Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-22
From ihs Ca'ppr VA Observer.
TaE SENATORIAL CONTEST.
LITTER FROM JANIS BARBOUR IsQ
CULPEPER, Feb. 10, 1862.

fhVA JAAkS bAhBOIE feu
CuLPEPER, Feb. 10, 1862
Ny Dear Sir: owe you my tha,kI for the valuable
Suggestions Oh our military bill which you make con-
in your views aad DO not doubt that the scheme you
ADVISED would be better than the adopted But yor
legislative experience will enable you appreciate
dill .ultes iu The way OF any periec. system.
When We cannot get wtat We want, We must take tie
to t that get. You will Il I'd the bill, rs
passed. meeting OF your views though, Of cour,c
obuoxious to you in some OF its provisions. took il
w. cd tor II because il right
ke TO Ee aud because the emergency pressed for H.
s.aut action. hope you will do the favour to give
your views these subjects whenever you th,
before our House.
In rpy 10 your illusions the recent Senatorial cor
test write the first explanation OF my course which
have had time to write siucs the elsctop notwiths alc
ing the numbsr Of ct from frieuds inviting reply
Intensely occupied as have sanity teen from ten
b twelve hours every day in the House o. It. with
the pressing business Of tho Legislature it Is easy sp
pecia,e the aversion TO etter-urne fst by one 10
condton Of health. Sti IL Is du, TO you A,to many
other friends that shoui possess you of the vc~s
which acted.
You eIprs 81 your surprise at my Withdrawal from tho
Senatorial contest under strong probability Of my elec
ton, which your sources OF information from Richmond
Indicated, although you are kind enough TO exposs
your cordial approval Of my course. LIZ me state thd
facts rs they occurred.
Early Ia November message was sent to me froUi
determined 10 uuts in the fJr to place me 10 tho Sh
ate-hr. Hunters transfer TO the Cabiue havrg
stoned, as they supposed, vacancy TO be led somr
new man. TIE movement thus initiated met with ste
apparent favor that it regarded ceran be
o,mphhed whcu unex pectedly It announced 10 me
personally that Mr.. Hunter had determined to
Tor the place. Soma OF my friends regarded this a. be.
log induced by the conviction that with Of Mr. Han
er's immediate friends could b, beaten aud al
urged ha, the contest which Mr. Hunter thus suddenly
opened should not be declined For several weeks pro-
gressed as you are aware. A. the close CT il tEt
evening before the dAy r I'd for the election fisnd
in conference believed Mr. Hunters def accomplished
When the hour appointed for the election arrived
red expecting the election to be decided in the
OF an hour. To my amszsment, after session OF hr
hours the mode oi conducting the contest hsd
arranged. The proceedings of ths day developed
the fact that other be entered b. sdei
those of Me-. Hunter and myself As long these
we're kept before the body il thought there wouo
be election, and highly probable that after pro
ed ballotng, some Of those recently nominated
soud eventually succeed Il did not. merely state h'
facts they appeared TO those upon whose represeI
tons had to rely. whole day was expended With
out fixing the mode Of proceeding. protrscted strug
gle over that point commenced Prolrscted talot
ings las represented 10 me 70 follow. The gres
interests o; the county we're pendent upon proup
action of the Legislature, OF which a member
Toe reflection Of that night satisfied tba: such scene
vas unfit be enacted amid the critical events aud IT,
gave resDOub DlNtIts upon Every nan OF CDurh'
must concur in the opinion that such exhibition
would bete public Character, and ought 10 degrade
the Vrgnlins who voGli permit their psIsonal inter 81
and aspirations TO clsion it. claim no mptor
from the ordinary iLhrnes of men, and am free to
fesi that my own elevation had appeared thu iuey
table result OF the contes. before IL s que possbt
the temptation might have sssrved from the
which felt IL to be my duty to pursue. On the
iuz OF the second day of the election proceedngs ny
Intended cours, was communicated TO srch members O.
the legislature act in the management Of the oonts
on nv side, q. Assem- b!ed at my and ives uiani
nously approved by them. The ol scion that the
r,fce Of aspiration, under The circumstances, ought tC
come from Mr.. Hunter, already Secretary OF State wa
met by the obvious answer, that for him, and rot
me- to consider. acted Ter myself and never expect
regret the action then took IL Mr. Hunter or hif
friends disposed to triumph this victory
can proudly concede i: to them. can only say that
er result plished il wcud be bard 70 e,ate
With the feeling of victory With them il may be d ~
mt and they have right TO their views. Their
account with victory must be running short when they
pIes this result 20 their credit
/ am aware how ready "a class OF persors, scattered
over the State to decry any OF nine Wish at
tsches 10 what they regard as the controlling inference
In the State. For near ten yeais Of public hfc have
followed only the lead Of my intellect, not only
isregarding but repeatedly overriding those huenc
This sort Of people always representing &C
live intriguer for personal purposes. Hardly single
hour has pissed without the of ac Of
-. In, .crd A.. Ola .pj III
mno .,;,I ,, nav now wi,bonr sso,;-- I'm ,sri,
soag J, suH surg may Low, "I'uou. eso'la'u pfCulg
Pou' So, =; ,ba go; oo,'s, -, 81, ~
supper. ou. ~ Ivs o! "a Wv
- ssS.' DSS - 81 =. paLs. -
10 the coutest against the premier Of administration
'un o, power as are NJ "a a'ous'.o' W uns VI nh
would DC gao 70 na'e Sss VINO uecry me pom. 10 an
o'ner insArce ruso "is pun i'S' husuer e, g,
er mas SO snih.su s Hns si,s shIoAonS " hOaorapn
man msy, ~ ppSic p oomr1s S.. :, ;,tDn @
'ac', tnM "nIlo NY T1"V oTu''s 'ne llugmen'
OIL large ana luelse;u-i cias' oi pcoVo men
shown me nv Tor one Oh tne ngn's, posil'ns in the
country, have never h,lsd any higher place than
seat 10 our e!a'e Assemol e. nave ole nan 10,
sense my enemies aioW me is nard 70 reeoneie THIS
TACT with tneir theory "nen 'ne close OF tue pres
snt term, rsure from my sea- ~ the Legislature (s
snoGlI nave oone ~ 'ne oose Vi my 'as ous ior 'ne