Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-08

1858, now before us, attests the interest he fell
in the prosperity and principles Of the "Enqui
rer.' When written he was in the enjoyment
Of health, and the hope of continued usefulness
in the sphere to which he had been elevated
but scarce two months have passed away he
fore We are called upon to note his deatb
-<<-O-S<-
HON. PAULUs P0WELL'S CARD.
In the Examiner" Of Friday, we find -
Card from the Hon. Paulus Powell, To tho
people Of the 9TH Congressional District, which
we reproduce this morning.
The necessity for convention in that dis
trict becomes more and moro urgent every day
The gentlemen now before the people, together
with Mr.. Goode, Of Bedford arc already engaged
in newspaper controversy, estrangins to their
respective friends, and calculated to divide and
distract their party.
Each Of these gentlemen Is, We suppose, COM
petent to take care Of himself in newspaper OF
hustng discussion, and it is not necessary for US
at Ma time, to take part in this war among breth
ren o: the same party; but the harmony of the
Democracy demands that We should discounte
nance this wranging and criminative discus
sion calculated so much to divide our party
a convention alone can adjudicate the claims
Of all the candidates, and one should immediate
ly be decided upon and the nomination made
which will settle all discussion and restore
I U,,t ;c ,l,ot thara &c M
ccssity for a convention, because the opposition
haee 10 candidate in tie .nield. TO which VIC
reply, there are now two candidates in the
field. One, Mr.. Powell, claims to be the can
didate of the Democratic party, by a previous
convection and subsequent election. If Mr.
PowelTs claim is correct, the candidate Of what
party i. Mr.. Leake: And if Mr. Powell's claim
is recognised as establishing him as the Demo
cratic candidate, and thus denying the necessi
ty for q convention, will not this very recosni
tion cause all the opposition vote to be polled
for Mr.. Leake, and thus Mr.. l.. become an oppo
sition candidate, with Democratic procivities
of course, but nevertheless, the candidate re
cognised by the Opposition as most likely tc
defeat The recognised candidate Of the Demo
cratic party:
That Mr.. I.eake, though elected by Oppo
siton votes, would still be Democrat in prin
ciple, we will not deny; but the party or voters
if unorganizcd, who elect any man, will al
ways be, to some considerable extent, consult
ed by that man in shaping his political course
What will he Mr. Goodies position can only
be known, if he should reply to this card o
Mr.. powcll's. If these gentlemen continue
this interchangng Of cards, and exasperat'
their respective friends, some fourth man ma,
spring up and bear off the prize for which they
are contendng
A CARD.
II n: Rcp'e Of the Si.ah Congr:ssioanl I'istrie'
The recent letter of Mr.. John Goode, Jr.
and the ungenerous course Of some Of his friend:
towards me, seem to require brief notice a
nv hands; as, also, passing remark in refer
ence to the late letter Of Mr.. keakc. The lat
ter gentleman has given expression to no harsl
judgments, nor made any unjust insinuation
against me, or my county; and only assumes
one position which desire to controvert in th
card.
To deny to Mr.. Leake, or any other membe
of the Democratic party, the right to become
candidate in opposition to myself, is what
have never done, or claimed the right to do
but when he assumes that he is as much th'
candidate of the Democratic party as myself,
must be permitted to question both the consist
cncy and soundncss Of such an assumption.
1.nfor t-s, 10,
Convention, and have held my position, frou
that period to this, by virtue Of that authorita
tive act Of the Democratic party; and the chs
tom and courtesy which has ever prevailed il
the Distrct-as we'll as the State at large-ha
ever been to uphold and continue those public
men who have been faithful to their party AM
true to their representative trusts. If hav
been dcrclict in either Of these respects it i
the duty Of the people to displace me and elcc
another. But certain it is that whether thi
principle, by virtue of which now maintain
INV priority "a the Democratic candidate, b
sound or unsound, just or unjust, had sup
posed that stood upon very high authority
Several years ago, when opposition to me va
suggested, the Democracy Of Madison county
in public meeting, adopted, unanimously, tn
following among other resolutions:
Resolved, That in the judgment Of thi
meeting, the firmneSs and fidelity with whcl
paulus Powell has adhered to the true interest
of the country. entitlc him to the unquafie'
approval and confidence Of his constituents
and regarding him to be, in accordance wit
the established usage, the candidate Of tn
Democratic party OF this District, VIC vii
checrfully and unitedly sustain his reelection
Mr.. Lcake seconded and sustained this resc
luton in speech, and thus sndorscd, in tn
most positive terms, the doctrine that the ii
cunJent is the Democratic candidate by tn
"etablished usage" until supplanted by tn
action Of Convention. Mr.. Leake was not
that time, it is true, an aspirant for \ seat i
Congress, and therefore did not seek to supplsn
me- But his aspirations have now changcc
and with them his views also, for 1t seems tina
he has lost his regard for the principle whic
he so eloquently maintained at the Madiso
meeting for the ''established usages OF hi
party. But even his present position is ir
consistent, for by his own confession in hi
recent letter, he there pledges himsclfto retire
if the Wings or Americans bring out cand
date and there is not time to call Convention
The letter Of Mr. Goode is Of differen
temper and character, and requires more pal
ticuiar notice. The leading impression whic
he seeks to produce is, that | am opposed
submitting my claims to District Convention
and am cndeavoring to fost myself upon tn
party, regardless Of its wishes, and those {
: other gentlemen of equal claims. His assumE
ton is as certainly unfounded as is the proces
of his reasoning unjust and unwarranted t
me. am frank to say that have not desire
or sought Convention, for the very simpl
reason that from a free interchange of opinion
: with the Democracy Of the District, was col
vinced that large majority of the party dl
not desire n Convention, under the peculla
circumstances; and. therefore, it would hav
been superogatoryin me to express deslr
that one should be called. But have bee
not the less candid to declare, in my publishc
$ latter unnn which Mr. Goode comments Wit