The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-03-18

900 bales aganst III 900 in 1865 65 COO in 1857 aud
64SOOo In 1856. Common grades of State and West
ern Hour were heavy nd easier while extra brands
hrmiy held Southern flour was some less active, while
prices were unchanged Wheat and corn we're firm, while
saies were moderate a. ates given In another place,
FORK was firm, while sales light with sales OF
mess at $lS 37K SIS 49, cd do at SIT SIN and prime
y siS rs a $l3 80. Beef continued firm. Sugars were
urn and generally about e higher while holders Of
iAr 70 prime grocery goods In many demanded an
advance Of &c per pound. The ales embraced about
$500 hhds including Cuba and New Orleans at rates
gwen IN another column. Coffee wa quiet Freight en-.
gagemeuts were moderate and ratcs unchanged.
The Virginia Campaign-Letoh and Gogg,n
Face 20 Face.
We publish to day, from our spec al correspon-
dent his report of the first collision of the pr,
cent State campaign in Virginia between Mr..
Letcher and Mr.. Goggin, the one the democratic,
and the other the opposition candidate for Gov
ernor. This meeting took place in Harrison
burg, town which lies in that strong demo
cratic hold consisting of three or four couities
known as the "Tenth Legion''-a German district,
| in language, customs and traditions even more
| intensely German than Old Berks county in
| Pennsylvania, and district, too, which polls
one-half the democratic majority of Virginia.
This is peculiarly the stronghold of Mr.. Letcher,
who has represented this constituency for
eight years in Congress. The audacity of Mr..
Goggin, therefore, and hispresumption, in daring
to be; I'd the lion in his den," at Harrisonburg,
may be taken as indicating good deal of cont
dence on the part of the bold intruder, and a
high degree of enthusiasm among his supporters
of the new opposition party.
APPENDED to the more elaborate report of this
fist meeting, we also give to-day our reporters
sketches of the next succeeding discussion, be-
iween Mr. Goggin and Mr.. Letcher in Stanton
and Lexington, where the popular sentiment is
-'rong On The opposition side and where Goggn
feels as much at home as does his contestant in
the "Old Tenth From these reports it is
manifest that Letcher is encountered with the
emharrassments of the defensive, while Goggin
holds the advantages of the defensive posi-
ton. 1t will be remarked, too, that while
the democracy are evidently alarmed, the oppo-
sitior are animated by much higher inspirations
than the local issues at stake. They understand
this c. ntest as involving the shaping of parties,
ard of the great result of the grand campaign of
1860 Thus Mr.. Goggin is encouraged and
stimulated by the fact that he is considered the
pioneer, in reference to 1861 in behalf of the con.
sentative masses of the opposition of every
State in the Union And thus the local
party supporting him are full of enthu-
siasm, in view of the advantages of their position
from the OBJECTIONS, cross purposes, bitches and
breaches, in the democratic ranks.
On the other hand, it will be seen that Mr..
Letcher has undertaken the difficult task of car
lying water on both shoulders-the task of sup
porting Mr.. Buchanan's administration as far as
possible without giving offence to Governor
Wise. But as Governor Wise has made an i'm
passable gulf between himself and the administra-
ton, it will be very hard task for Mr.. Letcher
to persist in the experiment of "stumping the
State" with Mr.. Buchanan on his right arm and
Governor Wise on his left. AS sop to the
Governor, Mr.. Letcher declares his hostility to
the specific tariff policy of the President and to
the Thirty Million Cuba bill. AS a peace offering
to the loyal old-fashioned democracy Mr.. Letcher
defends the administration against the charges of
extravagant expenditures. But Mr.. Letcher
must enlighten the people of Virginia with his
views concerning the Presidents policy in regard
to Mexico and Central America, and in regard to
general bankrupt law, before we can exactly
understand whether his first choice is the Presi-
dent or the Governor
The Richmond Enquirer in effect says to Mr..
Letcher, however, Beware! The administration
ofJames Buchanan is forbidden ground. Sustain
it at your peril. We are now concerned in the
business of providing for the next administration,
for the present is abandoned and repudiated by
the controlling Southern lights of the party
You must choose, Mr. Letcher, between the
views Of Goveror Wise and the policy of Presi-
dent Buchanan. We can tolerate no halfway
compromise" And SO Mr.. Letcher treads gin
gerly over this forbidden ground But he will be
brought to answer. He flights shy;' but Goggin
will be apt to hold him toit. Hemust also respect
the critical position of Gov. Wise and his Presi-
Dental clique, or they will make the position OF
Mr.. Letcher decidedly more critical than it is
This is the pivot upon which the whole case
hinges: and it remains to be seen how it will
turn. Mr.. Hunter advocated in the Senate thu
Thirty Million bill. Governor Wise, through hi
central organ, the Enquirer, denounced it as vic
lently as any opposition organ in the country
To this extent Mr.. Letcher is with Wise, ani
against Hunter; but it is not enough. Nomi
mated by the Hunter men, Mr.. Letcher must d.
something more for the Wise faction before h
can quiet their suspicious; and the Enquirer hold
the rod over him like master.
While, therefore, between these three stools
the administration Hunter and Wise-th
democratic candidate for Governor of Viz
ginia is in danger of falling to the ground
the opposition elements in behalf Of MI
Goggin are united as they were neve
united before. And why? Simply because the.
perceive that between the miserable Southern