Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-11-02
Eos. the VindicDtor.
Jeaam Letches, virginIa's Gov.

Mr. YosT, S1R.-Being regular reader
of your Vindicator, trust you will indulge
me in briefly reviewing some of the leading
items of the political life and times of our
Governor have no exception to
take in relation to tie course you have pur
sued since the acts and .doings Of Dr. Moi
felt and yourself in the Charleston and
Baltimore Democratic Conventions. But,
the proceedings of Gov. fletcher, I think,
are most remarkable.
The writer of this brief note has devoted
some time, in order to understand, what it
is that has severed the Democratic party;
and in doing so, he finds that Stephen A.
Douglas, has for several months past devo-
ted the whole of his energies in trying to get
the American people to believe that Squat
ter, net popular Sovereignty is the doc
trine that will save the Union, and that the
doctrine advocated by Mr.. Breckenridge is
equivalent to disunion. What is Mr. Doug
las popular sovereignty, Task? Why it is
intervention on the part of Congress
touching slavery, that is Congress has no
power since the passage Of the Kansas Me-
braska act, to leglslate slavery into or out of
a Territory5 but that the people Of Terri
tory have the right through their legisla-
ture, to exclude slavery by nnfriendly, or
direct legislation. Mr.. Breckenridge on the
other hand maintains, that Congress has no
power to legislate slavery into OR out of a
Territory that territorial Legislature has
no power to admit or exclude slavery; but
that when the people Of Territory are ad-
mtted into the Union as Sovereign State,
that then they have the power to adopt a
Constitution for themselves. admitting or
excluding slavery, as majority of the peo-
pie may elect. Now Sir, | shall not attempt
a commentary for the purpose Of showing
the soundncss of the doctrine Of John G.
in relation to slavery in or
out of Territory Now of the unsound-
ness of Mr.. Douglas pretended faith in re-
lation to the same subjects This has been
done over and over again by VIM. Smith,
and by your able and talented townsman
Thos. j. Niche and others. But shall
proceed to compliment Mr.. fletcher in a way
and manner that his course richly deserves.
Let NE ask you who is John fletcher? Be-
cause, see that he has here of late got to
writing letters in advocacy of Stephen A.
Douglas, and Of his popular Sovereignty"
He has lately answered enquiries made by
BENZ. Crawford and NJ g. Hartman, Esqrs. ).
and more recently he has sent letter to old
Mr.. Augustus Shumate aud others, Of the
town of Monterey, in Highland county,
Now Mr.. Yost, | know you personally, and
know you to be a strong, spicy writer;
please turn to Mr.. Letcher's Shumate letter,
printed in your issue of Goth of Oct, and
read Mr.. Us quotation of one of the resolves
Of the Cincinnati Convention Here is bis
quotation .That by the uniform applica-
ton of the Democratic principles (Mr. l..
says non interference to the organization
Of Territories, and to the admission of new
States, NTH or withoW domestic szove,y as
hey may elect, tile equal rights Of all the
States, aciW De preserved intact, the original
-ompact Of the Constitution maintained IN
yiolate," dc. From this quotation Mr.. l..
declares to Mr. Shumate and others. of
Monterey, and through them to the whole of
Christendom, ssthat Territories should be
organized with or without slavery as they
nay eleet y Now friend Yost, can you be-
eve that tho Democratic Convention assem-
Jlcd at Cincinnati (you were there when
hat resolve was adopted meant that it
should be interpreted as our Governor in
erprets it to old Mr. Shumatc and others
hardly think so. But | ask you again
Who is John Letchcr? You reply that for
en- years he represented the Tenth Legion
District in Congress, and that he made a
light clever representative, that he procured
he nomination of the Petersburg Conven-
ion for Governor, and that he was elected
'ver Mr. Goggin by SONS five thousand
,otes; that he is now our Governor, and of
ate has turned out letter writer against Mr..
Breckenridge, and is an advocate Of the doc
rine of Popular Sovereignty"
I remember, sir, that the members Of the
'etersburg Convention, just alluded to,
,erc informed by Roger A. Pryor, (the
eader Of the Letchcr party in that Con ven
ion. but now an advocate for John G. Breck-
1ridge, who John Letcher was. You re-
lember, Mr.. Yost, that there was strong
pposition to Mr. Letcher in the Petersburg
because Of the endorsation Of
ID 81. T.