Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-06-02
President Virginia Central R. r. Company
Letter from Hon A. n n Stuart

Letter from Hon A. H. H. Stuart.
In reply to letter written him by Mr.. John
/. Stuart, of Springfield, Illinois, asking in
formation as to the part in the National Demo
cratic Convention the opponents in the South
to the Republican will pursue, Mr.. Stuart
writes the following letter: se.ssrs
9@ STAUNTON, Va, May IA, 1868.
Hon. John I. Stuart Dear Sir our favor
of the Sth instant has been received, and
hasten to reply 10 it. aa
AS far as | have been able to gather the senti.
ment of the Wings and Democrats of Virginia,
in regard to the selection of candidate for the
Presidency, it is this They have no particular
partiality or prejudiees for or against any in
dividua, They go for success. They will cor
daily support any respectable Conservative who
may have strength to beat the Radicals. They
know that the great battle for the Constitution
and Government is to be fought in the North, and
they are, therefore, disposed to concede to the
Northern States the right of selecting the
standard bearer. think when tho Convention
meets, the Southern delegates will say to their
NorthgEp associates, You are the best judges
as TO which Of the candidates is strongest in
your section; deliberate carefully and dispas-
slonateiy, make your choice, and we will stand
by your judgment" Mr.. Pendletou is not very
SA'NuSi'CiJ AhoHu W ei.C PQOpIc VI LAC DOuCll,
but all that We 10 know ofhim is favorable, and
the fact that he commands SO large share OF
the confidence of the people Of his own and 9th
er Western States, who know him best, speaks
volumes IA his favor. | may add, that, as far
as am Individually concerned, your indorse-
ment OF hln carries great weight.
have NC personal acquaintance with him.
but understand he is a son of my old friend,
Nathaniel Green Pendleton, with whom we
served in the Twenty seventh Congress, and
that fact predisposes me strongly In his favor.
What the South daslras, above all things, is
a release SgoAl Isadical bondage, and we care
little under whose lead thatresult is accomplish
ed; We look to the end, not to the means.
MIR. Pendiptaa would be entirely acceptable
10 the people Of Virginia. If, on a comparison
at opinions in the Convention, it should be de-
cided that he is the strongest man, we will rally
to his support with enthusiasm.
have seen it suggested in some papers that
while MIR. Pendleton is stgong in the West and
Northwest, be would be obnoxious to some of
the Middle States, Pennsylvania, New York
and New Jersey, for example. do not know
how this is, but think the matter should be
carefully weighed, So thas the choice should
fall on tha Il.sn WAC combines the largest aud
most aifi0sed. elements Of popularity Mr.
Pendleton,s views on currency and finance will
be acceptable to the South,
In my judgment the most enlarged and cath
ollie spirit ought to prevail in the Convention.
1t is no time to stand ON personal preferences.
The issues are 100 important for anything of
that kind to have weight.
The Southern people will support cheerfplly
Pendleton, Hancock, Doolittle, Hendricks, sey-
mour, OR any other sound Conservative man,
prov;ded he has what John Randolph called
the turning out faculty." I think the signs
of the times are all auspicious, and it would be
shame if we should losa glorious victory by
miserable hioa aerings and squabbles in egard to
men. Very truly yours,
ALEXANDER II. II. STUART.