Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-03-01
Communications.

Fcllo,v Citizens Of Bath
IL is with reluctance | appear before you
IN the public print. But in Justice TO my sell
and friends, | am compelled 10 do So Twas
no sooner known that was 10 be a candi-
date to represent The County, than SEINE were
ready 10 "ut in circulation downright false
hoods against me; and endeavour no doubt,
10 inJnre my character thereby.
In taking ride through the county,
have learned that a report is in circulation,
that, at caucus meeting held at Mai Civ
ems, the Night after our January Court, for
the purpose Of nominating (it is said, a
suitable person to represent the County, that
then and there Mr.. VIM. McCliniic and
myself, were put in nomination, and that he
(Wm. McClntic) and myself, had a con-
versation on the subject before the cunclu-
sion Of The meeting. and came To an under
standing, that the candidate who received the
greater number of votes should continue in
the field, and the other, whether he or myself.
should infallibly decline, and give the other
his support.
That IA meeting was held at Mai. Givens'
at that lime acknowledge for happened
to be present and, that VIM. McCliniic g.
myself were put in nomination, also &C.
knowledge. But, that there was any agrees
ment, sucbas the one circulated in the report,
| most positively deny; for the fact is we
had 70 conversation on the subject either be-.
fore, or during the continuance ofthe meet
ing.
Happening there, as did, TO stay all night
at the Tavern of Maj. Owens, on my way to
Pocahonlus, did not feel myself u member
OF the meeting until the apparent object Of
the meeting being made known, namely,
that q. passing few resolutions, approx ing
the course OF the present Administration,
was appointed one of committee 10 draw up
a few resolutions suitable for the occasion,
and present them TO the meeting. This done,
considered myself no more a member OF
the meeting, the avowed object of which
having now been attended TO.
But, ID, and behold the matter did not stop
here, for in the farther movement of Mr..
VIM. McClintic and Il number OF other gen>
tlemen in attendance On the occasion, | saw
the prime and real object of the meeting be-
gin clearly TO develop itsels They proceeds
ed TO the nomination.-il is known by many
of my friends that was opposed TO caucus
meetings 10 bring out Candida,es-for had
expressed myself freely 10 several persons
before on the subject.
The principle upon which such meetings
proceed is anii-republIcan. -savouring much
OF Aristocracy, for therein the few dictate
for the many ,having tendency TO take away
our liberty; compelling US to vote for a man
wherein we otherwise would not have done.
Ii we are free people, let us endeavour TO
maintain that freedom by keeping ourselves
uniettered, that we may thereby exercise
our own free will. But being present a, the
meeting and seeing as did the nomination
would go on, | reluctantly permitted my
name 10 be had in nomination, through ST.
lence on the occasion, solely through courte-
sy TO my friends and the meeting-not wish
ing TO hurt the feelings of the one ; nor in
terrupt the harmony OF the other. Let il
therefore be understood that am candi-
date TO represent the good people of Bath in
the next General Assembly of Virginia; and
that the report in reference TO the agreement
between VIM. McClintc and myself, is gra-
tuitous and false, and circulated no doubt
with design TO injure my eieclion-With
these few sentiments hastily thrown togeth
err, in the form semewh hat OF defence, may
| now be permitted to conclude, by simply
expressing hope. that time will prove that
there are in The County Of Bath hundreds al
least, il not thousands, who have not yet
bowed The knee to BasI.
WIN. LOCKRfDGE.
Feb'y. 18th 1888.