Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1860-11-29
Open Letter to Governor Letcher.
CENTRE DEMOCRAT OFFICE. I
BELLEFoNTE. Pa, Nov. "a, 1860. {

the 18th inst, and which was intended to
elicit from you private. not a public reply.
presumed, [ more from the position you
hold. than any personal knowledge Of your
Exceilency, that you were trle Virg'niaa i
gentleman, and as such, would treat my cor
respondence with The privacy it required, /
This, regret to say, you have not seen prop
er to do am really at loss to uuder-
stand what good you expected to accomplish !
by betrayal of my confidence.
You inform me that nAy letter sis veil cal |
cuated to add fuel to Fl .ne that is burning
With sufficient intensity now," why then
make public so incendiary communication
If inhamatory, (as you think it isl certainly
it would have done much less BARN 10 the
public, in your Ezcellency's pocket than in
the prints. Your conduct towards me, as
Northern man, is transparent, You were in
slate of effervescenee when nay innscent let
ter, (at least SO intended,) reached you, and
you seized upon it Us pretext for venting
your surplus patriotism. Had you written
me and informed me of the distress ing state
of your Exeeilency's mind, | would have
written you letter that you could have
made public with much mere propriety than
the one you published.
You say "my State is 10 part responsible
for sbe present alarming crisis IN public al
fairs" Such charge will meet with an in
dicnant rebuke from the heart Of every Penn
sylvanisn. Our people have ever been con-
servative, and loved the Union with devo-
tion that your people would do well to imi-
tate. The people of the North have done
nothing to aggravate their Southern brethren.
Your Brooks and Pryors have MANNED and
menaced our representatlves-you have cut
down our election poles-our people have
been shot in Kansas-the ballot-box has
bsen forcibly possessed-our public Presses
have been destroyed-freedom of speech has
been stihed, and yet as Southern man, you
gravely tell us that We are the "aggressors,'
that we are responsible that our laws are
unconstitutional, and that we "taunt" you
with superior numbers. 'The Pharisee
stood and prayed thus with himself God |
thank thee that am not as other mcn are
extortioners, unjust adulterers, or even as
this publican"
/ do not enumerate grievances in any spir
it of enmity toward the people of the South.
No no, far be it from me to say one word
that would wound or enrage. l would far
rather allay than add to the excitement that
already distresses our country. would say
to the people of the entire South, come, "men
and bretaern," let US sit down together at
the table of the Union, eat in harmony, and
live in peace.
You inform me "that Pennsylvania is one
eff the eleven non-slaveholdihg States that
has passed statutes, now in force and effect,
designed to obstruct the execution of the Fu'
gitiYe Slave Law. In making this statement
YOU have fallen into error. No such law is
upon our Statute Books. Gov. Maggof6n has
made the same mistake in his late message.
Perhaps he led you into error. [ would most
respectfully suggest that your ExcelleLcies
inform yourselves more thoroughly of our
laws before again attempting to write for the
public Press.
You tell me that the South requires that
if her property shall escape and be found IN
the non-slave- holding States, that we will
see that it is promptly restored to the right
full owner" Now, sir, we have no objection
TO your pursuing your fugitive slaves and
arresting them whenever and wherever you
NAV find them in the non-slave> holding
States, but Ue ,ciH not "see that they are
promptly restored to the rightful owner."-
You may catch your own negroes and we
will not prevent you, but we will not consent
to catch them for you. !" We have other and
better uses for our Pennsylvanians."
You desire me TO cultivate kind, gen
erous and conciliatory spirit t.,toward my fell
low citizens of the South" Your advice was
unnecessary. l bear no malice in my heart
toward any of them, yet do not forget that
when, during the late campaign, visited
Virginia to advocate the election of 4 bra-
ham Lincoln was assailed by mob, and,
with my friends, driven by force from the
soil of Virginia Think you, Pennsylvani-
ans would be guilty Of such conduct No
sir, they would scorn to stifls freedom of
speech as they would scorn to suppress the
liberty of the press.
You endesyor, but vainly. to const?ua my
letter into an insult TO the brave people Of
Virginia. No one more highly appreciates
their courage than do. 10 the war of the
Revolution in 1872, in the struggle with
Mexico, Virginia bore an honorable aud con-
spicuous part. The bones of her sons falling
in our struggles, lis mingled with the dust of
every battle field and far.bs it from me to
impute one word against the courage OF "the
mother of Presidents" The dag was when
Virgians did not consider it dishonorable to
be commanpe by Pennsylyaaiar, and the
day has rot yet come when Pennayvanians
would feel disgraced By Virginian com
mander.
You enumeTate your military with great
precision, and boast your numerical strength.
Sir, let re tell you the army of Union"
will not be one that will "stop to number the
foe."
Vor sov hnra vo fGr;rbk % co,oa;1to Viz.