Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-09-02
THE FIRST GUN!
Kempcr and Hughes at War
rentOn.
The War Opens in MOsby's Con.
fedcracy.


Mr.. Gordon, tine Conservative chair
man, then, in words of real elOuuence
( aud glowing eulogy, introduced Cen
James l.. Kemper, the Conservative
nominee for Governor. After an elo-
qucnt reference TO Fauquier county as
the place where rest the bones of his
fathers, General KeInper said that lie
should utter no sentiments and make
10 remarks incOa patible with the dig
nity of the high office for which both
he and Colonel Hughes were candi-
dates. His opponents should be treat
ed with proper courtesy. AS to him
self, he shrunk with sincere diflidence
from the responsibilities which the
people of Virginia had imposed upon
him but he religiously clung to thepri
ciple, that Sn office should be neither
sought nor declined. The representa-
tives of the people had made him their
candidate by unanimous vote, and
he had never refused, and never would
refuse. TO obey the call of his native
State in the councils of peace or the
stern ordeal of war. Personal matters,
however, are not now to be considered.
\ great political crisis should engross
our thoughts, Our country and her
cause are at stake, and he was to ready
iOin hands with all who desire to make
our proud old Commonwealth as
proud, happy, ard free as of old. He
was not here to waste words on nation
al measures. policy or politics,
and was not prepared to follow his
competitor over the broad arena over
which he had travelled. Mr.. Hughes
had carefully steered clear of ever one
of the issues which shake Virginia to
her foundations to day. He reminded
him of an incident which occurred in
Richmond a few days ago. \ CONSUL
tation of Physicians was held with
view to deciding upon the best means
of preventing the approach of cholera.
Their deliberations were interrupted
by a young doctor, who said, II don't
know much about cholera, but | have
a first rate medicine for fits" Mr..
Hughes had confined him self to
foreign ground, and had so spoken as
to draw off the public mind from the
real question brought home to US to-
dav. He proposed to hold him upto the
line and to a Just responsibility. With
Hughes as a man he had nothing to do,
but with his political record he pro-
an ungloved hand, holding him strictly
accountable as n representative man oil
the Radical party III Virginia. This
Is no national contest; parties are not
divided here as at the north; we are
happily withdrawn from the arena OF
federal politics the great issue here is
what sort of government are we TO
have in Virginia to deal with our
lives and liberties for the next four
years. These issues do not come un-
der the cognizance of Federal courts or
require the action of President Grant;
and as to President. Grant he would
saw that he bad no desire to condemn
him in advance. He had entered up
OH another term, and it will be we'll
for him and us if he rises above the |
level of sections and faction and obeys |
the voice of patriotic duty so rs to Sc
cure the welfare of every State ana the |
country. But, General kemper re-
heated. this is a canvass affecting our |
own affairs aud homes, and Mr.. /
Hughes cannot escape the issues. 1t |
matters not whether we have been |
Democrats or Wings before the war,
or UniOnists in 1860 and
1861; whether we have been for Gree
lev or for Grant, for Mahomet or for
or for neither; whether a
foreign or an American sun Shone up
OH our birth, our interests are the same
here. Parties are not divided as at the
North there thinking men deliber-
atelv differing are divided and coli
,end for supremacy there they have
no colored people worth speaking OF.
It is natural that they should not rea-
ize our difficulties, for they do not
come home to them. In Virginia
alone there are 5I3, 600 coiored people
more, than in all the northern States
md territories combined. An uned-
Icated race had been placed in posi-
ion to dispose of great question so l G
liberty, and prosperity, and grapple
he greatest questions in political econ
)my. General Kemper then scathing-
Y reviewed the record of Colonel
Hughes. y community prospers in
as all classes work togeth-
r in peace, harmony, and mutual
od-will-imposing none but equal
and impartial justice to all
He affirmed before the world that du-
ing the past four years the conserva-
i've party in Virginia has, as far as 1t
les i'm human power, fulfilled these
There has beeen equality