The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-19


Rooms REPUBLICAN Elk. CON-, y /
FOURTH DIsTICT,
BURKEvILLE, VA, Sept. 10, 1872. d.
To the Editor Of the Stat: Journal: ~ 49,.
SRI noticed letter in the Petersburg
Index, of yesterday, over the signature Of
Il. Armstrong, which states /" Honorable
j. f. Lewis, United States Senator" in a
letter written to Mr.. Armstrong, says: 81
do not know that it would be proper under
the circumstances, for me to take part in a
canvass between two Grant Republicans,
even if my health would justify it. Ihave
no hesitation, however, in expressing de-
cided preference for Porter over Stowell.
Porter is man of decided ability and can
be useful in Congress- , - III. , ,a
In the first place was considerably as
tonished to see man whom | supposed
had lille political Judgment sign his
name as chairman of committee that don't
know him. say little judgment, because
his course since. the nomination of city
officers in Petersburg last spring has been
such as to show lack of Judgment, and
such that he has forfeited all right to be
called Republican. And my authority is
the best colored Republicans in Peters
burg. Armstrong is no more chair
man of the Fourth District Republic
can committee than am chairman of
the National committee. He may have
been elected chairman of the mongrel or
ganization, headed by Norfolk Notoriety
Porter, who swear they are for Grant, but
beg for Democratic votes-Greeley fashion
before the Baltimore convention-and must
have been elected by the Richmond mob
with the eight boilers in tobacco factory, or
in the street at Farmville, and by delegates
chosen from the crowd on the street the
day of the convention, if elected at all. /
have set of those credentials. It is mete
that such man as Porter should have a
shadow under or near him, who, if reports
in Petersburg be true, SO well understands
trying to break up the Republican party,
this not being the first job. ..sa s g,.s
1t is well perhaps to be the "people's
candidate, but dishonest and contemplate
to announce yourself or your friends as the
choice of convention, when the name you
canvass for was sought to be put upon the
people by mob. You found the cry Of
"Porter is the regular nominee" would not
go down, because nowhere in the district
were men SO ignorant as to believe the lie.
And next the cry "of peoples choice' was
raised, and it has so forcibly reminded the
people of those old resolutions, 8 Resolved
LIST, that am the peoples choice, y Re
solved I'd, that am the people, that the
people, Republican votcrs) Of all the coun-
ties, except portion of three, and por-
ton of the city of Petersburg, say 1000,
that they can't 60 it blind on that track.
And your Z" Revenue Ringn cry has
done the regular nominee Hon. w. III. H.
StowelD good, because it is generally known
that the men whom you accuse of being
dishonest, are neither under indictment, or
only just released from jail, and fortunately
for President Grant, have conducted them
selves so as to have the confidence of
the Republican party in the district, and
have been laboring hard to advance
the reelection of Grant and the in
terests of the party in this State,
have not been obliged to resort to
buying delegates for the nomination or
running independent after distinctly stating
"that the Republican nominee (Col. Stowell)
should be defeated, no matter what the
cost, and if necessary to that end a Con-.
sentative be sent to Congress" And as a
part of the programme, sit astride the
fence, telling the colored men on one side,
''you know / am your best friend, vote for
me-" and on the other side, whispering to
the Conservatives vote for me, I'll do you
good, and look out for your interests in
Congress am not half as bad as you
thought me, as Porter and his mob has
done to secure votes from both parties. (
Greeley and Porter were undoubtedly
Republicans in the past, but their tricks
for support have been the same, and Gree
ley's is less damaging to the National
party, he being over the fence at last, than
Porter's is to the Fourth district, he being
still astride. l am slow to believe that
Honorable John f. Lewis wrote such a
letter, but if it be true, have only to say,
that he is taking strange way to bnild
the Republican party, to support President
Grant in Virginia, and to build up hisinfiu-
ence here or in Washington.
If he proposes to fight the nominees of
our party through print or otherwise, the
old Fourth district will send him rebulle
in thunder tones on the 9th of November,
in the election of Hon. w. II. H. Stowell to
Congress by handsome majority, and
thereby show all who allow their personal
feelings to deprive them of principal and,
Judgment, that the Republicans of the
Fourth district can and will take care of
their nominations regardless OF lnterference
from other sections of the State, and are as
well prepared to fight it when openly made
in the future as they have been its secret,
quiet workings in the past. . n ALL. ..; !
Gro. W. GRAHAM 4
Chairman Rep. Elk. Com. 18th Dist. Va,
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