Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-07-31
To J. T. PATTON, ESQ.
LEXINGTON, July Is, 1850

Gentlemen " our highly esteemed favor of the
9th inst, in which you say, that rumor has reach
ed you that ! have declined being Candidate Tor
the Convention and in which you express an earn
est hope that will Immediately declare mysefa can
ddate is received, and is entitled to- and shall re-
ceiye, prompt reply. The rumor you refer TO is no!
without foundation, and | feel that it is due TO YOU
that should state the reasons which induced me 10
decline tue canvass.
In reply to an invitation from number of my fell
low citizens of this County, who invited me to be-
come candidate for the Convention, | stated that
should reserve TO myself the right of determining
thereafter whether or not would be a candidate
That reservation grew out of my knowledge of the
fact, that my brother was spoken OF at the time a
candidate, and belief that he was disposed to be-
come one. thought that both of us could not be-
come candidates without either assuming the attitude
of rival candidates. subecting ourselves to the i'm
putaton Of trying to monopolize public honors both
of which, was disposed TO avoid. And felt dis
posed to wait until it could be determined in some
appropriate manner, which should accept The nomz
nation. ] presume that the same considerations
operated on his mind, until he reached Monterey as
he did not declare himself candidate up to that time
When he did announce himself candidate, (arer |
had addressed the peope,) felt that the question of
which should be candidate, had been decided. in a
manner 10 relieve me from any obligation to abstain
from also becoming one; and | left your county,
with the design of announcing myself as candidate,
at the June Courtln Augusta, Notwithstanding clear
ly perceived, that in doing so, would have TO en-
counter the united forces Of strong coalition On
my return to this place, however, | met with gen.
tlemen, for whom | entertain high regard. who
frankystaed that if both my brother and mvselrvere
candidates, it would place him and MANY other Of our
mutual friends, in an embarrassing position, as they
would not like 10 have to vote against either of us.
He also stated, that apprehensions were entertained
by some, that il both were candidates it might have
the effect OF preventing more than one Delegate be-
ing elected 10 the Convention from this county
These views, thus frankly expressed, induced me,
after much reiection to decline the canvass. rather
than do any act, which might in any degree, embar-
rass those had often honored me with their support.
or which by possibility, might deprive tie county Of
its due proportion Of representation from the District,
in the Convention.
| fully concur with you gentlemen, in the opinion,
that there has been great deal ounlar management
and intrigue gong in this District in reference to
the election o Delegates TO the Convention, espe-
cally III the formation of wha! its supporters term
the reform ticket, but, which might ir my opnionbe
more appropriately called the coalition ticket; ow-
ing Its existence, as really believe ii does TO CO.
alton formed between certain leaders of the Demo-
cratic party, and portion of the Wing party, for the
purpose Of diSposng Of various offices amongst them
selves and their adherents. That such an associa-
tlon exists and that was entered into with the view
Of excluding certain persons from office, and putting
others into them, by controlling the popular yoteby
intrigue, think admits of no rational doubt and the
pre'ence of there being reform party and an anti
reform party in the district, and of obecting to GER
tam candidates as being ant-reormers, and support
ING others as reform candidates, is mere cloak 10
hide hese6sh purposes Of the association If the as
socation thus formed, shall succeed then the form
ality OF an election by the people, will be but lit
tie better than farce, aud instead of the people be-
ing lett as they ought to be, 10 the most unrestricted
freedom, in selecting from all the candidates before
them, they viii. merely act the part of bed Of Jus
tice, (as the paraments of France were called) to
register the DEGREES OF the association by which the
so called reform ticket was formed. And instead oil
each candidate being left 10 depend for success upon
the opinion oil the people as to the merits, qualifca-
tons and capacity, TO serve them, his election will
depeud on the ability of an irresponsible and self
constituted association to control the popular will
it would be difficult to tell the precise time at which
the association was formed, U use the term assoca-
ton, because understand branch of the concern
at this place has adopted that name) but it is well
known, that publications were sent out from Saun-
ton for distributions some time before the canvass for
the Convention began aud before it was known who
would be candidates, or what opinions they would
entertain, on the subjects of reform, with view no
doubt TO impress the minds Of the people with the
idea that there would be candidates out, who would
be opposed 10 reforming the Constitution II is moi
very dilcult, however, with the facts before us, and
to which will presently advert, to tell some of those
In NVh nP6t lp al
Some time since, cannot tell precisely when. as
have no copy of the paper before me,) ticket
called the reform ticket was published, in a
paper called the Messenger, containing the names OF
J. Lecher, J. d. Davidson, David FultZ Fulton,and
Adam Stephenson, accompanied BY a statement, TO
the effect, that, the opinions of these gentlemen on
the subject OF reform were we'll known, and that il
was ascertalned that they the choice of their
respective counties, for representatives to the Con-
venuon The names of three of those gentlemen
sun continue on the ticke the other two refused to
become candidates, as it was knooca they would do,
when lhelr names were put on the ticket to gil up
blanks, until they could be filled with the names OF
others who could bring sufficient capital INTO the
concern TO make the machine work my suspicious
a' 'he "'i.e that such was the design Of placing the
names OF the gentlemen on the ticket, have since
ascertalnea on very good authority to be well found
eu' now or from whom the author oflhe statement
which accompanied the announcement of the ticket
asceftained that the gentlemen named in the ticket
were the choice OF their respective counties, do moi
know. Perhaps the three gentlemen whose names
remain on the ticket could tell something about it. as
1t is said, they were all in Staunon about that time.
In the Valley Star of the 9th of June last it was
stated, under the Editorial head that there seemed to
DC uiSposluon to discard party, politics, and make
up reform ticket of three Wings and two Demo
Gratis, to represent the District; that John Letcher
would be the decided choice of majority of the re-
formers ofthis County; and that the people of the
County think that one Lawyer upon the ticket in
Rockbridge would be enough" This authoritative
announcement, in one of the organs of the associa
ton, left very little room for doubt, as to who was
to be, aud who was not to be permitted TO be elect