Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-09-09
Scene in the Conservative Con-
VentiOn when Withers was
Nominated

The Richmond correspondent of the
COurier-JOurRGt, In picturing a series
of events in the recent Cor sentative
Convention. thus graphically describes
the scene which marked the accep-
lance of his nomination by Colonel
Robert f. Withers:
The third and most important pic
ture is the surrender Of Withers when
the nomination of Lieutenant Cover
nor was forced upon him. The Sug-
gestion had been made to him at
breakfast time, but he had refused
peremptorily to entertain it, Early,
Fitz Leo and other warm friends
concurring heartily in the rejection.
The matter once bruited could not
be stayed. Younger and more impul,
sive meen took it up, urged and en-
treated him, forced him into a carri-
age, and when it reached the theatre
so surrounded and crowed the vehicle
that the hackman had to beg them
not to break it to pieces. One after
another of his friends gave way and
advised him to accept. More worried
than shaken in his purpose still to
refuse, he assembled the steps at the
rear entrance of the theatre. The
first man he met was Gen. Early,
81 know gog will stand by me-"
said Withers.
Old Jubal, shaking his long. gray
beared, replied in his peculiar drawl;
''By Cd II don't see what you are
to do but give it up. You have little
idea what is going on yonder,'' point
ing toward the auditorium. Il reckon
you'll have to shoulder you musket,
60 to the front, and fight wherever
they want your to fight"
Glanced to enter the parquette
just as Withers, emergingfrom behind
the scenes, received the thunderburt
of reclamation from the great audi
ence, which rose as one man, and
with waving hats cheered as if they
would tear the very roof of. 1t was
long before the people could be stilled.
Then came Stanhope FlournOy's
unprecedented (for none of all this
was down in the bills but impaSsion>
ed, and, indeed, beautiful appeal.
At its close the audience marked its
approval by another deafening burst
ofapplause. Mortal man could not
withstand this. Withers, advancing
towards the foot-lights in a few
happily-chosen sentences (who would
not have been inspired in like circum-
stances? p announced his unconditional
surrender. He never 10 Iked more
handsome or more noble his capitul.
alton was conquest of the highest
order, and that one hour of life must
have been worth more to him than
a thousand ordinary gubernatorial
nominations.
l doubt if such scene could, have
occurred anywhere else but in Viz
ginia. | am glad | saw it. 1t made |
me love and admire the people of this i
dear old State more than | ever did.
Many exhibitions Of enthusiasm have
[ witnessed. | was in Philadelphia
at Henry Clay's last grand reception
there; and in New York when Broad
way, sea of heads from Bowling
Green to Union Square, roared its
welcome to the Hungarian patriot,
hoSsuth; but a demonstration of
affection so spontaneous, so thrilling
and overpowering as that which
greeted Robert L. Withers on the
memorable morning August Z, 1873,
L never saw and scarcely expect to
see again. A Northern gentleman,
who happened to be present, said that
in all his experience he had never
seen anything comparable to it.