The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-07-29
A Lively Contest for $4,000 Per An
MUM and Mileage. -

/ several weeks agitatins the question of who
shall he their standard-bearer for congress.
sional honors in the campaign. AS might
be supposed, the trouble is not that they
are unable to find ANY man of ability and OF
their own stripe of politics who is willing
to serve has country in the national Legisla.
ture. On the contrary, there Is no lack OF
candidates, each of whom is either anxious
himseE to go, or has friends anxious to send
him.
Eorter, who now draws the desired 81, ,00C
per annum and mileage, may seem at first
sight to have the inside track, but appcar.
ances are delusiye. Any one who has read
the reports of the meetings which have
taken place within the last few weeks must
have observed that Porter is not by any
means the coming man," 30 far as the
opinion of the Radicals of Richmond goes.
These meetings We're called at the insti-
CATION of Humphreys, who is Porter's hench-
man, Tor the purpose of selecting delegates
TO atHepublican nominating convention to
be held In Metropolitan Hall Oh the Sd of
August. Several Of the meetings, however.
have passed resolutions denouncing the
| idea of the convention on the day named !;
some have refused to send delegates, and at
| all a spirit of antagonism to Porter. not
| withstanding the attempt to pack them in
his interest, has predominated. Marshall.
Madison, and Clay Wards, have no use for
him at all, if the mass meetings recently
| neld afford an indication of the preference
/ of the voters. Indeed, the only demonstra-
ton thus far in favor Of Porter was the
"rag, tag, and bob-tail" procession, COM
posed of hired boys, that everybody was
laughing at on Monday night. A sorrier
parade we have never seen.
At present, the opposition to Porter cam
not be said to have centred on any one of the
three or four whose names have been pro-
| minently mentioned. 1t is divided between
DR.. Charles S. Mills, B. w. Gillis, Judge
Alfred Morton, Samuel NJ. Page, and John
OLIVER, all Of whom are dyed-fn-thc-wool
Republicans, and either of whom would
probably make better representative than
the man who got drubbfng at the hands
of Pat Woods.
Judge Morton is, perhaps, little ahead
OF the other candidates, some of the dele
gates to the Porter convention being noto-
riously pledged to him. He is a popular
man, and enjoys the confidence of the all-
thOrities at Washington, but labors under
the disadvantage of not being we'll acquaint-
ed with the masses. DR.. Mills has many
friends among the few foreigners who have
cast their lot with the Radicals, and they
insist that he, as a loyal native VirginIan,
should be supported by the party at large.
Some of the same class are urging Mr.. Pages
claims and as he is a ready speaker, and is
better known in the rural districts than his
competitors, he may have strength masked
which will surprise everybody when the
convention meets.
Mr.. Gillis, as the editor and proprietor of
the State Journal, is perhaps better known
throughout the North than either of the
others named, and could probably obtain
more money from the National Republican
Executive Committee. His services to the
party entitle him to frst-rate office, and
his numerous friends are determided that
his claims shall not be overlooked.
John OLIVER, the last-named aspirant, is o
colored man well known In Richmond. He
was Until lately messenger of the City
Council, and was also first Yice-president of
the Republican gubernatorial nominating
convention. He Is a thorough-going Radi-
cal, graceful speaker, and exercises a
widespread influence over the voters of his
own race: If he persists in running, he will
be no unformidable competitor of the white
persons whom we have named.
The Hanover Radicals present the names
Burwell Toler. Mr.. James is an old favor
lite of the Hanoverian RAIDS, having repre-.
sentcd that county in the late Constitutional
convention. lie will accept nomination.
| Mr. Toler, we Tear, hasn't much chance of
success, as the white Republicans seem de-
termined not to allow negro to run.
1t remains to be seen whether the Sd of
August convention will be held, or whether
| tho nomination will be made later in the
| campaign. The State Journal and the
friends of Messrs. Morton, Page, Mills, and
OLIVER, advocate the latter, and it is highly
probable that their counsel will prevail.
Hon. JEFFERSON DAvIs.-Ex-Preside
Davis arrived in Richmond last evening by
the Richmond and Danville railroad, and
is stopping ut the Exchange Hotel. He is