Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-05-05
ACCOMACK.

ACCOMACh.
TO tss Editors Of iis Enquirer:
From the enclosed returns, you VIII see 'hd'
we have los, the county. Our friends everywhere
considered The election OF MIR. VIM. h. b. Gus
lis perfectly safe and many of the best inloflneu
Wings in the county concurred 10 ms opinion
Acting under tbi. belief, tens and hundreds OF Inc
Democrats remained al home. II is known mat
within six miles Of the Courthouse, there were d.
least from IS 10 100 Democrats who dla ho' s",e'
| regret to say that i'll some neishoo'hoosu.s W..
Gusts lost votes on account OF The schoo' ON 'ua'
was submitted by the last Legislature 70 'he Peo
pic for their appreciation. MANY persons VIZ
made 10 believe, and ~ those VINO kneM .is,urs
that The bill had actually passed the Legislature
AID become law, and 10 carry out this system
N. res would have 10 be increased TO such a
decree as 10 consume all the hard earnings OF The
moor. To impose thus on the Ignorant and Gre
dulous, may appear honorable 10 some gentle
men, but the virl1ous and intelligent oil every COM
munity will look with scorn and Indignation upon
such conduct.
The contest between MIR. Jas. w. Gusts and
MI. John C. Wise was almost entirely person
al one. Both OF them pTofessed 10 disregard me
ties OF party; both of them called on their person
al friends. their neiehboIs, their associates, TO
sunportthem on this occasion; both OF them pro-
claimed that they would carry OUT the wishes OF
the people of Accomack in The election oil U.
S. Senator. MIR. Wise said he should feel II bus
duty, if elected TO ascertain between this ana 'te
meeting of the Legislature the wishes Oh Inc
member Of both parties and after so ascertaining
them, il would be his pleasure, as well as his du-
t.. 10 reflect their wishes in the Legislature
Mr.. James w. Gusts declared, whenever ne ad-
dressed The people, that he would obey instroc-
tions in the election Of U. S. Senator; bull II ne
was elected, and received no instructions, ne
should feel himself at liberty 10 vote Tor wing
il one could be elected. But ne empnaleaily
pledged himself, on every proper occasion, 'nal
If a Whlg could not be elected, he would give MS
hearty suppor, TO a gentleman of this county,
refer to the Hen. Thos II. Bayly-and | am
proud 10 say that this position OF Mr: Custis
met with the decided appreciation OF lhe most
intelligent Wings in the county. Mr.; James
w. Gusts concurred with Mr.. William n.
3. Gusts in the opinion, that the large De,
mocratic majority in the last Legislature would
not be overcome by the Wings this Spring.
Indeed, so far from their majority being dininish
ed il was generally believed, from The retirement
of many prominent Wings, and the yielding OF
many heretofore closely contested counties TO Inc
Democrats, that their majority would be iarse,J
increased. Under these circumstances be thought
The Democrats would risk nothing in voting for
him on this occasion. Many Democrats, perso-
nally friendly TO MIR. Gusts, believing this lar
and candid, not only gave him their votes, bul
hearty and cheerful support. That MIR. Gusts IS
mainly indebted for his election 10 The support ne
received from this quarter, will not be question:
ed BY any one who has scrutnized The polls.
am iold, by gentleman who is well acquainted
with The voters oil the county, that there are al
least one hundred and twenty Democratic votes
recorded on his poll Those who know James
w. Gusts will never doubt that every piedse ne
has given TO the people will be honestly redeem
ed This personal contest between Mr.. Cuslis
and Mr.. Wise, resulted, as il will be seem ID a
large majority in favor OF Mr.. Gusts. Mt,
am sure, does not claim this as Wing triumph;
the large number Of respectable Democrats that
he finds on his poll would not justify him in doing
this. even il he desired il, as am sure ne does
MOI.
OF Mr.. William Finney, the other Wing, who
has been elected from this county, and The means
by which he has accomplished his election, have
but lille 10 say He has been mere cypher in
This contest, and no one in their most visionary
moments ever dreamed that he would be SO highly
honored by The people Of Accomack His poliiical
opinions, if any he has, are about as well known
10 the people Of Asia as they are TO those Of Aoco-
macll::. had MIR. Wise tauntinsy remarked, after
county, that he had yet TO learn whether his oppo-
nent, Mr.. Finney, was Wing or Tory, and II ne
had hi. gun loaded, and was then 10 IRE Oh mat
gentleman, he should not know whether he was
striking down a political enemy or po'itIcai
I: lend. No one desired 10 know Mr.. Finney's po-
li,ical sentiments, because no one believed he
would be elected. 1t is, however, very unlottu-
nate for Mr.. Finney, that his political opinions
were not distinctly known in the county. For
now that the election is over, there arc many VINO
positively declare that they voted for MIR. Finney,
believing him 10 be good Republican, and IN
favor of the District School System, while others,
equally respectable, maintain that they voted tor
him. believing him TO be good Federal Wing,
and opposed to The School System. ! say this is
unfortunate for MIR. Finney, and il would be cruel
to believe that he was in any way instrumental IN
causing this diversity OF opinion. Oh, no. Such
an unchartabe and undigni6ed courss can never
be attributed to that gentleman. He would not
have YOU believe it Messrs. Editors, though re-
spectable and disinterested gentlemen should
vouch for its truth.
cannot close this hastily written communica-
ten, without expressing The deep morthca.on
the Democratic party feel in The defeat OF Mr.
VIM H. 3. Gusts, and il the election were to be
tried over tomorrow, The result would be lar
different, and the triumphant vote OF five hundred
be greatly increased in numbers His friends
feel keeniy, that their apathy, the result Of over
confidence, has lost them one OF the best represen-
laives thai the county has ever had, and against
whom the most hostile political opponent could
not urge an objection. Though defeated on this
occasion, he has the proud satisfaction TO know
that he has faithfully discharged his duty, and
no! murmur Of complain, has been head
against him, and bui for The over confidence Of
his friends he would have been lriumpbani!y
elected in The contest that is just over. cannot
omit 10 notice The manly and independent course
that MIR. Gusts ha. pursued in this election. He
me, the people wherever they were assembled,
and frankly and eloqueny proclaimed his poll
lical sentiments, and he asked them, if they con-
CURED with him, to give him their support He
"never could be induced (he sadly TO peddle the
county over and make personal solicitation TO The
voters for their support" He considered this de-
rogatory to himself and insulting 10 The people.
The following is correct statement Of the