Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-08-05
Declines the Soft Proposal.

John ". jenkins, chairman Of the State
Central Committee Of tie Wells Republican
0Ro6icsl party, wrote letter to Dr. G.. h.
Gilmer, chairman Of the Central Committee Of
she Walker Republican CONSERVATIVE party,
sesiag that the two parties now re-unite for
tie purpose Of oarryiAs out the republican
principles
How s,i.. how persuasive how innocent =
nothing bali SO disiu;crcs,cd ia the annals OF
Z yi,6-s
There nothing Lali 80 svee;in HE
As Love ycung dream
And Jenkins is 10 aptures at The thought ot
sharing tho marriage feast
But ubatis TO be gliued by coalition with
lie NIongrc.s Ii the Wells party had sue
cesIel by a sweeping majority, would they
have bean anxious for reunion OF the two
wings of tue party? Would they have been
willing to divide the oFice2 jenkins is alto
gether too sweet when he suggests a scheme
by which Wells . 10 Be made Senator But
let Dr. Gilmer give the spouse:
RooMs cF rEE Executive COMMITTEE
True REPUBLICAN, PARTY,
RICHNOND, Va, July 81, 1869
Colonel John W jenkins, Chairman Wells
Republican State Cgmmittee.-Dear Sir
Your favor Of the 9th instant is TO hand, and
/ am Instructed by my committee 10 respond
% IL iu the same frank spirit that characterizeS
your communication.
We fully agree with You that not only the
restoration Of Virginia 70 the Union, but her
future prosperity and greatness are dependent
upon the cordial endorsement Of therccOnstruc-
ton acts Of Congress. aud the declared policy
Of President Grant in enforcing those acts.
In March last, when We found ourselves COM
PEELED Jy force Of circumstances TO oppose the
policy Of the President or withdraw from the
Wells party, we selected the latter as the alter
native aud selecting true republicans as our
s,audard-bearers We went before the people Of
the State and Invited them TO rally upon our
plat orm, based as It was upon a republican
foundation broad enough for every patriot in
the l,ud 70 stand upon. need not remind
Won with what alacrity the intelligent, patriotic
voters II the State rallied 70 our cali. The re-
suits Of the 9th Of July are too fresh II our
memory 10 need repetition.
With a voice almost unanimous, the white
voters of Virginia endorsed The policy Of Presi-
dent Graut aud tie acts OF Congress relative to
I reconstruction. thus openly declaring them
selves In favor Of republican measures. True,
many OF these gentlemen had, IN former times
acul with the seccssioliSts of the SOn,h But
are they lcs republicans because Of their ante
cedcrts, Aud would they have been denied
aiuj,taaoe into the Wells party had they
sought admission! We think not.
You invite Il coalition Of the t,ro rings Of the
republican party. We cannot admit that the
party Is divided Ga the contrary, we claim
that the Grandfather party is tie National
. Republican party Of Virginia, representing the
policy Of tie President aud Of Congress, and,
as such. have no divisions 10 heal True a
majority Of thc cnlucd people, under the mis-
direction of the Wells leaders, voted against
the policy of President Grant, but their eyes
have been opened 90 their mistake, aud they
are uaw llekiar Us hundreds to the Grant
Walker standard.
To tlc Late Wells party we have only to say,
we shall Gladly welcome them 70 our ranks, 30
for v, are unwilling 20 deprive any class Of
cittZ.Is of tic iuuUmcr8ble blessings that must
flow Co Virginia from au uncquvocal enforce
mert 90 those national principles Of which
President Grant amt the Congress Of the Uni
ted State, ave the head and trout Respect
fully yours,
q. K. GuNUE, Chairman