Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-08-28
From Inc Bcdford gentiar,.
lpY REoEsT.l
Co,. WinyieId,s Cnrd.

create false impression IN regard to his
course on the proposition TO reconsider the
Basis Compromise. That we may have
made wrong impression, through igno-
rance the Campbell instructions, Is most
irue--but, that we did il desigaedly-if
that is the meaning intended to be convey
cd by the ord "attcmpted" is most I'M
true. If Col, Wingfeld had simply said,
that our remarks upon his course had cre-
ated false impression, we should proba-
ably. have said nothing, because his Card
was evidently, written before the appear
ance of ours. Itwould have been true
though, innocently done. II he had sent
as a note, stating the facts, we should have
published ii cheerful.y. and acknowledged
our niistake-a mistake under which we
labored in common with every one here,
including bis own friends. Blu. did we
wait for this No. The day. we be-
lieve, after his return from Richmond. a
friend Of ours, learning the state Of tho
case from him, Informed us Oft, and we
Immediately wrote the following parn-
graph. which appeared in the Sentinel Of
the sth iast.-ihree days before the APP
pcarancc of bis card in the pirginian:
I'VE learn for the first time, that the in
structions from Campbell county to our
Delegates in the Convention, were peren-
tory in demanding the unmitigated mixed
Basis Every one here, oursclf among
them, believed, from what they heard.
that they were the same as those sent from
this county. We make this explanation
in Justice to Col Wingfcld, as well as the
rest of our Delegation"
We may make misstatcment or a
wrong charge, but the moment we become
aware OF ii, ace are prompt 10 make he ne
cessary explanation or retraction. We be-
licvc, in this respect, we may appeal with
confidence to our coutemporarariesc the
Press, Of all parties.
Col. Wingfeld speaks Of Systematic
attempt of party about Liberty, with the
aid al the Sentinel" to hunt him down
We plead ignorance ofany such combina
ton, and not guilty TO the charge. No
man ever approached uswi;h an such IL
tination-ii he had, he would have been
promptly rebukcd. What are the facts!
Before thehrst of May, there had been
10 dissatisfaction. that we know Of, ex
pressed towards Col. Win2ield. On the
FIRST day of that month, We leit here for
Baltimore, and reached Richmond, on our
return, on the 18th, we believe. 1t was
then that we first heard Of the committee
of eight and the Compromise. We re-
marked 10 a member Of the Convention,
who informed US of the state of Thugs, that
whilst we would support a fair ComPro-
misc, we would support none which did
not adhere to the mixed Basis as pfinci-
pie, IN some form or other. We further
told him that, if we met with an opportu-
nifty, we should inform Colonel Wingfeld;
and he expressed his appreciation Of our
determination. We did meet with the cp
portunity, and we did inform him; and
stated further, that we did not believe a
majority of the people OF Bedford would
be satisfied with an arrangement which sur
rendered this principle, but that he must
Judge for himself
We had held communication with no
one in Liberty, and could haveheld nonc-
the thing was mpossible-we We're $50
miles from the place. They were our
own convictions and we expressed them
frankly to Col Wingfcld How then can
he charge us with being leagued with
party to hunt him down.
But further. We reached home about
a week before Court. We gave, we be-
heve, the first intimaiion oftho nalurc Of the
Compromise, and endeavored, in compl-
ance with the suggestion Of another mem
Der Of the Convention, to have a meeting
called for Court day, that the voice Of the
people might be heard on the subject
But we could get no one to move. We
were told that it was the particular aifiir
of the Radicals-that our Delegates Were
elected by them-and that they ought to be
the first TO act. We urged theimpoftance
of some demonstration, but in vain; the on
~ answer we received was--"let it come
from the Radicals, and from the country
we viii follow, but not lead" This was
the almost universal response Of the Lihcr-
~ people. Does it look Ike a desire to
hunt Colonel WingGeld down. No, as we
know and beeve--and if Colonel Wing
fields charge is true, We ought to know
they have neither desired, nor attempted
it. The Instructions were gotten up aud
signed, mainly, by his ircnds--hy those
who voted for him by those known as
Radicals during the canvass, as he was
known. There was but one man in
Liberty that took any very active part in
the matter, and he was, and Is a Radical,
and was supporter Of Col. Wingicld's
election. He rode night and day, we be-
hevc,and obtained more signatures perhaps,
thas any ten other men in the county,
The Conservatives Of Liberty obtained the
names OF few passers BY, and that was
all, as far at least, as our observation extern
dcd. The main work was done Is The
pcoplein the country, and if we have been
eagued with any party to hunt Col. Wing
field down, it has been with party in the
country, and not III Liberty.
Further still After several Of orr ar
ticlcs in relation TO Colonel WinefeId's
course had appeared, two of the leading
Conservatives of the town requested us to
say no more on The subject. We yielded
to the suggestion, and should have written
never line more in regard to lis connec-
ton with it, had not friend Of liS--a very
worthy gentleman, and aciuated by tie
best Of motives-appeared in our columns
in his defence, charging US, at the same time
with doing him injustice. To this, we
were reluctantly compelled to reply
Does this look ike combination 70 hunt
him down.
Further gain Inscveral ofoHr articles
on this subjective disclaimed any iii feeling
towards Col. Ningfield. We stated very
several times, that we believed him
to be uctuated by honest and upnghtinten
lions, and that nothing but a sense of duty
10 the people, hundreds of whom looked TO
US for information on the subject, induced
us TO comment on his course with so much
freedom. View went so far as 10 state that, If