Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-08
THE TWELFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
To tie Editors Of The Enquirer:
CuRIsrlANsRrRG, Va, Eel

Cn%RIsTIASsBURG, Va, Feb. 2, 1859.
Gentlemen: l notice in your last semi-wcek-
" a letter %purporting to be from Monroe coun-
ty. The writer, | think, is anxious for a Con-
ercssional Convention to be held in the twelfth
Congressional District-and he, although he
signs the familiar title of MANY Democrats" to
his letter. conveys the idea that the meeting Of
the Montgomery Democracy, held Mt the Jan
uary court, in Christiansburg, did wrong, in
this, that that meeting failed to respond to the
call for a Convention made by the Democrats
of Fayette county and your correspondent
puts this question, as | suppose, to the Demo,
Gratis Of Montgomery county: why should
the friends of II. A. Edmundson .teara Conreh-
ton il, he Edmundson) is the choice OF the
Democracy of his district?' | will answer
your MANY Democratic" correspondent, first,
as a Iankee-by asking a question. Now for
the question: Why should the friends of Hen
ry A. Edmundson desire or consent to a Con-
v%ention, if he Edmundson) is the choice of the
Democracy of his district? This is admitted,
I believe, to be true. Edmundson is undoubt-
edly the choice Of a very large majority of the
Democracy of his district. | do not mean that
he is the choice of the political aspirants Of
his district, nor of their immediate friends, but
| do mean that he is the foremost man with
the masses. Then, why a Convention:
Being no aspirant myself for political honors.
and there being but one office within the gift
of the American people that | wonld except, !.
E. the Presidency; and, being a standing candi-
date. now and forever, for that office, in opposi-
ton to the Hon. John NJ. Bolts, | take the lib
erty of saying that, whilst | am opposed to
perpetuation in office, and am in favor of rotd-
ton, and frequent rotation at that, yet am
opposed to holding a Convention this Spring in
the 18th Congressional District, for the pur-
pose of either ruling Edmundson on or off the
track He is now on the track-let him run
his race. In 1855, when SAN" roared be-
meath the c%ulvert, and made many of our
would.be-lion- hearted Democrats quail with
fear-when fear and trembling seized the hearts
of many of our nor JoM and patriotic leaders
when the Convention met, and finding none
willing to sacrifice himself, and adjourned and
met again, and receiving but one united re-
sponse from every leader in the District-"l
pray thee have ne excused'-Edmundson was
by the Convention made the war-horse of the
party, and in triumph he rode over his oppo-
nent. Now, that the track is clear-the Oppo-
sition scattered, beaten and overwhelmed-the
very men who shrank back when danger stared
them in the face, are now most anxious and
most clamorous for q Convention to rule Ed
mundson off the track. We cannot concur
with you, "Many Democrats OF Monroe. |
pray thee have us excused for the present We
will join you at some other time IN t"'on'
Monroe county, over a glass Of champagne or
a game of whist. But, for the present, (al-
though our love is very strong for MANY De.
mocratS" of Monroe county, we must forego
the pleasure Of meeting you this Spring, either
| in Monroe or Greenbrier, and, until we meet,
be quiet, for fear that the District is not look
ing towards you.
In haste, yours, &c, VETO.