The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-23
LETTER FROM FLOYD COUNTY


The Presidential Canvass-Democrats fol
Grant Instead of Greeley-Grant the FrIen,
of the south-Conduet of the Campaign
1 FLOYD, Co., VA, May 2lst, 1872.
q 10 the Editor of the State Journal !:
In view of the fact that we are on the
eve of one of the most important political
campaigns known in our history, thought
| would let you hear from the new fifth
district, and say few words about the
political outlook in this section of Virginia.
Since the meeting of the Cincinnati Con-
yention, and the nomination of Horace
Greeley for the Presidency, / have seen and
conyersed with many Republicans and
Democrats, and all seem to vie in the opin-
ion that no combination of so-called
Liberal Republican, and Democrats, can
avail to defeat. the nominee Of the approach
ing Philadelphia Convention. AS between
Greeley and Gen. Grant, many of our
Democratic friends prefer the latter; and if
Greeley should be indorsed by the Balti-
more Convention, we can not only defeat
the Greeley ticket, but feel sure that we
can carry Virginia for Gen. Grant, and re-
deem the State from Democratic misrule.
Many Democrats are outspoken in their
sentiments, and openly declare that who
ever the Democracy, in National Council.
may choose to endorse as their candidate.
they will unhesitatingly support General
Grant. They object TO Greeley because
ne was among the earliest and ablest ad-
vocates of African suffrage, doctrine to
which the Southern Democracy have been,
and are noao, more bitterly opposed than
any that has been agitated since 1865.
They object to, and oppose him, because
they claim he advised them to secede, and
afterwards urged the national army "on to
Richmond" to whip them into subiection
to the national authority. They say they
will not support him because he has never
been Democrat and always an abolition
lst. On the other hand many of them say
that General Grant has no Objectionable
record, and that he has SO firmly adhered
to the terms of surrender at Appomattox
Court House, that they will feel that they
are only discharging patriotic duty, to
aid in his reelection.
Men who have never taken the stump
before during political contests, will be
found bearing aloft the Republican battle
flag in the political battles soon to be
fought. Should your correspondent be se-
lected as elector from the Fifth Congress
slonal District, as at present intimated, you
may confidently expect that he will shake
every bush, from Grayson to Halifax, in
the interest of the Philadelphia ticket
Nor will he go to the field unattended or
unsupported. That battle-scarred warrior,
jonathan b. Stovall, of Halifax, will COM
mand the first corps, and with that sterling
reputation acquired years ago by honesty
and fidelity in the discharge of official duty,
he will be a host within himself. Claiborne,
Lewis, Lloyd, Winston, Lindsay, and a
host of others, will be upon the war
path, and such a fight for Republican as
tendency in the Fifth Congressional Dis
trict will not be surpassed, if equalled,
within the boundary lines of this ancient
Commonwealth. As Republicans, let us
draw our swords and throw away the
scabbards, and march steadily forward to
sure and certain victory.
L. A. BUCKINGHAM.