Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-11-23
Letter from Gov. Letcler.

! FRIDAY MORNING., NOPEMbhn Go'
Letter from Gov. Letcher.
We publish this morning letter from th
Governor Of Virginia, to which We would cal
attention. At the present time, in the excltet
condition Of the public mind, the opinions an'
views of men holding high official position ar
looked to with very great interest. AS an lndl
cation of the future course Of the Governor o
Virginia, this letter has peculiar Importance
The very remarkable letter TO which Governo
Lctchcr replies, is but an indication OF the cha
racter of public feeling ut the North. Conquest
coercion and crushing out" are in the mind
of the eighteen millions" US easily accom-
plished as egg-breaking "by strong man,
Gov. Letcher administers calm and just re
buke to Northern notification, and shows lha
dcrcliction Of duty, on the part Of the North
has been the prime cause Of all the prescn
troubles. He advises his correspondent, and
all other Northern men, to correct public SEN
timcnt Mt homc-to discharge their Constitu-
tional dutics-and they will find no cause o
complaint against the South. But Northern mel
well know their own disgraceful notification
Of the Constitution, and they may not heet
the ad,nonitions Of Virginia's Governor. Ic
the calm and determined voice Of Virginia;
Executive, advising them to remain at home,
NAV have most salutary effect upon theln.-
Should this admonition fail, the Northern
pcople will find that the Executive Of Vir.
sinia, knowing The rights Of the State, will
never permit them TO suffer in one .jot or little
by any act Of bis.
The letter Of Gov. Lscher indicates deter
minaton TO defend the State and tostand as the
mediator, if necessary the armed mediator, be
tween the States Of the South, and their as
sailants, come from what quarter they may
The people Of Virginia will rally to her Cover,
nor in his nob,c determination 10 defend her
rights and those uf her sister States Of the
South, and sustain him as thcy have ever sus,
tanned her faithful Executives.
The letter is published ut a most opportune
moment, and We hope will arouse the refcctng
and conscI vative men ii the North 10 con.
temptation Of the civil war TO which the un
constitutional and arrogant course Of the North
is fast hurrying the country. The Northern
States hold the issues Uf peace or war; with
then, rests the continued union Of the States
they alone can save the Republic. Will they
discharge their duty: Delay is dangerous
! While their newspapers are ridiculing secession
and disunion, Southern States are calmly pre-
pairing to disScvrr their connection with the
! Union.
The right of secession is being discussed at
the North but, right or no right, secession
will be exercised BY the South, unless the
Northern States speedily take steps to repeal
their unconstitutional laws, and f.rnish other
guarantees.
CESTlG DEMOCRAT OFFICE,
BELLEFoSrE, CENTRE COUNTY, PESSA.,
November 18th, 1860.
Governor John Lstcler Of Virginia.:
DEAR SIR:-The present position Of South
Carolina and the sympathy manifested for her
| by many OF the Southern States is to some 4
| matter Of anusement--to others IL matter Of
| alarm.
The disunion sentiment, which has been
| growing gradually in this country since the
notification of 1898, has at length assumed
| huge proportions, and, in my opinion, this
spirit Of rebellion should now be crushed, and
cffectually crushed If we are to have dis
union, let it come now; We will never be better
able 10 grapple with the monster than at the
present hour The rapid growth Of ideas and
sentiments in this country render delays dan.
gerous to the stability Of our Government, and
the welfare OF our people If we wish to crush
an obnoxious doctrine we must do it at once, or
| it will grow to be formidable, and ultimately
distract the peace and harmony Of our Govern
ment. Polygamy is an example OF this fact
! Twenty years ago, and the man who dared 10
mouth dsunon was looked upon askance and
Stunned by his fellow citizens as traitor;
HOW il is in the mouth Of millions; and men,
| 10 gaping multitudes and in our market places,
every dav boast themselves disunionists. The
South will never be satisfied until she has at.
tempted to separate these States-sooncr or
! later that test of the stability OF our Govern
ment must come, and the sooner the better. |
would rather have this danger in the past than
! in the future. Twenty-eight millions OF Tree
men in the North are ready to meet disunlon
now, and crush it as the strong man crushes
an cggshell in his hand
! States cannot reserve the right to sccede-
| They are the common property OF the Govern
| nent Texas cost Us many millions oil dollars,
and shall Texas now be permitted to walk out
of the Union with those millions OF our money
Suppose we pay two hundred millions for Cuba
one day, shall we permit her to 80 out OF inc
! Union the next with those two hundred NIL
| lions. This doctrine Of the reserved right ol
States to sccede is prepoSterous.
The people Of the North will never peace
ably submit to the secession Of the South. II
the worst comes TO the worst, let brother 80 to
war with brother, and let the stronger party
! take possession Of the tchole Government
We must have no Southern Confederacy-
Northern Republic, but Union OF "many IN
| one"
Two hundred of your Virginians have ten
dered me their command in the event OF dis
union. am at your service-l will march at II
moments warning and, if necessary, give my
life for the maintenance Of the Consttuhon
and tie Union.
hold that the election Of Abraham Lincoln
is no lust cause ior secession. 1t is the result
of our system Of government. The majority
of our people have declared through the ballot
box that he IS their choice and the minority
should acquicsce | await your orders;
Believing you to be a pure minded states
man. and true lover Of your country, | am,
with sentiments OF respect, truly yours,
JAS. S. BRlSBIN.
Please aHJner.
RICHMOND, Va, Nov. 70, 1860
S1R;-Yesterday morning I received your
..v,roo-l;r,r,. letter of the 10th instant. am