Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-11-26
MEETING IN P0WHATAN.
IOyENBER 9l, lSJ.

r. nj: Filter, gf The Eaqgirer::
Gcn,cmcn-I did not see or hear Of until
last evening. statement in the Enquirer OF the
18TH instant. in regard 10 meeting IN Powha.
tan: 1t i. headed. Still another County Meet,
ing Managed Cor Lclcher.' Iou state that
YOU have reliable information that the reso-
luton passed i'll powhatan county. and favor
able 10 the nomination OF Mr.. John Letchor,
was carried through by means ot sort o.
management, more adrcit. than fair. to the
members, even who composed the meeting.
That no mention had been made Of any such
resolution: the main business oi the assem-.
blasr was concluded, and large proportion of
the Democrats hai retired from the room. be.
fore the I.ctchcriteS made their movement"
You farther say. That then il was, that the
resolution. Tor NJ. Lctch"r was proposed. and
voted on by some twenty loltcrerS only" And
YOU further. not hv direct assertion. but bv
necessary Inference from Your language. leave
YOUR readers 10 infer that instructions" 70 the
delegates to the Petersburg. Convention. were
adopted hv the meeting. No in,ructions were
passed or voted on III that mccting-no party
waited for the retiring OF members, 10 propose
any resolution, or make any movement no
interval OF time elapsed, AT any period during
the meeting. between the proposal Of motions
Of resolutions, 10 give color u any such
charge
\ meeting Of the Democratic party was cali
cd during Powhatan Court day. in November, by
proclamation at the Court House door and such
members iS wished To lo so met in the Clerk
office. short time after the proclamation. 4
chairman and secretary Of the meeting were
chosen. and Immediately thereafter, offered
two resolutions. the ,irs, authorizing the Chair.
man 10 appoint delegates to the Convention IL
Petersburg; the other authorizing those dele
gate, Ia represent the Democracy in any Con
ycnton called 10 select candidate tor the place
OF member Of the Board OF Public Work, for
the Southern District
After reading the resolutions passed them
across the table 10 the Chairman. u propose
TO the meeting Before he had announced
them :. member offered resolution instruct
ng the delegates 10 vote for Mr. Lctch-
cr. Two members opposed the instruc-
,ions in brief remarks. The mover Of the
resolution then accepted L substitute. offered
bv III, self. expressing the belief Of the meeting.
thar the Democracy of Powhatan preferred Mr.
I.ctchcr as candidate for Governor. opposed
the instructions on the ground that the dele
gates should hc left untrammcllcd. and that the
meeting was too small ,o issue mandatory in.
,,r,lction, Il was expressly stated and under
stood in the meeting. that the expression o!
preference would have no other control over the
delegate, in selecting candidate than was duc
u the expression If the wishes or opinions o!
such Il portion of the party rs voted for them
| All. not certain what number OF members
composed the meeting at any time. hut as all
the resolutions were discussed and acted on
together there could be no opportunity for any
party displaying 'adroncs> or want oi iair-
ness. s,lch aS you have intnated. The meeting
was not in session more than an hour. and do
no, believe any Democrats had lrit the Court
House during its session. and there were large
numbers in the yard during the meeting. ami
they were solicited To come in once or twice.
You also object that no mention was made
oi anv resolution in favor Of Mr.. Lctcher I'M
till after the main business of the assemblage
was concluded" Thi, is not the fact rs the
above statement proves II it is intended that
no notice was given bcior, court.day, then u:
fairness. il should have been stated that TO
mcctn. would have been held, but that the
time appointed for the meeting Of the Conven.
ton in Petersburg was such that no other
court would occur until that Convention met.
Gou will of course perceive the utter injustice
oi your declaration in regard to the manner IL
which the meeting was conducted and the
groundicss character Of the charge Of unfair.
ness preferred against the actors III il.
Your obc,icnt servant, WILLIAM oLp, Jr