The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-08-26
HARR1soNBuRe, VA, Aug. 9, 1856


GEO. R. CALVERT, ESQ. My dear Sir-Yours
of the Sth ult. was duly received, and have de-
| layed an answer until could show, by fact and
figures, the falsity of the charge to which you re-
| fer.
| On Saturday previous to the election started
for Lexington, to address people of Rockbridge,
at their Court on Monday. / did address them,
and at once left for my home, where I arrived
about II o'clock the morning Of the election.
| Upon my arrival, I found the excitement run
ming very high and the report in circulation that
ON Saturday night previous had joined the Union
League in Staunton, and had come back here clan
destinely, and had taken the cars for Winchester,
to perfect my arrangements with the League there
This not only reported, but they were prepar-
ed TO prove it, when the truth is at the very hour
they alledged and said they could prove Itook the
cars here. I was sixty miles distant in an oppo-
| site direction from Winchester. This charge, and
those of similar import, were circulated all over
the District, as far as money, telegraphs, steam
engines, horse-fesh and politicians could take
them, thus making the charge simultaneous at al
most every place in the District. And it was
| charged and reported, in consideration of my
union with the league, that the Rev. E. P. Phelps
had withdrawn as candidate in my favor. This
was also extensively circulated. No man has ev-
er been held to prove negative until some attempt
has been made to prove the charge. None such has
been made, yet will disprove the allegations
Below is the statement of the leading Republicans
of Staunton, with whom it was charged l made
the transfer of myself to the 'Radicals:"
Gin justice to truth and Judge Harris, we state
that the report that he did, on Saturday, the 3rd
day of July, or at any time, connect himself with
the Republican party at Staunton, or in any way
make pledges to it, is without the shadow Of foun
daton. On the contrary, zone were asked or ex-
peeted. Dr.: Phelps had uniformly sald ne was
not a candidate, and had authorized US to say So
before Judge Harris came to Staunton. Such of
us as voted for him, did so upon his public speech
es and record. The politicians of his own party
refused to let his name go on the Wazker ticket
and as is usually the case with minorities, they
voted for the candidate of the opposite party, who
is ignored by its politicians lie was not the can
dldate OF the Republican party in any sense of
the term, was he voted for as SUCH Neither
was DR.. Phelps Withdrawn in his tavor. We sim
ply announced the fact that he was not candi-
date, and thus left the Republicans free to vote
between the two candidates Of the Walker party.
VIM. L. HERR,
JNo. A. BLUME,
A. 7. MAUP1N,
VIM. G. BRowN.'
If any further proof were necessary it is found
in the letter of Rev. E. P. Phelps. which is as
follows
"My name was placed, very unexpectedly to me,
upon the Republican ticket, making me appear as
candidate for congress for the sixth District. /
dutAolIAeu tHo WltuuTaWdI OIL my name from Inc
ticket, but gave no authority to withdraw it in
favor of Hon. John 7. Harris
STAuNToN, Aug. 9th. E. P PHELPS
See what DR.. Freeman, the acknowledged lea
der OF the Republican party in Rockbridge, says
JUDGE HARRIS Great injustice was done you
here on the day of election by the circulation of
false reports. So far Rockbridge was concern
ed, the facts were these: The Republicans would |
not have voted between you and Mines in this |
county, but for the fact that the politicians of the
Conservative party would not let your name go |
on their ticket. This fact alone made most of the |
Republicans vote for you. If your name had been
adopted as the Conservative candidate, we would |
doubtless have voted for Mines am alone re-
sponsible for the tickets printed as to Congress,
and the substitution Of the name of Judge Harris
for that of Dr. Phelps upon such as were voted for
you. We voted for you your public record,
knowing you were for The Walker ticket without
my pledge direct or indirect to the contrary. We
had no candidate of our own and had to vote be-
ween you and Mines, and these reasons alone |
decided our actions here. JOHN II. FREEMAN"
In Rockingham, where reside, Wells received +
1913 votes and 403 were cast for Rev. Phelps. In