Pointe Coupee Democrat. [volume] (False River [i.e. New Roads], Parish of Pointe Coupee [La.]) 1858-1862, 1859-01-15
Hon. John Letcher.

The history of this gentleman, who il
to be the next Governor of Virginia, is
|so familiar to our readers that we dcen
lit almost waste of time and space tt
refer to it in our columns. We learn
from q well-authcnticated sketch of his
life before us, that John Letcher was
born in Lexington, Virginia, where he
still resides, on the 29th of March, 1918.
His parents are still livins-plain and
respectable, and members of the NJ E.
Church, South. At the age of fifteen, he
went to the carpenters trade, under his
father, and became good workman
BY industry and application, day and
might, he acquired o trade and a good
English education at the same time
Alternately, he pushed the plane, han
ldled the saw, and devoted himself to his
books. At length he entered Washing
ton College, at Lexington, where he re-
manned several scssions-and in the fall
Of 1886 commenced the study of law with
Hon. VIM. Taylor, of Lexington, and in
1889 commenced there it's practice. In
the same year he established the Lex
|ington Star newspapers Democratic
|joarnal-and in ls4o, during the reign
of cabins, coon-skins and hard cider,
battled for the success of his party with
IA boldness, zeal, ability and industry
which at once made him favorite Of his
party. He not only employed his pen,
as editor, in favor of Democratic princi-
pies, but traversed the Valley from Lex
ington to Winchester, and from Lcxing-
ton to Christiansburg. addressing from
the stump large meetings Of the people
and again in lS44, as the advocate of
!" Polk, Dallas, and Texas, he went forth
and met in sharp encounter the ablest
Wing speakers Of the Valley and other
parts Of the State. In lS48 he was ap-
pointed Democratic Presidential Elec-
tor, and again became the public advo-
cate Of the principles of his party and
the election Of Gen. Cass. Subsequently
he was elected member of the Reform
Convention to revise and re-moddlc the
State Constitution-and was elected by
1900 majority, although the District
Rockbridge, Augusta and Highland)
was overwhelmingly Wing. In 1851 he
was elected to Congress, and has been
three times reelected without regular
opposition. In all the various public
positions to which be has been called by
lis fellow-citizens, he has discharged the
trusts confided to him with ability and
to his constituents. He is
admired forh sterling per-
'onal aud moral qualities and virtues, as
veil as for the perfect manner in which
le has discharged all his public duties.
lie unites all the requisites for reliable
,ublic man talent, energy, industry,
md unimpeached integrity. By his
trict adherence to the last, he has OBJ
aimed the title Of " Honest John Letch- j
r.' No man, probably, can present a !
airer record, personally and politically l
rom his first entrance into political life t
wenty years ago, he has been Jealous q
nd consistent Democrat, always found
with the great body of his t
arty, and always found defending the i
outh and her Institutions. In l840, on
be occasion Of retiring for time from {
be duties Of editor of the Lexington
tar, in his valcdictory, he said. " have
advocated the principles of
ne Democratic party, from sincere and {
onest conviction Of their truth. l be
eve that they are the only principles
pom which the government can safely
nd successfully be administered" And s
fter referring to his opposition to the 7
'ank Of the U. S., protective tariff, in 8
,rnal improvements by the federal gov
and declaring that he was the {
advocate of liberal and enlarged
ystem Of State internal improvements,
nd liberal system of Education" he
aid, 81 have also opposed abolitiomism in
,ery form,' and, he added, II greatly
,ar that the election Of Gen. Harrison
ILL irtrod,l1.e q ,,alie,. u, tLo .I,n;ni. |