Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1869-07-02
Communications.
TO THE VOTERS
OF THE
SIXTH CORNERSTONE AL DISTRICT

CI0rhe, Wdrren, Page, Shenandoah, H0cE-
ing7adne, augusta, Highland, Bath, Allegha-
ny, RochJridge and Botetou,t
FELLow-CITIzEHs The general confu-
sion in our town on Wednesday last and the
rumor freely circulated to my injury, that
had withdrawn as candidate for Congress
in this District, renders it necessary that
should issue from the press this additional
card
Mr.. Lewis has Withdrawn, and although
unexprcssed publicly, | believe in my favor.
I did agree with him to withdraw, provided
the people of the District 1rou7d have a cans
didate with disabilities ard provided that
the gallant Confederate soldier, L. W. Nj.
Holiday, Of Frederick county, with his dis
abilities, would consent to run. He is a
gentleman and scholar. He shed his blood
in the Southern cause, and was rash IN his
desire to shed it, and if you piH have man
with disabilities, in GODS name, have man
that you know where to find, and who served
you faithfully in your hour, of trial. For
such a man [ withdraw, and he can depend
upon my support
In my card Of Wednesday, words were
used in speaking of John Z. Lewis, per
haps under mementary excitement, which |
desire here, unsolicited, to withdraw, and to
commend him to you as a candidate on your
State ticket in every way worthy Of your en-
thusiastic SUPPORT.
[ wish you al to understand that for you
[ am fighting along the line. l am the Con-
sentative, Walker ticket, uhfe nlGn's candi-
date, and will hot withdraw unless conven-
ton 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 not let his friends Or foes I'M
derstand him. Is he anxious to secure the
Wells and negro vote Let him have them!
I neither ask. expect, or desire the vote Of
single Wells negro in the District. lneith-
er ask. expect or desire the vote of a single
Wells whito man in the District. I would
rather be defeated with the Conservative
vote for me, than elected with the vote of
Wells white men and the Wells negroes. [
am an enthusiastic Walker ticket man the
white mans candidate for the public good.
l have by this action Willingly thrown off
possibly four thousand votes. | have a
right to expect the white Virginia men to
rally around me have right to expect
the undivided Walker ticket vote of the Dis
trict and I tel you, if don't receive it, a
Radical or negro will represent your inter
est in Congress- Men of Shenandoah,
Rockbridge and Botetourt, where have
been, listen to what say, and believe me.
I am your friend because believe you are
willing to do the best you can. and respe 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 hospitable graves
Tell me, some friend of John 7. Harris,
what was the result of his private interview
with Wells on yesterday when I and others
were honestly casting flowers upon the Con-
fcderate 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 the radical influence toward the
removal of his disabilities by Congress in
the event of his election? Or was he calcula
ting. upon the election of the Wells ticket,
and Radical Legislature, and thinking how
important it was to be on his right side, as
he wonid have to nominate tie Judges p
Would he take the J udgeship through Wells
and the Radical Legislafarc9 Does be desire
that the Radical league shall not make q
nonaination 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
logged silence before the Roman Senate.
Men Of this District have Convention.
if you choose. All [ ask, is that you NOM
mate a white man, gentleman and a Vir
ginian. [ promise 10 give him an enthusi-
astic support, be he Holiday, Baldwin,
Stuart, Skinner, Jas. 3. Dorman, or any
other good man that yoa 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 I cannot give you
satisfaction, have convention, throw ME aside
and take & better man. 1t may be impor-
tant for US to have i representative to pro
tect Virginia's interest Don't eject g 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 Radical league don't
make nonsjnation, it is equivalent to Sc
cret nomination of Harris by them, and will
be so understood. If the Conservatives don't
make nomination, it should be considered
as equivalent to u nomination of Gray by
them
] am perfectly willing that between Har
ris and myself, John F. Lewis shall decide,
upon fair statement of the facts, which
shall withdraw. [ am perfectly willing that
Col, Gilbert G. Walker shall decide and
that [ may not be misunderstood, | am per-
fectly willing that all the facts may be fair
ly represented, and that Gen. Lee may
decide which and what is best for the public
good; but am not willing that " ellis 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 con-
tract.
My position, briefly stated, is this: the
great doctrine of ''Post 49, for peace and
good will, early reconstruction, and future
development, flowers 60 be scattered by
woman's hand on every soldiers grave in the
land, whether North or South, whether
Union or Confederate, as the grave of a
brave man who died for what he thought was
the right.
Under the sod and the dew
H.. 90. Waiting the judgment day
h. LoFe and tears for the blue,
Tears ana lore for the gray.