The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-08-26
THE CAMPAIGN.

Jotut Discussion at warrentOn--
colonel Hughes Discusses She Needs
Uer Abuses the Republican Party
and the Black Race-Flne speech Of
Hon L.. HI. Chandler--COlOnel With
ers ATTACKS General L0ngstreet-Ihe
Old story of White Virginians for
A special To The National Republican
from Warrenton, August rs, says:
The gubernatorlal campaign in this
state was opened at Warrenton to-day by
Joint discussion between Hughes and
Kemper, the candidates for governor, Col.
Withers, the Conservative candidate for
acknowledgements and Il. III. Chandler,
of Richmond. Mr.. Ramsdel was unavoid-
ably absent. There was quite large at
tendance, the whites predominating, and
the general sentiment being strongly Com
servative, but all the speeches we're
listenedto with close attention.
Colonel Hughes was the first speaker,
and after paying compliment to his com
petitor and stating that as far as he was
concerned there should be no personalities
during the campaign, he proceeded to dis
cuss inteligently the needs of Virginia in
The way of internal improvements and the
development Of her resources, all of which,
he argued. could only be accomplished
through the agency of the Republican
party. as .s.
: Colonel Kemper next spoke, and said
the contest they were about entering was
to decide what sort of government should
control Virginia, and he did not think it
was a question in which General Grant or
national politics had anything to do.
lie then bitterly attacked the Republican
party and its candidates, declaring that they
had sought by secret organization to array
the black man against the whites, and
were still trying to do SO. He said the
speech of Colonel Hughes at Lynchburg
was the most incendiary document ever
issued in Virginia. In referring to the can
didates, he said. "And Ramsdel will re-
turn to his carpet-bag retirement and
Hughes, who was the great editorial
champion of slavery, will be defeated.
Mr.. L. III. Chandler followed in fine
speech, which he began by saying he was
a Yankee, and was glad of it /; but he
thought he had lived south long enough TO
be native.
lie criticised the reference made by
Kemper to carpet-baggers, and said that
it was not The fact Of being not born in the
state, but Of not belonging to the Conserv-
ative party. lie said that so blinded were
they that social ostracsm followed every
man, both native and foreign, who did not
think as they did, and cited the case of
General Longslreet. He spoke of the inter
nal improvement which would be sure to
follow Republican rule; defended the
constitution, and rldiculed the meeting of
the Southern historical society.
After some brief allusion to his personal
troubles at the outbreak Of the war he
closed.
Colonel Withers next spoke, but his
speech was chiefly noticeable for an attack
on General Longstreet, who, he declared,
was not fit associate for gentlemen, as he
had sold his principles for oflice-a fact, he
asserted, he could prove. He defended the
declaration Of Davis, Semmes and EARLY,
and said for himself he did not subscribe to
the doctrine that because. they were unsuc-
cessful they were wrong.
Mr.. Chandler then closed the argument
with halE-hour's speech, in which, in
answer to question, Colonel Kemper re-
piled that he thought the government was
bound to build the Kanawha canal and pay
the state debt for the damage done by the
war. Mr.. Platt, made stirring speech, and
| the meeting adjourned.