Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-08-03
Letter Of ACcepta
BOLIVAR. July 20, 1872


JOHN G. CoCKRELI, Esq, Secretary
of Democratic Conservative Conven-
tion-Sir-I ours Of the 9th inst, no.
tifying me Of my nomination Tor the
shertialty of this county, by the Con
servative Convention, held at Charles
town, on the 22d inst, is at hand. In
reply | would say that thankfully ac-
cep1 the nomination, and that | pledge
myself if elected, to perform the duties
of the Office to the best OF my ability.
Under ordinary circumstances or In
the paImy days Of the Democratic Par
ty, the above simple note OF acceptance
would be deemed sufficient, butin view OF
the present unhappy stale OF things, aud
the utter aban donment Of all time hon
ored usages Of our party, by persons
calling themselves Democrats and from
whom better things might be and were
expected, | consider that | owe to
myself and the people OF this county
that | should explain to the pubic
through you, my present position, and
that OF the parties to whom refer
1t is conceded that the Convention
which nominated me, before it entered
on the business for which it assembled,
pledged itself to abide by the expressed
will of a majority of its members. 1t
is equally certain that received my
nomination by clear majority on the
first ballot, and finally, IL is admitted
that Oh motion of my principal oppo-
ucut in the convention, my nomination
was declared to be unanimous. Three
other nominations were made alter
wards before any dissatisfaction was
expressed, and then = lawless band OF
men broke up the cGAyentlon, on pre-
tence OF feeling outraged at the last
nomination, which WAS for the Office OF
States Attorney. The members OF the
convention, or, | should say, such of
them as were not i'll sympathy with the
rioters, assembled at Dutiield's Depot
on the 10Th inst, to complete the bnsl-
ness of the convention so shametully in
terrupted at Charlestown, but the dele
gates of one township aosented ihemsel-
YES, thereby clearly showing their APP
proval Of the outrage committed az
Charlestown, and farther, forgettul Of
their pledges and the usages not only
of the Democratic but every other par
ty in this country,and OF honorable men
everywhere, they, last Saturday, assem-
hled in a Mass Meeting uominally of
the county but in reality of a faction OF
one township and nominated the gen
tleman who had been put up against
me at the original convention and whom
defeated by vote Of seventeen to
fourteen. They ignored all the other
nominations also, thereby clearly showing
that the States .attorneyship was not the
thorn that hurt them.
The above statement is now before
the public and if any man can deny 1t
or any part of it let him do so, and, if
hundreds of our best citizens who were
present at the Convention will not bear
me out, will retract-my statement as
publicly as | make it.
And, now, | will say that while l
confess that | feel outraged in my own
person by the course pursued towards
me, feel more keenly for the dignity
and safety of the party to which have
been all my life so ardently attached
and in which ] see the only safety for
our common country. Were the pro-
ceedincs | refer to conducted in some
semi-barbarous region where the lights
of civilization could scarcely be said to
have yet penetrated they would not be
so significant Of the decay Of that dig
nifty so characteristic OF the great Dem
ocratic party of farmer days, and the
wane of the irresistible power secured
to it by its thorough drill and organiza-
ton. When, however, these occurren-
oes take place in the very centre OF the
far-famed civilization of Virginia, and
when they are contrived and executed
by men whom we, heretofore, regarded
rs the brain and heart OF our party or
canization and the chief exponents OF
our boasted culture, there Is room Tor
the grayest apprehensiohs, not only Tor
Democratic party organization, but Tor
civil liberty itself.
conceive therefore that it is my duty
to thepublic as well as to myselfto oppose
to the last this glaring violation, not
only of my rights in political party,
bat of that still dearer one, common to
all, which was never before invaded in
this county unless, perhaps, intime ofwar
that of MEETING PEACgABLY FOR AM
LEGAL PURPOSE WITHOUT LET OR HIN
ORANGE. In the performance of this du
ty, then, | stand before the people as
the regular nominee of the Conserva-
tive Democracy and | c'aim the vote of
every man in Jefferson County who
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