Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1870-11-04
lCoMMU UNIcATED.l

Ma. EDIroR: As to the mode have pursued
whilst prosecuting my part of the present poiti-
cal campaign have no apology to make to any
one.
| In selecting me az an object upon which they
could pour out the vials of their wrath-a target
against which they might discharge their poll
tical excitement, will not say that my feelings
have not sometimes been wounded, but the DEM
ocrats have unwittingly paid me compliment
quite healthful in ITSELF and greater perhaps
than deserve. They found from examining
the list of registered colored men in the county,
more than seventeen hundred, and comparing
it with the actual vote of last FALL when there
was every thing to draw out full vote, that if
| the colored people would gener all y vote the Re-
publican ticket, united with the white Republi-
can vote. the Republicans in Charles county
would have a majority of FIVE or six hundred
and If the same course pr evailed throughout the
trict, Hon. James A. Gary would be elected
by five or six thousand ma ority. Knowing this
the Dcmocr ats have made and are making every
effort to the colored vote in order to
themselves from hopeless defeat The fl st thing
they determined to do was "to destroy the inf1u-
ence of DR.. Wilmer :" and the humble individu-
al named has been abused from one end of this
county to the other,-but he still lives. Besides,
our Republicans know full well that if DR.. Will
mer had no existence, or was all that he has
been represented, the issues of the day would be
| the same, and exciten e 1T in the county would
be the same. They also know DIR. Wilmer is no
candidate and never expects to be.
1t has been charged that (Dr Wilmer) am
"afraid to meet the Democrats" and to ''discuss
with them the issues of the day" have been
taunted with this char ge in order to divert me
from the course have seen fit to pursue. What
is the truth of the matter! /! have attended and
address thirty FIVE Republican meetings, aver
aging in attendance (Republicans and Demo-
Gratis oombined) at least one hundred at each
meeting. l have not hid my ''l, s,er light'' un-
der bushcl. have refused to allow Democra-
tic speeches at Republican meetings. ! have
| refused to allow Democrats to arrange my pro-
gramme of action, and have not attempted to
interfere with them. Sometimes have received
invitations to FIVE or six different meetings on
the same day and at the same hour. On one
occasion attended one such meeting, and at all
others it was stated by the speakers that cdr.
Wilmer was afraid to come" 1t has been simp
ly impossible for me to attend Republican and
Democratic meetings at the same time, and l
had no desire to neglect Republican meetings
called by myself, to attend Democratic meet
ings, or to allow Democrats to attempt to con-
troll Republican meetings; neither had / any
| desire to measure my strength with every little
cock sparrow that attempted to crow over me-
accepted an invitation to attend a meeting nd
discuss the political issues of the day, three miles
from Port Tobacco, with the Hon. Frederick
Stone, the Democratic Representative of our
District in Congress, and did have such dis
cussion with him at a meeting composed of Re-
publicans and Democrats. Mr.. Stone is an
honest Democrat, a noble man, perfect gentle
man, and he is incapable of mean action or an
offensive personality.
lnasmuch as had no engagement to attend a
Republican meeting last Monday l attended
Democratic meeting at Beantown. ! claimed
no right to speak at that meeting, but when
there was call for me, which appeared to be
general, said if it was the desire of the meet
ing would speak with pleasure. And to avoid
intrusion ! asked Messrs. Mitchell and Brent,
who seemed to be managers, if I should respond
to the call and speak. They assented. COM
menced by saying: ''In this neighbol hood was
born and raised, in this neighborhood / was
principally educated. and all the associations of
my childhood, clustering around me at the
thought, is it not natural that should feel an
interest in the intelligence, prosperity, welfare
and happiness of the associates of the greater
part of my life, and that this interest should ex-
tend to my white and colored fellow citizens
When had proceeded thus far, objection was
offered to my speaking more, and the result was
I could not proceed without forcing myself upon
the prominent Democrats of the neighborhood.
So much for aaskbeing 'tafra:d to meet Demo-
crats'' to tdia6ss the issues of the day. with
them. When a 3speaker resor ts to personal a.
buse the natural and rational inference is, either
his cause is weak or he is driven to such an ex-
iremity by being unable to do justice to his sub
ject. The eighth of November will decide the
issue, and all we want is fair election.
WILLIAM r. WILMER.