Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-04-20
Elcctor for Third District.

iar'. Esq, rcSigning the nomination Of Demo
cratic clector from the Third District We re.
@rei exceedingly that the state Of 3Ir. Billiards
health prevents his accepting a position for
which Ills eminent abilities and high character
50 well qualify him.
The assistant clector, a< is the custom in
such cases will doubtless be recognized by the
Contra! Committee as the proper person 10 re-
cci.c the nomination, and in COL Geo. c. Cabell
who was the only competing candidate for the
electors place with Mr. Dillard the party will
be ably represented. I'm assistant elector will
he nominated by the Committee;
FRANKLIN CorRT-llorsE, April II, 1860
! Dear Sir--Thc Democratic State Convention
which convened at Richmond in February last,
did me the honor to nominate me as candidate
for the position Of Elector for this District
! At the time was strongly inclined to accept
| the appointment, but the nature of my engage
IncntS, and the state Of my health, is such as
to make 1t very nconvenient, if not impossible,
to perform IN satisfactory manner the duties
Of the position You will, therefore, please
accept my apology for declining to act as Elec-
tor, aud confer the appointment upon some
other--many Of whom you can find in the
District equally devoted to our cause and
greatly more able to defend it than am
10 the very limited extent that it NAV COLI
Germ anybody may be permitted 10 say, that
while have decided preference in the sclec.
ton of Il candidate by the Charleston Convcn-
| ton, shall most zcaiouSly sustain its nom-
nccS, and. il | could conveniently, would cheer.
fully enter the canvass in their behalf, and Ger.
| tainly shall do 50 to the extent Of my ability
under the circumstances; but, as l. cannot dis.
charge the whole duty Of Elector must ask
10 be excused, and that another be appointed
in my place Very respectfully.
Your friend and ob'lt scrv't,
HUGHES DILLARD.
10 J"mS RrruEErooEp, Esq, Chairman Of the
Democratic Central Committee Richmond
Va.
Letter from Gen. Houston on the PresI-
dency.
The Austin lntclligenccr, extra, Of the 4th
instant, contains long letter from Gen. l!ous-
ton, on national politics, in answer to letter
from committee Of gentlemen at Galveston
Texas. rnqniring whether he will permit his
name 10 be used as Il candidate for the prcsi-
lcncy, before the Charleston Convention.
We make the following extracts from Cen
liouStnn's reply:
The grand idea Of parties, rs maintained by
the great men Of the past, has hccn DESTROYED.
! Al! those absorbing questions Of linancc and
government which rallied around Jackson and
\,
rs to The best mole u! advancing the national
interests. yet nil striving 10 accomplish that
end, are lost si.hi ..I We ar. drifting onward
in the march ul cNtlavagaucc and corruption
That which pertains to the whole country com.
mands scarcely passing thought, while that
which pertains 10 each Individual section is II
/ shcmc Of distraction.
The Democratic party, which eight years ago
/ carried It's candidate into the Presidency by an
! overwhelming majority. is divided by factions.
! Coalitions formed with men Of more ambition
than patriotism, have broken down the old land,
marks National men have given place To sec
! liDaal agitatorS. Practical national questions
| have given way to ahstrartioGs. Slavery agi-
, lalior has been renewed in Congress, and the
great work Of the l,acitic:liors of $50 has been
unone. Scctiona!isin has been the canker-
worm wilich has icastcd rn the party until lis
vitality has hcen well nigh consumed.
1t :, needless to define. at any length, the
various hcrclicS winch distract the country,
! c;.r, claiming for itself the name Of Democra-
ry They each have their peculiar advocates,
and are suited to peculiar sections or isnS.
The Charleston Convention is to behold
| these elements" black spirits and white, red
! spirits and gray "--conglomerated. Men who
! have dc"ote;i their lives to the service Of the
| Constitution and national principles arc to he.
bold the hriniliating spectacle; and their SEN
timentS and counselS are 70 be trampled under
| foot BY these who 90 committed to doctrines
subvcr:ivc Of the government and tlt rights OF
the people Of the States.
The qualifications nf Il candidate are not con.
sdcred, nor whether he is known TO the nation
or mas done aught to advance lis interests
is he araiHbh! II he is, the end ol party IS
secured, and there arc always on the spot the
leading men Of delegations friendly to him,
ready to give pledges who, united, nominate
the candidate and endorse him. Pledging MI
| the delegates who enter the Convention to sup
port the nominee that independent HctioH sc
essential 10 freedom is destroyed.
| No independent man ought to accept Il non
nation accompanied by any platform with which
his previously entertained opinions are in con
ilict.
fmy name should bc used in connection
with the Presidency, the movement must origi
nate with the people themselves. as well as cn(
with them. will not consent to have my
name submitted 10 any convention nor woulc
accept Il nomination if it were rendered INC
and procured by contrivance, trick or manage
mcnt. If such thing were possible that
could be elected and not in harmony with tn,
voice Of the majority Of the American people,
would not hold the position single day, bn
retire to private station, solaced by seli:respec
Thine truly, SAN llo,SToS.