The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-03-05

IL III theItpOTt OF tne proceedings OF the III e
Opposition Convention published in this paper
appeared statemen made by Mr. IMBoDEN. of
Augusta, in substance that he bore a message
from Capt. VIM. WATKINS, of Charlotte who
was now in his sal year, to the Convention
THAT he Capt. W } had been consistent
Democrat all his life, but now he looked to the
Wings for the safety of the Union-the
Wings as he once knew them, and not as they
may become, by being prostituted by connec-
ton with anv other party"
The message was received with much gra j.
1catIon by the Conveu.iou ana IL being in
erred that the venerable gen ntle1nan had
changed his party relations, several Of Iii:
Democratic friends wrote TO him. iuuuiriug
into the tenor of his conversation with MIR
1MBODEN. To one OF these-Nr Meg EHEE. of
The House OF De!egaies-Capt. WATKINS
writes The following letter W sicb appeared III
the Enquire OF Friday, and which, IN Justice
To the writer, We publish:
CHARLOTTE Feb oeth. 1850
1i, Samuel +. llctfthss-Deur Sir: Your IA
voT OF the 18th inst. did not receive until to-
day. had noticed III the newspapers the re-
marks OF Mr.. mboden III the late Wing Con-
yenlion, III relation 10 myself Beiug a very
old man, now nearly - years Old and very
unwilling to appear in the newspapers l de-
public!y those remarks. But at the time of
the receipt of your letter. l received an lher.
from an esteemed friend now in Richmond
urging me to place this matter right before the.
public l have, therefore, reluctantly con-
ciuded 10 make the following statement TO be
used as you may think proper:
day or TWO before the meeting of the late
Whig Convention, Mr.. I'm buden spent 4 day
with us, and, AS you may suppose, much Of
our conversation was on The in teres ting topics
OF the day, the particulars OF which l do not
recollecr, but have 10 doubt expressed my
great devotion to the Union, and my belief
that the Repu blican party could be pIlt down,
and the Union preserved, II all conservative
men would act in harmony. might also have
said that 1t was III the power of the Whio
party to save the Union, meaning by acting
harmoniously with the Democratic party On
parting from MIR. Imboden, l also ioceseIy
said to him-tell the Wings to save the Union.
as had also said 10 another delegate to their
Convention, then also with us. AS reported
in the newspapers, he is made to say that
looked to the Wings to save the Union In
this he must have misuudeTs TODD me- for he is
too much of a gentleman to have desguedly
mlsrepresented me.
You say in your letter from Mr.. Imboden' :
remarks 1t is concluded by the Wings that |
have deserted the party to which have for so
long time belonged, and Joined them. They
| are under a mistake. Ii any single party can
save the Union, l look to the Democratic in
stead of the Whig. 1t l., not sectional as rep
| resented by several Whig speakers in their
SOA NCi'ioH, Go 10 oHo" II III tiIc great NOte VI
Mr.. Buchanan In the free States, in his cleo
| ton 10 the Presidency. And if sectional, not
more SO than the Southern Wing party, for l
hope we are all united in maintaining the just
and best rights Of the South.
Should you think proper to make my letter
public, | should be glad 10 see 1t published Ill
those W hig papers in which Mr.. mboden's re-
mail ks are published, AS well as in Democratic
papers, for have many Wing friends whom
do not wish to remain under Il del fusion.
Yours, respectfully, w. NJ. WATKINS.