The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-14
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LETTER OF GENERAL wHCKHAM TO
JUDGE RIVES
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, |
October II. 1873.

October i, 1873.
Judge Alexander Rtues:
My Dear Sir-Since the receipt of your
kind letter asking my views on our can
vass in Virginia, have had my time and
thoughts so fully absorbed by business
matters as to be unable to reply. But
will delay no longer. go,
You are aware that supported Major
Mcmahon for the nomination at Lynch
burg. did so from no objection of my
own to Mr.. Hughes, but simply on mat
ter of policy taught by many political con-
tests in this country, viz: in sharp con-
test to take a man with as few points Of
political record to hang objections on as
we could get, who was at the same time
worthy of the position. Mr.. Hughes hay
ing been nominated became my candidate,
and as such receives my cordial support.
Our ticket is unquestionably good one in
all respects. Mr.. Hughes is q most able
man, and takes most comprehensive and
statesmaplike view of the condition of the
state. He is thoroughly aware of the
wants Of our people, and has character
of mind especially fitted to devise the
measures for their relief.
Mr.. Ramsdell is, Think, most admlra-.
BILE selection, and has impressed me most
favorably whenever have come in contact
with him. He is the very type Of man we
want to induce to settle amongst us. Hon
est, genial, intelligent, active and industri-
Gus, fully impressed with the importance of
the prompt development of the vast mineral
resources of the state, he is the very man
to put forward to attract the settlers that all
agree we want. 7A3
Judge Fultz is certainly man worthy in
all respects of the confidence and support
Of those people amongst whom he has
passed long aud kind and useful life
In short, the gentlemen who constitute
our ticket are fully the equals q think the
superiors) Of the opposing candidates in
point of character, of ability and of devo-
ton to the best interests of Virginia. Their
election will reflect honor on the people of
the state, and will give immediate impetus
to the advance of prosperity amongst US.
The outlook for our party seems to me
to be very favorable for our success. |
believe that the people see that the Conser-
vative speakers are daily Offering insult to
their intelligence, when they tell them (as the
staple of all their discourses) in the face of
the overwhelming and steadily increasing
preponderance of white people in the state,
that the success of the Republican party
will result in "negro supremacy" and they
will quietly resent the insult at the polls.
l believe that the wholesale vituperation
INDUCED in by these same speakers towards
their political opponents is having its steady
effect upon the thinking men of the coun-
try, and is tending to an increase of our
strength. a
believe that the people who hear these
speakers call your honored self and the
hundreds of other native born Virginians
who support the Republican party, from a
firm conviction of duty and with sole
purpose to advance the best interests of
the state, "recreant white men with black
hearts," will not fail to remember that
it was these same men who, in lS60-6l,
when we were battling against secession
and warning the people of the evils that
would flow therefrom, denounced us as
traitors to our state" nor will they fail
to remember how wise our warning and our
counsel was, and how disastrous to all the
interests of the state was the counsel and
the action of those who then and now re-
vile us and remembering it they will pause
before they will again be deceived by their
passionate appeals and sectional invoca-
tons.
1t may do for gentlemen who wish to
attract to their schools sons of extremists
to deride the desire for the development of
the mineral resources of the state, and
rest the glory OF Virginia upon the reputa.
ton earned by men of past generations,
as heard speaker of eminence do last
night but it will not do for the mass of
our people. They are practical in their
views and becoming daily more so, and
they know that one thought about the
matters of to-day and tomorrow is of
more worth than dozen about yester-
day.
They know that the man who builds one
furnace on the line of any of our railroads,
opens one coal mine or puts in successful
operation one mandatory, does more for
the welfare of the state than dozen of
the most ornate orators would do by
talking of the past grandeur of Virginia
or by conjuring up raw head and
bloody-bone phantoms of negro supremacy,
and they will now come to the conviction
that this material prosperity, the want of
which is so sorely felt by all classes. will
DO much more readily attained if we are
in accord with the great National Republic
can party than if we continue to sail by
= the charts of sectional navigation.
1say to you, most earnestly, that the
only hope for the restoration of prosperity
~ iSoto VII tiIO ONCithiOU VI
these sectionalists, and in placing the state
government in the hands of those who
sustain the national party. Our doors are
wide open, and we are ready to receive in
to our party, and admit to the fullest fellow
ship, all who will adopt our views and work
with US to bring about harmony amongst
the people of all sections of the country, and
to establish good and wise administration
ofour state government. | believe that the
people will recognize these facts, and that
the coming election will show that they
have determined on new departure.
1t was my purpose to have participated
in the discussion of the canvass, but my
duties are just now so onerous as TO leave
me no time for anything else, and fear
therefore that | shall have to forego the
purpose
Yours, most truly,