Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-03-18

worthy and disiranchised portion q oar popula-
ton known as Wings and Know-N -Nothiussbut viii
he say he would not be thankful for thsir ssd. to
beat Mr. Goggins Or will he, or any other man Of
responsibility and common senss, say. that If .
candidate for Office he would not prefer that the
votes Of any class of people, that were clothed BY
the Constitution with the power ts vote, should
be given to him, rather than to his competitor.
If they will then have only TO ssy. I don't be-
leve them, md nobody else will, hat iftrue, they
ought Mt once, az Col. Benton would have said.
to DO 'cuf for The simpies."
During the revolutionary war, the negroes were
armed, md their MD accepted 70 rcpel tho
enemies oi tho country, and at the battle Of New
Orleans Gen. jackson availed himself Of the nid
Of the slaves Of Louisiana in beating back the
British forces under Packenham. But, was II ey-
or charged that either our forefathsrs or General
Jackson proposed to anite with the negroes, ff,e
or bond on terms of equality or reciprocity -
Such an attempt in this case on the part Of Mr..
l.etcher is unworthy Of his past position, and of
tho position he seeks to fill. Let km leave such
efforts to reckless party press, and conduct tho
canvass ON his own merits, and the merits Of his
party, ON its measures and principles, with man.
Illness that would seem to indicate that he had
some little remnining confdence-.that the cause
he represents is npright aud just and not implied
ly admit that either himself nor his cause can DO
SUSTAINED. except by resort to an expedient thAt
will neither ndd to his political advantage nor to
his personal honor.
There were five persons formerly Of this city,
WIN arc now dead, but whose memories will 1.-Two
in the public regard for many, many long years
to come who never omitted mn opportunity to cast
their votes for mo when was q candidate, either
for the State Legislature or for Couaress--nnd of
whofe support have felt, and shall ever feel, a
nst degree Of pridc-they were John Marshall.
John Wirkham, Chapman Johpson. Watkins.
Leigh and Robert Stnnard; and yet, when tho
sheriff came 10 count up tho votes at the close Of
Qlc polls, they counted but fve--and If hn,s re.
Viewed the vote Of "Noiungeon," and he hnd been
authorized by the Constitution IN vote. aud had
had majority oi only oneit would have been
difficult 10 rll.whcthor was most indebted to my
eecti"n to the ".Aoiungeon," or to the Chief JUS
tice OF the United States; and II my competitor
had received six "Molungeoni' votes, or the votes
of six worthless and degraded locofocos, (suppos-
ing there could bc my such,) they would hnve
more than balanced these five Of the 6rst mon the
S'nic could boast and hardly think ever had
competitor. whn would not have claimed the bene-
III oi the return, On the ground that one constitu-
uonal vote wns good for election a. an another
But, lastly, he says, "Spoils nro of more interest
to me thun the rights OF the South" Now, / ask
John I.etchrr 10 ny his hand upon his heart and
answer. before Heaven. whether he believes this
10 hc true. What spols hive received or sought
What evidence have given Of a desire, or thirst
for spills? Whnt party have foraaken or aban-
d"ned? Whnt principles, notions have |
chaaged or rccahfcd when n candidate, or not a
cnulidntc. for public bonors and emoluments1
When was charged with taking spoil., under the
Instructions of 80 men. that would not take
without them. and that had admitted l was not
EMIT lel to receive? When was charged with
kerping watch over the Treasury to defeat private
claims. old soldiers bountes. and old widows
pensions, whilst was voting the appropriation of
millions for purposes that would necessarily en-
hance the value of my own private speculations
No Mr. I,pt.h ttiua ~ psu ns,,Io f,~
spoils il very common charge against politicians,
csp 'rially those Of the party to which you belong
but no such charge has eyer been before made, or
can now DO sustained. against me.
II when have been denounced and beaten by
my own party and hn every possible induce
mont and promise of reward held ont by the other
If when daily examples were spread before me,
oi those who hnd renounecd their party associates,
abandoned their long cherished opinions and prin.
cirles, and gone over to those whom they had for
years aud years denounced, as rogues and royal
ists, and thieves and traitors, and were then re-
wardcd for their apostacy with high honors and
clpolumonts-it when saw all this, stood firm
unl mmovable in my integrity. and my princi-
pies, not in hopeless minority only, but almost
by myself alone, when spoiis and honor and dis-
h"cton were within my grasp--if this gives evi-
dcnce of my preference for spoils over the rights
OF the South, or anything else that was right or
Just, or proper in itself then Mr. Letcher's denun.
ciatory charge falls harmless at my feet, and re-
coils with tcn-!od severity upon him who rashly
makes it md leave him TO the full enjoyment
Of whatever advantage it may yield him.
But, John Letcher does not believe it himself,
and honest John should have been too honest to
have said it. Let him reach tho Guboruatorial
chair by far and honorable means, II he can. but
let him exhibit moro generosity and fairness than
thus to attempt the sacrifice of friend, make
his reputation sepping-stone to his own prefer
ment; but he must not expect me to sit with my
nrms folded, under such imputations from him.
Respectfully, JNO. N. BOTTS.