Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-07-01
To the Voters of the Sixth COngressiOn-
al District.

al DlStIlCL.
| -CITIzENs-The general confusion
in eur town on Wednesday last, and the rum
or freely circulated to my injury, that had
Withdrawn as a candidate for Congress in this
District, renders it necessary that | should is
sue from the press this additional card
Mr.. Lewis has withdrawn, and although
did agree with him to withdraw, provided
the people of the District acould have candi-
date with disabilities; and provided that the
gallant Confederate soldier, F. W. M. Holli-
day, of Frederick county, with his disabili-
ties, would consent to run. He is gentle
nan and scholar. He shed his blood in the
Southern cause, and was rash in his desire
to shed it, and if you acW have man with
disabilities, in Gods name. have a man that
you know where to find. and who served you
faithfully in your hour Of trial, For such
man l will withdraw, and he can depend up
on my support
In my card Of Wednesday, words were used
in speaking of John F. Lewis, perhaps under
momentary excitement, which ] desire here,
unsolicited, to withdraw, and to commend him
to you as candidate on your State ticket i'll
every way worthy of your enthusiastic sup
port.
l wish you all to understand that for you l
Conser yative, Walker ticket, aohite mans can
didate, and will not withdraw unless a con-
vention rule me off, or for Holiday, who is in
every respect worthy your support, and not a
man like Harris, who during the war, and now
will ut let his friends or foes understand him.
Is he anxious to secure the Wells and negro
vote? Let him have them l neither ask.
expect or desire the vole of single Wells
negro in the District | neither ask, expect
or desire the vote ola single Wells white
feated with the white 7C6nsefvatrve V0te Tor
me, than elected with the vote of the Wells
white men and the Wells negroes l am an
enthusiastic Walker ticket man ; the white
mans candidate for the public good. have
by this action willingly thrown off possibly
four thousand votes. l have a right to ex-
pect the white Virginia men to rally around
me. have right to expect the undivided
Walker ticket vote of the District; and | tell
you, if don't receive it, Radical or a negro
will represent your interest in Congress. Men
of Shenandoah, Rockbridge and Botetourt,
where have been, listen to what | say, and
believe me. l am your friend, because be-
leve you are willing to do the best you can,
and rescue the old commonwealth from the
hand of the barbarian, and her citizens who
just now are in danger of being welcomed
''with bloody hands to hosptable graves"
Tell me some friend of John Il. Harris
what was the result of his private interview
| with Wells on yesterday when / and others
were honestly casting flowers upon the confed
crate graves, as the graves of brave men Was
he seeking The negro vote, or was he simply
getting into Wells good graces that he might
get he radical influence toward the removal
of his disabilities by Congress in the event of
his election? Or was he calculating upon the
election of the Wells ticket, and a Radical
Legislature, and thinking how important it
was TO be on his right side. as he would have
20 nominate The Judges? Would he take the
Judgeship through Wells and the Radical
Legislature ? Does he desire that the Radical
league shall not make nomination now for
Congress. SO that they will treat him as their
nominee? | answer every question asked
me why won't he? The people have right
to demand it. 1t was demanded as right of
Catalina when he stood with logged silence
before the Roman Senate.
Men Of this District have Convention, if
you choose. All l ask, is that you nominate
white man, a gentleman and a Virginian.
promise TO give him an enthusiastic support,
be he Holiday, Baldwin, Stuart, Skinner
Jas. B. Dorman, or any other good man that
you can produce in the District. | tell you
Gray is all right. and his text is "for the
public good" Still if am not to your fancy !;
if | cannot give you satisfaction, have a
convention, throw me aside, and take better
man. 1t may be important for US to have a
representative to protect Virginia's interest.
Don't elect a man who is of doubtful position,
or who cannot be sure of his seat, who may be
sent back by his disabilities, and the place
given to some extreme Radical. If The Radi-
cal league don't make a nomination, it is
equivalent to secret nomination Of Harris
by them, and will be so understood. If the
Conservatives don't make a nomination, ii
should be considered as equivalent to a nom
ination of Gray by them.
l am perfectly willing that between Harris
and myself, John Lewis shall decide, upon
a fair statement of all the facts, which shall
withdraw. am perfectly willing that Col.
gilbert C. Walker shall decide; and that
may not be misunderstood, | am perfectly
willing that all the facts may be fairly rep
resented, and that Gen. Lee may decide which
and what is best for the public good; but
am not willing that Wells and the negro shall
decide.
White men of the district, elect Robert A.
Gray, and he will do the best he can for you :;
this is fair contract, and Gray promises to
carry out, faithfully, his part of the contract
My position, briefly stated, is this: the
great doctrine of ..Post 1872 for peace and
good will, early reconstruction, and future
development, flowers to be scattered by wo-
mans hand on every soldiers grave in the
land, neither North or South, whether I'm
ion or Confederate, of the grave of brave
man who died for what he thought was the
right.
Under the sod and the dew,
Waiting the judgment day;
Love and tears for the blue.
Tears and love for the gray.