Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-05-14
PrTTsYLvANfA CT. Ho. !
May 18th 1855
Mr.. Editor /:

Perhaps you may not have heard that DIR.
Averett has publicly and from the Hastings
declared himself a candidate for Congress-if
not, this will apprise you of the fact. At the
general muster at Beavers on the south side
Of this county. he addressed the people. and
declared his firm determination no; to be driv'
from the Canvass.
He has addressed a short printed circular
10 many of his political friends informing them
of his determination, and promises in a day OF
two printed addresses setting forth fully his
views and the reasons for his course. He, |
understand, thinks the Convention did not rep.
resent their Constituents and did him injustice.
1t has created a great stir in the democratic
camp-and they look excessively Uae. Woot
ton is now certain OF his election.
So far as we are informed Doct. Averett ex.
cepts to the nomination of the Pittsylvania
convention. for the reason that, by the circula.
ton of reports affecting bis personal character
and habits, great injustice was done him, and a
false impression produced on tho minds of a
portion of his former constituents-and also
because he has reason to believe that the " ish
es OF the people in some of the counties were
mlsrepresented. through the contrivance of n
few party managers. He considers it due to
his reputation as a man-to his family and
friends, that he should appeal from the calum.
MES Of his enemies TO the judgment of
his ~neighbors. acquaintances and old con-
stituents-for the vindication of his charac.
ter. He has felt himself compelled. as we are
assured. to take this position, from considera.
tons of nearer interest and higher moment to
him than a local and short lived party triumph,
such as would be achieved by the election of
democratic member Of Congress.
We do not profess TO have any other knowl.
edge of the matter than such as is Common to
the peopleof the district. We have had no CON.
munication with DIR. Averett-noue with any
of his friends. We have heard the character
ofthe nominating convention impugned, but
not by persons who were in its secrets. 1t
wascertainly a remarkable resalt,tha a district,
embracing the fire counties heretofore repre-
scented by DIR. Averett. and only taco Of those
belonging to Mr.. Bocock's old district, should
have thrown the former gentleman over board,
and nominated the latter, upon the first ballot.
We do dot know that Mr.. Bocock, in talents,
OnoiuItCit ouSinSSb nhOllS, II any
other representative qualification has a shadow
of advantage over his competitor for the no..
inatlon. DR.. Averett was n democrat. battling
for his party. when Mr.. Bocock was, for aught
we know, Fishing for minnows with a pin
hook" He had won the district from the
wings in his first canvass, and in his Sc.
cond had added largely to his majority
He was personally known to nearly every vo-
Ter In it, and as we supposed was generally
esteemed by them as a man, and conided in as
representative. Even the convention that nom.
mated his rival adopted unanimously a reso
luton declaring that ''the Hon. Thos. III. Av.
erett, by the faithful and efficient discharge of
his representative duties in the congress of the
United States, has won the undivided conf.
dence, and deserves the lasting gratitude ofbis
old constituents, and the entire democratic par.
ty of the country" While these were the
claims of DR.. Averett, what were those of Mr..
Bocock He had no prestige Of a great name
of intellect, or of extraordinary
services to overshadow and eclipse all ri.
val pretension. He was in no one partic-
uiar, tina; We have knowledge OF, the su.
perior of DIR. Averet;. He was a total
stranger personally in all the counties ex-
cept Campbell and Appomattox! By What
potent and magic spell, did he win over
tho entire vote of Franklin, a portion of
tnat OF Pittsylvanla, and a portion of that of
Pafrickf DR.. Averett and his friends NAV be
advlsed-ce have no authority to saw.
Of course we shall get no thanks from 9th
er party, for any thing We may choose to saw
and it will be deemed a sufficient reply to sav
that our object is to widen the breach. We
care nothing for that. The statement Of the
affair we make is undeniable. The wing,
have had nothing to do in producing the rup
.ure;is they pTSflby it, it will be but anothe
instance OF the retributive justice. which not un
frequently results from attempted injustice. L
In the effort to disfranchise the wing party q
virginia CONFUSION should arise in the council