The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-10-02
srfEg rRDN COL Il: w. HUGHES.

: LETTER rROM COL Il ". HUGHES. 4
We have not deemed it necessary to thes
presentation of the truth of this contest, toh
senter into defense of the Republican can-s
sdidate for governor against the hundred and1
Gone Misrepresentation and SANDERS thats
shave been leyeled against him By the Conf
s,scrystive press and speakers. The cause heb
srepreseuts appeals too strongly and earnestly
Etc the Judgment and interests of the peoples
salfor their minds to be turned away from thett
llprinciples aud policy Of government Ainyoly-l
He'd, which rise high above any considerations
sas to mere individuals by the vituperatives
sassaults upon Col Hughes himself HistoryE
lin this instance is only repeating itself. Ipl
Gall popular reforms and political revolutions
Hwhere the people themselves have determin-
led to vipdcate their own majesty, and rebukeI
ssby the peaceful method Of the ballot,the pattyE
Hdespotism and criminal selfshness of the pol-|
||ssiticiaus, desperation has Invariably seized
upon this class of persons, in the edesree|
THAT they feel their lease of power weaken
sing and see their doom impending. Wei
q therefore, have been content with presen-
sstiug for the consideration Of the masses Of
s,the State the merits of the cause itself, with
..zgout turning aside to ward off the arrows aot
sSmalevolence that have been hurled at the rec
aaaognized representative of the great principle
Involved, and the policy it plainly foreshad-
Cows. The answering fidelity of the friends
Rssof that cause; its steady growth in popular
q favor; and hesfattering promise Of its bril-
9 liant triumph in November next, assure US
ssthat we have not misconceived the temper
Ssssof the peope, nor miscalculated the progress-
i've march Of the ideas comprehended
"a Notwithstanding the encouraging eyilen-
Noes which come trooping in from all sections
sIof the 5tate-that the people turn deaf cal
sSsto the systematic abuse, ,detraction and mis-
representation Of the Incidental views Col
b Hughes may have entertained Of the dead is
ssSssus ofthe past, we have felt it due to tha
Elsehtleman, as we'll for the yindication of him
.ssclf as for the qualification OF the friends wht
,,sSs1Iare SO steacily and maneu!y focking to Ell,
Mstandard Of the people he bears, to sugges
IEthe propriety of .atemeut such as will b
AaSfound below. It will put to rest the mis-
.arepre seDtations and distorted statements tina
81 have found free circulation in the Copserva
sAsstive press Of the State.
"a 1t is proper TO state, in this connection, tina
oSathe writer of this article was delegate from
ssH;this district in 1850, to the Democratic Ma
.nnsstional Convection held Ia Charleston, Soutl
mCarolins. His colleague was DR.. s. Fl
ID n offett Of Rockingham We went there a
tEaa personal friend of Judge Douglas, but t
Sscast the vote of the district for r. NJ T
III Hunter for the Presidential nomination, 8
eeHaIong as there was a probability Of such nom
kaiuation being effected. We did 30, until hi
'EAasnpport became factious, in our estimation
q We then felt free to exercise our own judy
Wment in the interest of the Democratic part
Eand the country. After having voted 70
dEsMr Hunter, 10 conjunction with our col
ia league, a number of times we indicated on
eM purpose to break the unit vote of Virginis
], Saby casting the next vote for Mr.. Dougla
, (which gave him a majority of ths votes cas-
s-Mand which. by the usage Of all Democrat
kaNatienal Conventions, heretofore, entitle
Eshim to the necessary two-thirds vote Th
awas the signal for the disruption of the cor
. Saventlon. Alabama, lead by W. L. Vance,
wand Georgia, by Geo r. jackson, were
consultation with the extreme msmbel
leEaof the Virginia delegation. Those State
.Nssretired from the convention, followed b
South Carolina, with the exception Of B.
Ex-Governor Perry, Virginia, with the cxcep
e Won Of Mr.. Hoge, of the Montgomery distric
e MGen. Davis, of the Greenbrier district, "
eraG. Brown, of the Wheeling district, and D
We ofett, and the writer of this article from tt
EaRockingh ham dlstr1lor,7 I'D tho other seuther
i Estates, including number of delegates fro
MY M aryland, ard probably other slavcholdin
ss,;AStates. We DO not pretend to be historica
tEaly accurate as to all of the seeding State
s. Xas we write from memory. We felt then an
B ESQ expressed it, that the disruption Of tx
yM Democratic party, by the secession of II
i. Cotton States, dragging after them most (
lrEa the Virginia delegation, who were thorough
eofbaly under the influence of William i. Vance
e Eaand the rule OF ruin faction 10 the CONVEX
Eation, was the death kneli Of the Union
il n That night we received dispatch fro
i MRoger A Pryor, then member of Congress
oelfrom the Petersburg District, suggesting tt
: mnecessity Of adjourning the convention
atSs Baltimore. It was submitted to sever
friends, among them Col. Hughes, who az
approved the suggestion, and then to Chas. v
,dm Russell, the chairman of the Virginia deIeg;
j mtion, He called meeting of the delegatio
x Eaand laid the suggestion before it. It WI
undetermined to re assemble the next day, an
flor Virginia to offer the motion to carry tt
2asproposition into effect. It was done, and tt
adjourn ed to Baltimore.
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