Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-03-11
TUE s1xru corapxss1oNAI DISTRICT.


Gshod in our. issue of to-day, that the Hon.
! pou,us Powell has, at the instance OF mum
,,.r or his friends, and in consequence of al
,oroa unfair proceedings at the meeting in Al
,s.,.r,. announced himself candidate for re.
election to Congress.
Before entering into full discussion of this
matter, we shall wait for full information. Ne
ycrthelc>S, we feel it due to the gentlemen con-
ccrned to express some opinion on the very
strong prima facie view now presented Tor our
consideration
We have consistently advocated the call oil
fairly constituted convention to decioe o.' '"'
conflicting claims Of Democratic candidates.
and VIC regard it as duty which every Demo
Graf owes his party to sustain the regular NOM
incc. if he can do so consistently win se''-
respect and patriotic principle. But no hohor'
,h,o man can be expected 10 submit, uilaer
onv and nil circumstances to the action oi u
! Convention.
,,,rt from the case Of n nominee unworthy
the support of honorable men, we hoia '''a'
any trickcry or unfairness whatever in the or
c,r;yation or management Of q convention Is
all.sufsicient to justify, and in most instances
to require disregard of lis decision IL Is ae
nj times much better to risk the harmony Vi
= party than to sacrifice its integrity; anu "
public man may do much more INJURY D! S"''
hitting to a wrong, than the most violent par
tisan contest can possibly effect. The rish' RUE
;sto submit to fair convention, and nothing Out
a fair convention; TO ask nothing wh'ch Is ho'
r;sht and submit to nothing that Is wrong
A mere passive acquicscence Ill 'he "''''"'
roht or wrong, of convention, Is as destruc-
tive of the interests OF party Us II Is hco''p""'
bile with the character Of man lit 10 pc trust
oil with the management Of public affairs
Time.serving and timid acquleScence are NOT
tho s,utf ont of which efficient and reliable
men are shaped for any station in life.
1t is by this rule that we would have MI
powcirs conduct tried before the people oil his
district And here we must premise that MI
powelrs wcll.known character Tor hlghm'nded
and honorable dealing in all instances lnwhlch
he has hitherto been put to the test, Will right-
fully offer strong presumption in his favor
before the people who have so long honored
him with their confidence. Moreover, he Is IN
. rreat measure released from final responsible
~ for his own action, by the very circumstances
Of the case. lie has not acted on his own nc
tum. 4 number of highly respectable gentle
mon his tried associates and warm personal
and political friends, have come forward 10 les
tiiy TO the fact, that action has been taken hy
the friends of Mr.. I.eake, which renders the
submission of Mr.. Powelrs claims 10 a Conven-
,;on ALTOGETHER inconsistent with due seli-rcspect
and manly independence Of character. onoer
these circumstances, Mr. Powell has but two
alternatives, upon either of which loyal gen.
tleman could permit himself to act. he must
c;thcr discredit the statement and ignore the
action Of his own friends, or adopt their state
ment MS true, and conform his action to theirs
That he has chosen the course which he be-
lieves to be Just, we have no doubt, whatever
That his course is Just, the very respectable
testimony upon which he has acted goes lar to
establish Among the list of names appended
n ,bc letter addressed TO him, We find none,
known to us personally or by reputation,
which does not designate witness to wnom
vc would feel bound to accord full credit.
Prima tae;e, then, the case is very strong
in Mr.. Powells favor, and, in no event, can he
mo held to account for more than an undue con-
fdcncc in the friends whose action he has made
the basis Of his OWN.
On the other hand, if Mr.. Lcakc's friends
have committed the untairncss OF which they
are accused, Mr. Powelrs action is unsuitable
TO the fullest extent. Indeed, under this sup
vosi,ion, he had no choice. lie was in honor
bound to act precisely as he has acted And
if Mr.. Leakc shall be proved to have been in
any manner privy to this alleged unfair man
accmcnt, we are bold to say that such privity
is of itself sufficient to disqualily him TO re-.
present Virginia constituency.
CORRESPONDENCE.
CHARLOTTESVILLE. Va,
March sth. 1859.
PArLus POWELL. Esq:
Dear Sir:--Thc undersigned, citizens OF Al
bcrnarlc and members of the Democratic par
ty. had seen. with much qualification, the
prompt response given by you TO the demand
for 4 District Convention made by Shelton r.
Lcakc. ESQ, and his friends, and that IN that
response. YOU submitted your claims 10 fair
EXPRESSION of the will Of the Democratic party
of the District. The action Of the Democratic
meeting held in Albcmarlc yesterday, in
which your consent to the Convention, was
wholly ignored; an inSidous and unfair assault
made upon your efficiency as public man;
the voice of the minority sttied against ear
nest and prudent protests; the refusal to ap-
point delegates by 4 fair and unobjcctionable
course; the denial Of the request, that the pco-
plc be allowed to appoint their delegates in
district meetincs--takcn in connection with
the arbitrary manner by which the delegates
were appointed and the direct instructions TO
them ali to vote for Shelton F. Lcakc, satisfy
us that so far MS Albemare county is concern.
cd, fair Convention will not be held.
We therefore earnestly and respectfully re-
quest that YOU will withdraw your consent 10
the call for Convention, and announce your
self candidate for Congress, subject only to
the polls of the people.
We are, your friends and fellow-ctizens,
Rob. Hill Carter, W. c. y. Randolph,
VIM. W. Minor, \. j. Brown,
John c. Hughes, Lloyd &. Harris,
S. W. Ficklin, BENZ. I. Brown.
Jos. L. Coleman, n. H. MaSsic,
John B. Gilmer, ThoS. ). Coles,
VIM. F. Gordon, Jr, James F. Bower,
Gcs. w. Harris W D. Perry,
j. T. Rogers, Rich. W. Durrett'
S. Letch, A. Taylor,
b. W. Taylor, F. f. VI Carr,
Fountain NJ. Wells, X. W. y. holland