Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-11-27
Gov. Lercher,s Letter.

A friend, over the SiShatu'e S"N'
| to.day's enquirer" c%riticIses IN expression
in Gov. Letchcr's Brisbin lcttcr-in our op'n
ion rather too much in a pathological sense
sor the importance of the question. The whole
of the paragraph to which our correspondent
sxcents should be taken together, and not tho
detached sentence. The whole paragraph is
as follows:
"The South asks only for the fair and faith
full execution Of the laws passed for the re-
covery and protection Of her property-thai
you will cease 10 cmbarrass and lend your aiu
to effect their execution, according to theii
letter and spirit-that if her property shall
escape and be found in the non-Slarehoidlns
States, you will see thatit is promptly restored
to the rightful owner. Surely there Is patriot
ism enough in Pennsylvania and the other non
slavcholding States to grant what the law mas
declared to Le our due, especially when the
preservation OF the Union depends upon 1t
In concluding this branch Of the subject, per
NIT ME to add, that if the North Will respect
and uphold the rights Of the States, the c"'o"
piH be perpetual, our country will continue 10
grow in power and influence, the people OF all
sections will have secured to them tho blessings
of peace, quiet and order, and a prosperity,
such as has never been known or appreciated
in our past history, will be the necessary re-
suit"
We did not take the word "only' With the
powerful restrictive sense in which our CORES
pondent has received it. We understood ooV.
Letcher to be discussing the particular branch
of the subject" relating to fugitive slaves, ard
saving that, upon "this branch Of the subject,
"The South asks only" Ii. c. simply, me'efy,J
'.for the faithful execution of the laws pass
ed" &c. That is to say, that the South did not
ask any additional legistion Of Congrcss uponthe
subject of fugitive slaves-but 'only" simply
merely, the faithful execution Of the laws al
ready passed. That Governor Letcher did not
mean to contine the grievances OF the South TO
the notification of the fugitive slave law, is
conclusively shown by the concluding sentence
of the paragraph in the words we have itall-
ciscd. To that branch of the subject" he
adds" the collective wrongs Of the South in
the "rights Of tie States" uphold the rights
Of the States" and then, and then only the
Union will be perpetual"
We should never have given this letter our
cndorsation had We considered it as lowering,
in the smallest degree, the demands OF the
South. We considered the rights Of the
States rs embracing, in general phase, the
territorial question Of slavery, while the tugi,
tive slave law related to the rights Of indi-
viduals.
This is the sense in which We approved the
letter, and, without having consulted Governor
Letcher, we believe that this is the sense in
which he intended it to be received.
Letchcr aud Rrisbin Correspondence.
To the Editors Of the Enquirer:
have read, this morning, a correspondence
between one James s. Brisbin and Governor
Letcher. think this Mr.. Brisbin is, most
probably a funny cousin Of mine, who had
taken it into his head to amuse himself with
our Governor over the feathery title of Brlsbin,
| can hardly think that there are W hundred
men in Virginia, such knavcs and fools. as to
offer themselves to 4 Pennsylvania Of no note,
for the purpose Of making war upon Sir
cinia. ! 10 not feel therefore, any Of the IN
dignation and disgust, which such an insolcnt
and nefariouS document would excite, if be-
lieyed it were u genuine one, although 1t cma-
mates from one so obscure and ignorant as
James S. Brisbin if he be a real person and
not nv funny cousin who affects these quail
ties. But the letter Of Governor Letcher is
q real letter, and, in my opinion, If |
read it correctly, 4 very singular one-and
/ am afraid that in giving it your endorsement
you have fallen into an error quite remarkable
for gentlemen holding your opinions, and gen
orally so astutc us you are. If | miSinterpre,
the Governors letter, the error is mine, Of
course, and not yours but interpreting it as
do, | think it my duty, rs your friend, to call
your attention to it. The Governor undertakes
to tell Mr.. Brisbin, quite unnecessarily, | think,
under the circumstances, what the wrongs and
demands Of the South are, and in doing so he
SAYS: The South asks only for the fair and
faithful execution of the laws passed for the
recovery and protection Of her property that
you will cease to clnbarrass, and lend your aid
to effect their execution, according to their let
ter and spirit that if her property shall escape,
and be found in the non-slavcholding
States, you will see that it is promptly
restored to its rightful owner" Surely
there is patriotism enough in Pennsylvania
and the other non.slaveholding States, to grant
what the law has declared to be our due, cspc'
cially when the representation of the Union de-
ponds upon it." Now, if | read this letter cor
rectly, the Governor afiirms that the only
wrong done to the South BY the North, for
which the South demands redress, is the re1u'
sal to enforce the Fugitive Slave Law. Am
correct in this? IT, ain, has not Gov. LetchcE
either committed 4 singular mistake, or done
great injustice to the South, and especially to
the Breckenridge party, who believe that other
and ~grievous wrongs have been done to US
foremost among which is the denial OF our
equality in the Territories, and the refnsa'
to afford us any protection for our property in
them, followed by the election of q man TO the
Presidency, because he has declared that tho
conflict with US is irreprcssible, and the coun'
try cannot be half free and half slave. Is moi
this another presentation OF the Governors
Douglas mania? | would not do injustice to the
Governor or to yourselves, and shall regard and
promptly acknowledge it if | do. invite you
therefore, to re-cxamine the letter with these
suggestions. and if they are correct, to cal
upon the Governor to state what is the true
meaning Of it. 1t is proper to add, that aIl
perfectly satisfied that you would not have en-
dorsed the letter if you had understood it as
do, and | hope it will turn out that the Cover
nor wrote hastily, and did not mean what hi:
words obviously express. Qrlz.
49, -
For tie EMquirer::
In rs much as the election Of a President o
the Richmond and York River Railroad compa
nv is expected to come off on the 18th of De
ce,nber next. and, whereas, much, very much
is said as to the fact who shall be elected OF
that occasion, it does appear to me-, land
have heard others express the same opinion
that in view of the financial condition Of the
country, and the peculiar circumstances sur
rounding the road, us | understand it, the pre-