The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-08-26
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
TriE FIRST MEETING BETWEEN
TEaE CANDIDATES.
HUGHES, KEMpER, CHANDLER. AND
wITHERs MAKE SPEECHES
Especial telegram to the Dlspa,ch.l

Hughes, Republican candidate for Governor,
and Lewis II. Chandler, rs the Republican
representative of the Republican candidate
for Lieutenant Governor, were met upon
the stump by General James l.. kemper and
Colonel Robert Il. WitherS respectively, the
Conservative candidates for the same offices.
Before the Richmond Convention the Rad
icals, through Major r. II. Carter, Of this
county, announced meeting to be held in
Warrenton, under their own auspices, for
the purpose of allowing Colonel Hughes and
Mr.. Ramsdcl to entertain the people. After
the nomination of General Kempcr, Mr..
Meade, chairman Of the Conservative Exc.
cutive Committee, addressed q note to Colo
mel Hughes proposing, on behalf of the Con-
servatiye candidates, joint political dis
cussion. on such terms as might there
after be agreed upon. To this Colonel
Hughes replied, asserting to the pro-
poSal, but expressing the opinion that
the arrangements for the meeting should be
left to himselfand General Kemper. Nothing
further was done except the PRONUNCIATION
of the announcement through the newspa-
pers until to-day, when General kemper,
Colonel Withcrs, and Colonel Hughes ar
rived in Wurrcuton. General kcmpcr was
also accompanied By Licutenaut-Governor
Marve aud Mr.. james Barbour, and Colonel
Hughes 10y Congressman Platt, Hon. l.. H.
Chandler, Josiah Millard Of Alexandria, and
Lunsford Lewis of Culpcper. Immediately
upon the arrival Of the Conservative candi-
dates they were waited upon by Colonel
Hughes and Mr.. Chandler, and after short
interview Of business nature q joint dis
cusSion was agreed upon, the arrange
mcnts being left to Mr.. James Barbour and
Mr.. Luns(ord Lewis, with power to dictate
terms to the candidates. These terms, as
liualIy agreed upon, were rs follows: MIR.
Hughes to open the debate in an hour and q
half; General kemper to reply in an hour
and half; Mr.. Chandler to speak an hour ;
Colonel Withers to speak an hour; and
Mr.. Chandler to rCjoin in half an hour.
The Radicals evidently considered Chand-
Ter trump card, and insisted upon his right
to conclude, the appointment being theirs.
Mr.. Eamsdell was not present.
At quarter to O'Clock Il crowd gathered
on the lawn in front of the Warren Green
Hotel and the speaking commenced. Major
r. Ii, Carter (Republican and Charles A
Gordon Conservative were chosen chair
men. Major Carter presided, and opened
the proceedings by Il few remarks. Major
Carter alluded briefly to the Importance OF
the questions at issue in the campaign. he
congratulated both parties upon the candi-
dates asking their sutfrageS, and asked for
the speaker; of either party an attentive
hearing. lie then introduced Colonel Ro-
bert w. Hughes, the Republican nominec
for Governor. Colonel Hughes said he came
before the people Of Virginia as Il native OF
the home of Randolph, the land of the
Floyds. Prestons, and Johnstons, whose
blood now flowed in the veins Of his sons.
He came to this county-the South
Carolina OF Virginia-knowing that it
had long been opposed TO the principles
which he c>polsed, but he came, in the spirit
of Luther in his journey to the Diet OF
Worms, relying upon the justice OF bis cause,
and daring in defence of his principles 10
face as many devils as there were tiles Oh the
houses. He came, too, relying upon the
fairness and hospitality of people famed
for their fairness and hospitality, and felt
assured OF a careful hearing.
Coouel Hughes then referred in compi-
ment,ry terms to bis gallant competitor as
his friend of twenty years standing, against
whom personally he had not word to say,
and whom he regarded as an able represent
! atlye of his party. He desired to conduct
| this canvass as he had the canvass for con-
yressional honors in the Ninth district last
fall, when he and bis Conservative competi-
tor travelled and spoke together for months
| without either dropping Il word to wound
the feelings of the other. He also spoke
kindly of Colopel Withers as a gentleman COM
mandng his entire respect. After the intro
drctiou he read us the text of his remarks a
,assage from alelter written by him to the
| Pre- ;dent of the United States last year in
| behalf of. the James River and kanaWha
Canal Improvement. In this letter 1t was
asserted that the people Of Virginia had ever
taken a national view of national politics,
and that Virginia had by her vote in NoVen'
Der last for Grant and Wilson arrlyed her
self on the side of the nation, aud national
aid was invoked for the great internal I'M
movement in which she was most Interested
He then proceeded to argue that the qlies-
ton now, as heretofore during the last. lew
wears, was whether Virginia will cease her
quarrel with the nation and be natlonii
State. The question settled in November
aifjrmltiyely ought not to have been revived,
but it bad been, and now the people
must vote upon it again. The people Wan'
peace. reconciliation. and rehnion, and III
that spirit he consented to accept the cs.ndi-
d,ry pressed upon him by the unanimous
voice of the Republican party. why, he
asked, should this question be continually
re6pened? 1t had been settled by General
Lee and General Grant ut AppomattoX III
Virginia, and by General Sherman and Gen
eral Johnston at Chapel Hill in North Caro-
lima. 1t had also been settled by the almoS'
unanimous voice OF the people of Virginia
in the adoption of a new constitution IN 1908
The first article Of that constitution ahu
the first words of that article (Bill Of Rights
section cne.) declare that the State OF VIZ
giniu shall forever remain a member OF the
American Union, and her people part
of the American nation. Ii mao
been charged that Colonel Hughets