Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-11-02
RICHMOND VIRGINIA,

Gentlemen When your letter Of the
9th reached this city, I was absent in the
North Western portion of the State, in dis
charge Of an official duty. l embrace the
earliest opportunity, since my return, to re-
ply:
If had the leisure to prepare my views
fully, upon the various points suggested in
your letter, it would give me very sincere
pleasure to do SO. But every moment of
time is Of the utmost Importance to me-
My official engagements and duties are so
numerous, and Of so pressing character,
that / have not the time to spare that would
be required for this purpose.
My position has been stated, in letter.
that was very generally published in the
papers of the State, in which declared my
preference for Douglas and Johnson. Sub
sequent r. Election, and subsequent develop
ments, have strengthened and confirmed me
in the preference then expressed.
| have known Judge Douglas for years,
and | regard him as true, faithful, bold,
independent and patriotic statesman, of un-
usually fine talents, and great public expe-
rience in our National affairs. For years
he has fought the battles Of the South, in
the Senate and before the people, and he
has fought them with gallantry and de-
termination never surpassed. For these val
liable services, the southern people have not
only felt, but they have on many occasions
furnished substantial evidence of their graf
itude. Only four years ago, at the Cincin
natl Convention, the Southern States voted
sundry times, by decided majority, for
Judge Douglas for President, and contin-
ued to vote for him, until his name was with
drawn by his own direction. Most of the
States which seeded at Charlie ston, (six, |
believe Of the delegations voted for Judge
Douglas, perhaps more than dozen times,
in the Cincinnati Convention. Subsequent
ly. when the Senatorial struggle took place
in Illinois, and Judge Douglas canvassed
all parts of the State against Lincoln, the
deepest interest was manifested for his sue
cess, in all portions Of the Southern coun-
try, and by all parties in the South. These
things, (many others equally significant and
mi ght be enumerated, } showed
clearly that Judge Douglas was then con-
sidered entirely trustworthy and reliable by
the South, and if he was reliable then, is
there any good reason for distressing him
now? think not, and so thinking, have
considered it my duty to support him.
I approved of the course of our delegation
in refusing to withdraw from the Charleston
Convention, and in remaining in that body
and voting ffty-seven times for a nominee
for the Presidency. The platform which
had been adopted before these votes were
cast, must have been acceptable to them. or
they would have gone out, with the other
seeding States. disapproved of their course
IN withdrawingsat Baltimore. | hold that
the Convention at Baltimore had the un-
doubted right to determine who should ill
the places made vacant by the withdrawal
at Charleston, and the decision ofthis ques-
ton furnished no just cause for the secess
sion of the Virginia delegation.
The admission of improper delegates was
the reason assigned for the disruption at
Baltimore. But is this the issue upon which
the canvass is now conducted between
Breckenridge and Douglas? Not at ALL
So far from it, the people of Virginia are
now appealed OF to vote against Douglas, be-
cause lie is opposed to the doctrine of In
tervention for the protection Of slavery in
the Territories. 10 this doctrine, Douglas
has always been opposed, as even his enc
mics all admit. To this doctrine, an over
whelming majority Of t he Democratic
people and Democratic press in Virginia
were opposed, up to the adjournment of the
C,nvont;on Of BALTIMORE Tt ia fair to in !
fer, therefore, that all the Virginia delega-
ton were opposed to this doctrine, except
Mr. Fisher, as he was the only one who
at Charleston.
On this question Of Popular Sovereignty,
about which so much is now said, believe