The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-02-12
.p.rsonalit,es OF the Press.

Under this head, that adm irable Journal tie Err
o;,sid Inds1 has an article fraught with excellent
ssutimen IT, and breathing adigui6ei nd manly spi
Il. Nothing can be more Just than the observations
If the Inder Personalities cannot increase the
weigh. of an argument but, Il they xelt aBy iu u
.,cs. II lure the cause 10 which they are advanced
sysu though It be good one. Nothing te DDS more
than personalities to diminish the il uence 0, the
nrsss and to lessen the dignity of that ofessiou
1, the eyes of the public. We do not see the
,nsmbers CT the bar conducting their controyer.
.,es in this M banner, aud We cannot sec WHY other
coptr.yersialists should 'pitch In ~ each otbe,
The IndsI says:
We do uot wish 10 be understood as declaring
that parties, animated by party feeling. are not
de.irable. They are nQre-they are necesSdry Pub
lie dIscussiou-;be stump, the street cDrher the
newspaper In whatever frn-ts the gr' ut bui wal
Of our tree institutions. By these means me i AID
messurea sui jscted to air and open test; truth
separates itself irutn error, aud tbs "gDod cause
vipdiestes lis superiority over the lad the real
cnLossrs the false. But there Is moderation il
thug, a. was aid b very wise Pagan q long
tine Bgo. !. IL not necessary that the audience
OF the stump speaker should break up in d
row. or that the strest corner discussion sbouid
end in "a fsht. or that tho Newspaper commep,
should produce an affair Of honor" We are OF
opinion that both slaes, and all parties. and
shades Of opiui 10, 'wCu,6 te benefited by calm~
Let the speaker or the writer hit as hard as pos.
sible-let his blows >. delivered with all the
strength of his arm but let him strike fair"
We deprecste fhs de OF personalities" az Tar
- they eau be omitted and Il: the great majority
of cases they ara of 10 heneit Whatsoever They
DO not illustrate the suhj ,ot they arouse bitter
feeling; and tend, il nearly every imsgina
instance, to an observation OF the real points and
principles at issue 10 the discussion.
80 cone to the particular il ustration of our
vVA ball has
the spirit of . neutral, not as partisan, 10 re-
ferring 70 IL. A Convection Of the old Wing pare
~ wili assemble in Richmond Thursday. The
citizens whom The delegates will represent, are
gates themselves have been selected from tho
best men, holding tie tsbets to which we are
opposed. They will probably nominate for the
ONCE VI Governor. gsntlemau Of character
AID positi0n--s man Who, IN all the relations
of life, -extorts our respect, confidence and es.
teen. Iu dealing with him In business mat.
tsrs, should not hesitate to place implicit re.
liauce upon his statements, aud his honesty.
We shenid enter biz doors without fear of auy
want Of courtesy and hospitality. In all the
walks Of private life, we should award to him q
respect and cordial esteem. as great to cur can
didste, John Letchsr. Why, then, should the an
pouncemsDt Of bis name, as the opposition can
didste, be greeted BY his oppnDeuts with insult
aud dsrisions Why should bis honesty be called
In Question-his cha acter attacked--his personal
aaAirs alluded to, Why should he or MIR Letcher
be made the subject OF partisan personality aud
bitter denunciation! We are 10 favor of fair
and free discussion Of the claims OF these gentle
men upon the votes of the people Of Virginia, for
tie c6aos OF Governor. II Mr. Lstcber is an sabo.
ltttoDist a. heart, let that be proved If his OBJ
poDeDs 10 untrue to bis section and his State let
that TOO be proved. If either Of them hold, opI
Mons repugnsus to the convictions of public good
Df the majority Of the otirsns of the State let the
laet Be demonstrated. and bis aspirations nipped
by "tansfy FROST" which shall put an end to
Them forever We are. We repeat, for o fair, free,
open discussion--as vigorously carried on a. II
ssn possibly be-and We think that, tins, with
Dot any personalities, the best man, holding the
lest opinions, will be indicted into The Cfice Of
3ovtfnor Of Virginia.