Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-05-18
IT, me Editors of The Enquirer:


We have heard variety of reports relative TO vio-
lent outbreak In Acc0mac county, on the DAY OIL eIes
tom bur have not hitherto ad'erted TO the
lest we might do injustice 10 some OF the parties III
the last Petersburg nelllgencer we find the ioiowns
statement the subject: ,.
ttWe learn from good source that Accomac Court,
house Was on the election day. the of great ana
singular excitement. II seems tiat the Methoulsl
nomination in that county are dlyaeu as 10 Sn,h.
between attaching themselves TO the Northern or Sou
ern division Of that Church. and that this question DE-
came issue in the canvass. -. Ia,
nOur informant says that about O'Clock on tne gay
Of election, when Gen. Bayly was running lar aneaa
his competitor, Mr.. Jones, and had received me VI
most Of those who preferred the Southern Con'sIene1,
The advocates Of the Northern division OF the chui
made their appearance III the polls, and began 70 .
their votes rapidly for Gen. Bayly lhe irlenus VI w.
Southern Conference, on seeing TINS, chaigeu zen.
iy or his friends with beraying the sonh ny cou.s
both parties and Immediately several blows Weie u'ni
ed al Gen. B., which fortunately by the ntefposlon ~
remainder OF the day and night was very great sno,
The close Of the POLLS Gen. Bayy lett the Court house,
guardtd by his friends
All Il proper that we should mention that our INFORM
ant stated that Mr. Jones eIonerated Gen. Bayy from
The charge of tampering with the friends OF the NORTH
That his friends did H. Is proved by the iact ina' WI.
Pouson a Democrat Of the first water, and who has re-
that Senatorial District, as well rs the coun
y in the House of Delegates refused to vote for Cen
ayy, the ground Of the support which these Adolf
| lonists gave him. ~,
"Mr Custis Democratic member elect to.tlle House
Of Delegates from The county Of Accomac saa 10 oe
an advocate Of the Northern DIVISION Oh tue me'nou'
hold In Virginia When remember The question
which divided the Church-when we reflect that some
Of the purest and ahlcst men OF the soulh Woua ho s
In the General Conference OF the Church. because OF the
agitation In that body OF The question OF slave
ry IL IL wonderful that slavehoding county IN smei
mia should 10 be represented III the COUNCILS OF
| the State by friend of the opponents OF slavery
1.-THE Enquirer very anxious 10 gel pledge from
Mr. Bolts in regard the Wimot Proviso, and we shall
expect hear its voice lifted up in indignant rebuRe oil
| the Democracy of Accomac."
| Now, Sirs, do not care from whom or what
source this statement is derived, pronounce il
false in every material particular.
To place The matter referred TO in The statement
Of the Intelligencer, and my course in reference
10 il, in its true light, few preliminary remarks
are necessary.
| Il is generally known that, short time since,
division in the Methodist Church took place
growing out of the proceedings relative 10 Bishop
| Andrew. This peninsula comprising the Stale
OF Delaware and The Eastern Shore OF Maryland
and Virginia all Of which is slaveholding coun
| try, had been in consequence OF its geographical
position Tor long time attached 10 The Philadel-
phia Conference; and after The division Of the
Church, the Methodist Societies OF Accomac
believe with a single exception decided TO ad.
here 10 their ancient connection with that Confer
ence About this time public meeting vi the
people of Accomac was convened TO lake The
subject into consideration. That meeting was
held upon August Court Gay, 1876, when Sc
lies OF resolutions we're passed. which have al
ready been spread before The country Al the
time these proceedings took place, was not in
The county Congress had adjourned on the
| 10Th OF August and, almost Immediately there
alter | followed my family 10 the Virginia
Springs, 10 get that recreation which the cares
OF my estate and profession would deprive me
of il remained al home, and which The exhaust
ing labors OF the session that had Just passed and
OF those Of the one which was about 10 commence
made So necessary. returned home IN October
| and remained on the Eastern shore until the lat
Ter part Of November. In the mean time great
deal Of excitement had been created in Accomac.
| About the time left home 10 go 10 Washington,
| was Told BY leading politician OF our county
that the Melhodisls and their friends were very
much exasperae ted by the proceedings OF the pub.
