New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-12-12
SHERMAN And LETCHER.
EQUALITY OF THEIR TREASON.


To The Editor Of The ~ Y. Tribune.
SIR: 1t would seem that the House Of Represents
tives Of the United States after five days Of unpara
eled excitement and confusion, Is yet unorganized
because John Sherman of Ohio, the most prominent
candidate for presiding officer of that august body
signed several months tinee circular recommending
the proposed distribution of LOG, 600 copies of com
pepdum of ny Anti-Slavery book" The Impending
Crisis Of the South" The objection thus urged
aeains, John Sherman Of Ohio is Of precisely such a
nature as that which might be urged against John
Letcler Of Virginia, formerly Member of Congress,
now Governor elect of the Old Dominion.
I have before me, for general circulation an
L" address 10 The People Of Vest Virginia, shoarfng
that Slarery injurious TO tie Public Hcare, and
"1at a mag be Gradually A5olished, uttOut detri-
"ment 10 The Rights and Iatere;ts Of Shareholders.
"Bv a Shareholder Of West Virginia. lexington,
" va. Printed By r. c. Noei 1871" Closely fol-
lowing the title page ia letter TO the Rev Henry
Rufiner, d. D., author of the Address requesting a
COW for publication and expressing the opinion that the
reverend eentleman's argument twas not only able,
but u,innswerable and that its publication will tend
"to bring tie public mind conclusion on that
" nomeutous question" The signers of this sympa-
rsthiziuR letter which is dated Lexington, Va,
Sept |, 1871, j" arc, in regular order, az follows:
goHS LETCHFR, john EcHoLs,
JANIS G. HAMILTON. JACOB G Fy5bER' IT,
JOHN w FULLER
twill be observed that John Le,cher, ex-mem5er
Of Congress, now Governor elect of Virginia, is the
second sguer and indorser of DR.. Rufner pamphlet
And what il the character Of the pamphlet IL shad
sr.ak for itself. DIR. Ruffner says:
Let all the West, on due consideration conclude
that slavery is "a perniciOus institution, ana must be
gradually removed; then, united IN our views on AL
The great interests of our Wet Virginia, we shan
meet tie approaching crisis with lntexibls resoiutlon
snd Wet Virginia and must succeed IN her ap-
rroschng struggle for her rights and her prosperity
Nowhere, since time began have the two systems
of Slave Labor and Free Labor been subjected 10 so
fair ard 80 decisive trial Of their effects public
rrosperity as in these United States. Here the two
syssms have worked eide by side for ages under such
equal circumstances, both Political and physical and
with such ami tine and opportunity foT each 70 WORK
cut ts proper effects that al must admit the exper'
uent to be now complete and the result decisive No
man Of common sense, who mas observed thh result,
ear doU b for moment that the system OF Free LABOR
PROMOTES the growth and prosperity OF states In a
much higher degree than the system OF Save LABOR
- II lie the common remark OF all who have Travelled
through the United States that the Free states and the
Slave Ssaies exhibit striking contrast IN their appear
snce Ia the older Free States seen al the tokens
/
thriving villages towns and cities-s neat and pro-
dueiiye agriculture growing manufactures, and active
commerce. -
In the older narts of the Slave States, with few
local exceptions are seen on the contrary two EVIL
dent signs Of sranafion Of positive decays sparce
population, Il sovenly cultivation spread over vast
feids that are wearing out, among others already
worn out and desolaie; villages and towns few and
far between, rarely growing, often decayinS, some
tes mere remnants OF what they were sometimes de-
serted ruins haunted only by owls generally no
manufacture, nor even trades except the ndspensa
BE few; commerce and navigation abandoned "a Ia
as possible TO the people Of the Free States and gene
rsy, instead of The stir and hustle OF industry dull
Gud dreamy s;ress broken, If broken Al al, only b.
the wordy brswl OF polite.
" But We depend no, on general statements Of this
sort however unques,ionsble their ruth may BE- We
shall present you with statistical iseI. draWn nom
public documents Of the highest authority. We shall
compare Slayes States with Free States IN general and
in particular, and in many points OF view tna' you
cannc, mistake in forming your JUDGMENT OF iheg com
parstiye prosperity.
+" Some Virgins politicians prosdly-ye-, proudly