Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-01-05

r. Leeohorso A04op94nce. 4
A ~ ~ have Mr.. Lescl1ss's fsspone 70 ne
Connissse Of "ths Deuscrsas stA.s Rights Re-
pablisaa party Of yirgiria." Here it is.
wAsnixoroS Crrr, D. c. Dec. "a. 1853.
Gsnelenea:--I have received your letter Of the
- -, iu(bsming ne chat eat Convention Of
the Democratic State Rights Republican party,
which recently assembled in the City Of Peters
barr."I Vas 'nominated as their candidate tor
he e2A q ecvsfnornf Virginia" Witha CRATE
6nl appreciasion az the honor thus conferred upon
- ~ my Democratic fellow-citiscns, through
90 leprsssntadves. In Convention assembled,
'sesspe tue nesnination.
nsosssary for me TO cay more than that have
been identified with the Democratic State Rights
Republican party from my youth to the present
tins Honestly convinced that the principles of
she rarity afe sound, national and conservative
and satisfied that its maintenance and success are
essential to the preservation OF tho States, have
uniformly advocated its measures aud policy, both
ss private citizen and representative of the
people.
Ny views on the subject Of State Internal I'm
prosements were communicated to the Convention
prior to my nomination, by Mr.. Garland. of Cul-
pepper county, and II is due to him and myself
that should here rcterate them. have ever
advocated liberal and enlightened policy, be-
ffevfng such improvements indispensable " the
development Of the wealth and resources Of tho
State and to the advancement Of the prosperity
Of the people. desire, therefore, to see the lead
ing lines now in progress, pushed as rapidly ~
practicable, to completion. Lateral lines will FOL
low the completion Of the main lines in proper
time, a. the necessities Of the several localities
shall require their construction. In granting
rights ofway, or in projecting new improvements.
some regard should be had to the general system
which the State has adopted. These views will
be faithfully aud fairly carried out.
My speeches delivered in Congress. and my lot
ters Of last summer Ia the cditor Of THE South
explain my position on the Slavery quest'on-out
10 avoid III apprehension, ! state in language
distinct and emphatic. tina. regard the institution
Of domestic slavery, existing in Virginia, and the
other slave holding States, morally, socially and
politically, right. / trust that will be found as
ready to defend the institution, and to resist NIL
encroachments upon it, as any man in the, Com
monwcalth. In doing this, ! will be defending
and protecting my own interests and property a.
well as the interests and property Of my follow
citiscns
If the people Of Virginia shall elect me to tho
position for which | have been nominated. by
those whom you have tho honor to represent,
pledge myself 70 faithful and impartial discharge
Of the duties Of the of6ce, with reference, solely,
to the advancement Of the prosperity, the pro,cc-
ton Of tho rights, and the preservation Of the in.
terests, Institutions and honor Of our noble old
Commonwealth.
For the polite terms in which you have COM
municated the action Of the Convention, accept
my thanks.
a Lam truly, your fellow citizen,
JOIN LETCnER.
No doubt Mr. Letcher supposes that this res
ponss will be sufficient offset to his former re-
cord. No doubt it was intended an entire re-
version and retraction Of his endorsement of tho
Rufnsr pamphlet. To those who are willing TO
aocept IL as such. have nothing further to say.
If they are willing to consider the present express
sion Of his belief--an opinion given under the
pressure OF u nomination for the highest Office in
the Stats-as u sufficient atonement for his viii
inguess 10 abotionize Western Virginia in 1913
and his sncers at the "negro-ocracy of Eastern
Virginia" in the Reform Convention Of 1885, it is
useless TO argue the question further. For our
solves We accept Mr.. Letchers penitential confess
sions with this careotthuti it is curious should
have heard Of them for the first time after he was
spoken Of for Governor, and after lie had receive
the nomination for the Office from that long name
oonventicle of politicians entitled THE Democrat
&c State Rights Republican party Of Virginia"
Most persons would be more apt to consider those
a. the real sentiments of q man, which were cx-
pressed in the cool and calm moments of reflection
and quietude rather than those which arc de-
manded by the exigencies of n canvass, and the
policy Of political party
In other respects Mr.. Letcher's letter is liable
10 mieoonstruction at least if not to positive OBJ
lection. Or the vital question Of Internal I'm
provements Mr.. Lecher is not as explicit as we
could have wished him. Thus no expresses
wish that the leading lines" of improvement
NOW in progress" may be finished. Now, there
is no leading line" Of improvement NOW in pro-
gress," which requires any aid, except the Cow
ington and Ohio Road. Does Mr.. Letchcr mean
10 oonhne his sanction exclusively to that enter
prise-an enterprise we make bold to say, less de-
serving Of encouragement than any ever projected
in the State; aud which, if prosecuted. must lucy
itaby increase the debt of the State not less than
twenty millions Of dollars?
Does Mr.. Letcher mean,by inserting The quali6-
cation Of ''now in progress" to exclude from Ex-
ocutive favor the great Water Line Of Virginia!
II would ssoh so-for this is a work not now "in
progress" except that its merits aud Importance
are daily progressing in the hands of the people
Of Virginia. Arc We to understand that Mr..
Letcher il in favor Of arresting that great work
where it ia. when the expenditure of a compare
lively tri6ing sum would enable 1t to realise for
Virgins much more than its projectors ever
dreamed q in their widest calculations! On this
pnant We repeat, Mr.. Letcher is too non commit
tai- The people Of Virginia will not rest content
with thsss vague and general declarations.
Scarcely less satisfactory is Mr.. Letcher's posi-.
tion in regard 70 "latsrL lines" What lateral
linssf TAis q a most indefinite expression. Tn,
proposed line From Salem. on the Virginia and