| lie meeting held in August and The address
which a committee Of that meeting had made TO
The people Of the county, and that ne was sails
fled they would make The matter test IN The
spring election and he expressed his cenvlction
that it would become necessary 10 meet lhem
upon it, declared TO him in The most earnest
terms my conviction that no such question ought
| TO be drawn into politics and adJuIed MIN tot lake
| no step which would lead TO it, He assured me
he was unwilling TO do any thing which would
| embarass me, as he was very anxious tor myre
election expressed pretty confident belief that
| would have no opposition and III al il had, the
| introduction Of this question would not IN
| lure me. | told him | was satisfied i. would
| not for believing il 10 be- question unit 10
| be made an issue in congressional cam
vas, nothing should induce me TO take any
step which might lead 10 such result. inns
| declaration was frequently made in public, and
became generally known in Accomac and North
ampon AT that time, had been assured by
reading w iIYs uI tilr Eastern onuir, and OF other
| portions OF the district, that they did not desire
| that should be harassed with unavaiing oppo.
] siloD and that they would lend il no coun,enance.
| Ii will Tins be seen, that | took my stand upon
! this subject, when could moi and did not believe
nv reelection in The slightest danger and, OF
course, was aclualed by principle, and hot by
party policy leil home 10 attend The session OF
| Congress in November. commenced my can
vass in Northumberland on The 9Th Of March,
| Mr.. Jones and myself were detained in Norfolk
| by boisterous weather, and did not get over To
| Accomac March Court on The 29ih, as both OF US
| SO much desired. We got over TO Norlhamp-
| ion on that day-and that night came home
| On nv way was informed that, on that day,
meeting had been held al The Court House 10
take into consideration this Methodist conrroyer-
81, and a resolution passed appointing commit.
lee 10 present 10 the candidates Tor Congress and
the Legislature the proceedings OF The meeting,
and 10 ascertain their opinions relative 10 them.
| al once declared, without consulting with any
| body, and without enqurlng OF any one me cur
rent of public opinion, of which my long absence
| from home Left me ignorant, that | would resist
the introduction of any such question into The
canvass; that, in my opinion, OF all The matters
| in the world, a church controversy was the iasl
] which should be introduced into Congressional
| canvass; and that no matter how respectable me
meeting might be which should attempt IT,
| would not be induced TO lend such an attempt
nv countenance, lei The consequences be whal
| they might II was represented ~ me by some
| OF nv friends, that The excitement in the country
was so great on This subject, and The question had
become SO ALA absorbing that they feared, il re.
| fused 10 take ground upon in the canvass,
would be defeated. This did not shake my pur-
pose. reminded them that had been able al.
| wavs 10 sustain myself in Accomac amid all the
mutations of parry and againstthe vilesl assaults
Of bitter part, men, only by refusing 10 connect my
self with questions which were illesilimale issues,
| and by stalking myself on questions which would
stand the test of scrutiny and ime that asslilla
young man, and il was more important 10 me, as
far even as political success was concerned, 70 DC
| right Than 10 be reelected TO Congress. | pre-
se1led other views TO show The improprely.o of per-
milline The election in Accomac TO turn upon This
Methodist controversy represented thai was
The Democratic candidate for twelve counties, and
| asked, with what proprely could consent TO
lose sight oil the issue upon which The election
was turning in the other eleven counties, and per-
mi, il 10 turn here upon one in which they took no
interest," and 10 show the improperly OF the course,
| asked with what propriety they could ask
Mr. Jones, who was a stranger in our county, 10
lake part in one OF our local quarrels. | was
told, that The Wings did not think the resolutions
oue hi 10 be presented to Mr.. Jones or that he
ought 10 be expected TO answer them! TINS DIS
closed The whole scheme. They had tailed 10
their calculations founded upon hoped-for split
in nv district between the friends OF Mr.. Cal
houn and the rest OF The Democratic parry, and
their las, chance was This patriotic scheme.
To show that this scheme was deeper laid than
many would suppose, friend oil mine who hap,
pened 10 be on the Wesern shore al The time oil
The election, was oldthere bytwo leading Wings,
that this question was to be pressed upon me,
and take what course might, would be broken