The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-09-06
A Cord from Hon. Thomas =. hococN-
Noble Sentiments from an lfonored
ytr-iniara.
DIAMOND HILL, LYNcnBrEG,l
1917


DIAMOND HILL, LYscnBrEG,l
September !, 1878.
!. Ne,cton Gordon, Esq.
NV Dear Sir,-I am not unaware iii't'
a number Of my friends have indicated q
desire that I should represent Lynchburg
in the next House of Delegates OF virginia )
and YOU have been kind enough to say 10
me that MS q member of the County Conven.
ton appointed to assemble at G'mpoeii
Courthouse for the purpose of nominating
candidates for that body from Lynchburs
and Campbell you desired permission 10
cast YOUR vote for me. Tomorrow, L be-
Iieye. il the day fixed for the assembling. OF
the Convention, and 1t is my duty 10 give
you an answer. ~
Permit me, then, to say to you IN oil
frankness that I have no desire Thdteoer,
individually, to serve rs member OF the
next Legislature, and could do so only ut
great inconvenience and sacrifice. am en-
tirely unwilling, therefore, to occupy the
position of seeking the nomination. were
| to accept the candidacy as the preference OF
a mere majority of my party frienos Tue
| idea ola quasi contest for the nomination on
nv nart would force itself on the public
| mind.
If there be any other gentleman from
Lynchburs whose friends insist on his can
| didacy. and with that view decide to bring
him distinctly and earnestly. before the Con
| yention, in that case / decline emphatIctlly
to allow my name to be used i'll competition
with his.
While 7 appreciate fully my private and
family obligations, and find in their discharge
ample field for the cheerful employment OF
all nv energies, ut the same time am mol
iusensiblc TO the duties / owe to the com
munitv in which reside and the State sin
&c! ely love and honor.
If, on the contrary, it should appear to my
friends of the city of Lynchburs and county
| of Camubcl that the next Legislature Is
likely to present an occasion when my poor
services might be important TO them or TO
the State at large, and if. without reserve
and without heart burningS, they Should
| think proper to call for those services,
know of no consideration merely personal
to myself which would induce me to refuse
them.
But he assured, my good friend, that oli
cial position is not necessary to secure my
allegiance to the principles and the destiny
| OF the Conservative party. Not Tor this. oil
such a this, have lived aud toilcd on. in
u,lic! and oIScllrity. through the long years
of gloom and Of sadness which have recently
f.llcn upon our people. Not for this, or
such As This. have kept the even tenor OF
M way, counSclliug in public moderation III
the means employed, but urging firm mann
tcnancc Of principles.
Had no higher considerations than those
of mere office or lis clnoIumcnts tended &c
uphold and sustain ne should long ago,
like many others, have fallen by the way
side.
No! So thoroughly am I convinced that
the good of my state and Of my people are
bound up in the maintenance Of the policy
Of the Conservative organization that in its
behalf every aspiration Of my heart mus!
ascend TO the throne Of Power or it must
| cease TO beat forever.
With kind regards, your friend, truly,
THOMAS ;. BoC0CK.