Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-04-10
Mr.. Patton's Speech

NJ. Patton, and invite TO it the particular atten
ton of the reader Its length forbds any com
ments to day. In fact, it is an exposition in il
self. calm, clear and concise Of the position
and principles of the great American party AM
their co-operators-and in a few words, se coz
cusivly repels the idea of their abolition aiilia
tons and other like charges. made by Democratic
partizans that comment upon it would seem TO b,
altogether unnecessary. 1t will be reeolleeted thai
Mr.. Patton does not belong to the order of Know
Nothings and that his defence Of their organiza
ton is solely upon the ground of political right
and expediency. As such il is conclusive. The
speech will be concluded in issue to morrow.
Fellow Citizens, fellow citizens. of the Ameri-
can party and of all parties ! regret TINT, upon
this first occasion Of the assembling of the Amer
lean party, and of the great body who sym
pathiSing with fhe American party, that il shall
be my lot to be the only one al the nominees of
the Winchester Convention present 10 receive
your greetings on this occasion. should have
been much better pleased, aud especially graft
fed, if the distinguished leader who has been
chosen the political standard bearer in the
present canvass, had been present to address
you; gentleman much more able TO address
you than am, to do justice Ia your views,
and so much better qualified to CRAFTY the expeo-
tations of this large and Gro wded assembly, by an
address worthy of the meeting. and worthy of
The great subject.
| came here, gentlemen, rather for the purpose
of indicating myself for assuming the position
which have assumed. and of yindcating YOU for
placing me in that position. Ny nomination hy
the Winchester Convention as a candidate for
the sufrages Of the people of Virginia, was as
unexpected a it unsnusht by me, withdrawn
as had been for several ycafs-for two or three
year, at ca-t-fr N any active participation in
The political controversies, al the country. Alb
sur5sd IN the laboriaus, overwhelming. aud al
~. = -sa= r. do'ies Of an arduoue professions
uad paid yrrf attl" attention 10 tle Iros9 - II
political events NEW scarceiv snythIe oi
.he issues VIII et about To- arise. aud which
were likely 10 guide the people in the coming
election. In thai position so0 sht no Office and
expected mono from any party. OF II nomination
from any party. | held out no Inducements ta
those vino, III behalf of this new American rarty,
called upon me for the purpose of ascarintning
whether would accept the nomination Tor the
office of Attorney General. | sincerely and most
earnestly discouraged the idea, and td them
very frankly that ! hpd not even read the l4 sis
principles which they had put forth To the public
as containing the great objects for which his or
ganzation formed and which they were en-
deavoring to accomplish. | was told that TIN.
great organization desired or at least portion
of the members of the Convention at Wlnchcs /
ter, and probably the whsie body. would desire |
to confer this NOMINATION on me- II was willing |
to accept the Office, without any regard TO nv
political opinion ar my political course; that this
office was an Office wholly disconnected with no. |
litica controversy. in reference To the discharge
of the peculiar duties which deynlyed upun II
that il was an Office which had no potr,nt,,,o c,n
nected with it,. and that cstimatinr- very biphlv
much more highly than | had vanity 10 nspire IN.
my qualifications aud fitness Tor the office. fine,
desired to confer the office ,,pou mo in reference
to their estimate of NV manifestations mud Gtns.s
for it, without reference at all TO any noticnl OH
ieots. told them that IT, under these oircnm
stances as il was an Office in the line of nv nro
fession an office which, although had no nar
ticular desire to obtain il, would vet moi be mn.
accountable 10 me-if the Copvao;ion obonso to
confer upon me the nomination. | weuld aeeent
il, assuring them at the same time that il would
be incompatible with nv business 10 engage in
the political canvass in the yay of discussion
and that, in my estimate. it was not desirable or
proper that n candidate for an of;na or thgt cor,
should be mixed M in the nncry n. liticaI strife
of parties. most sincerely desirrad to ocen,,y
that position absolutely and entirely II hos NOT
seemed good to the leaders and month ,;ncos &c
the party on the other side ths, / shalI ho nor.
,,itted T., ,ocn,,,, ,L, IT.; .'''i " ~
sailed with a tiereeness Of den,nciotin,, an1 i'm
n yirulence ofipv4o.iye# n,ac,a,..,,s.sS ;Il;h
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