-
reasonably long"
Yes, they are indefensible, and you very
wisely conclude not to stir them up, but leave
that subject with the declaration that you
"voted against almost all the expenditures
complained Of" Almost all ~ A saving
clause
The Slavery Question ia next discussed,
in which he admits that in lS47. he center
tanned the opinion that 'slasery acas social
aud political epl,'" and that he "did not
change 1t until the fall Of 1919" Various
public men are cited as having entertained
the same opinion, but these gentlemen are
not candidates before the people of Virginia
for the Office highest in their gift.
The Ruffner Pamphlet is examined and
for the first time, Mr. Letcher has put his
finger on the passages which he objected to
in it.
Referring to DR.. Ruffner and the Pamph'
let. Mr.. Letcher says:
The terms in which he had spoken OF
slavery as "bldck romit," &c, and the pro
position to educate the negroes. were decld'
edly Objectionable to me, as l know from
conversation ut the time they were to others
of the signers of the letter, and hence the
refusal on my part, and ! believe on the part
of others, to endorse the pamphlet by con.
tributing to the cost of the publication:
did not then believe, nor do ] now believe
that DR.. Ruffner had practised fraud IN
the preparation of the pamphlet"
Letter from Ex Ex-senator Foote.
Mr.. Foote declines to present himself as q
candidate for Congress, and says