The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-09-10


poning the Conventions?
When returned to America had posi-
lively determined not to seek the nomina-
ton or election for Congress. Immediately
after landing in New York took train for
my father.in-law's, a place remote from the
political strifes of the Third district. and
should have remained there until this time
except for repeated kilograms from friends in
Richmond urging me to come, if ouly for u
day, to consult over the political situation. AS
soon as arrived here, and some time after
landing in New York, declared my deter.
mination not to enter into scramble for the
nomination, giving as reasons that had
served the people Of the district faithfully
and to the best of my ability, and that be-
Iieved the position>of Congressman should
seek the man, and not the man the position.
The leading men of the district met, and as
sured me that only Wickham, Lyons, or my.
self, could be elected to Congress in opposi.
ton to Ex-Governor Walker; that the
white people of the district would under no
circumstances support any of the custom
house candidates. Soon afterwards the Dis
trct Committee met. / was assured that
nine out of the twelve were convinced that
I could defeat Ex-Governor Walker, and that
no other man prominently mentioned for the
nomination could. The committee had un-
der adyisement the propriety of adopting
the plans of the First and Fifth districts ito
hold no convention), but after consultation
with myself they determined to hold a con-
yention. I declined to advise as TO any day
for holding it,, because l believed it was
matter entirely within the control
of the District Committee, and that it was
in n n ir,
the calling of the Convention, or after the
Convention was called to undertake to bolt
the action of the committee. In all of these
matters have studiously avoided any inter-
ference, and am now willing to abide the
action of the only body having the right to
call q District Convention. Should a District
Convention be held at any time other than
the time specified by the District Committee
9TH October) it would not be binding upon
the Republicans of the District, nor do ]
believe they would support the nominee.
Did your friends take any part in the elec-
tions for delegates in Henrico, Hanover, and
Louisa counties, where Burgess men are re-
puted to have been chosen?
They did not; believing, as nine out of ten
of the Republicans do, that in district so
close as this, no one, especially Federal office
holders, would have the audacity to fight the
regularly constituted committee of the dis.
trict. Reports from the counties confirm
the opinion of my friends, that there would
be no important meetings of the citizens.
Louisa county has already repudiated the
action of the few people assembled at
her courthouse last Saturday, and who
undertook TO speak for the county.
Hanover will certainly do the same.
The meetings in Henrico were ridiculously
small, and much wrangling occurred. 1t
took the combined custom-hOuse to affect
this little. When the people turn out, as
they surely will do, to the meetings called
by the District Committee, the office. holders
will amount to about as much as drop in
the ocean. have no fight to make on Rush
Burgess, Chandler, or any one else. The
matter of convention and the nominee for
Congress is entirely within the control Of
the people Of The district, and shall neither
buy nor seek improperly the nomination.
Will you feel in any wise obligated to sup
port the nominee of the Convention Of the
10th instant if convention is then held in
defiance of the. District Committee?
I should not. In this, | understand, Chand-
ler's and Msjor Walkers ablest friends agree
with me.
Has any proposition been made to you
looking to the withdrawal of you and all
other Republican candidates in order to give
an independent Conservative opportunity to
runS
A proposition has been made by one of
Burgess's friends but as l have never been
q candidate did not feel at liberty to with
draw from a canvass had never been 10.
Besides, I believe it all important for the
welfare of this district, as well as the South,
requires the election of moderate native
Republican.
Do you think Burgess can be elected if
nominated
do not; nor do / believe that many of his
friends think so.
If you were nominated you certainly
would not expect to receive any support
from the stone-cutters, would you!
During the last session OF Congress was
the most active worker for the appropria-
ton. Mr.. Garfield, the chairman of the Ap-
preparation Committee, bears cheerful testi.
mony to this. The last days Of the session
the Hon. Mr.. Speer, one Of the ablest Demo
cratic members of the House, made motion
to strike out the appropriation for the new
State Department, repeating many of the re-
ports then current Of the amount of money
corruptly made out Of the contract by men
claiming to be Republicans. There was every
indication that the appropriation would be
stricken out, when made . speech begging
the House, in behalf of the stone.cuters,
not to strike it out. In this speech 1t became
nv duty to denounce the connection OF
Washburne and others with the contract.
After the adjournment of Congress Secre-
tary Fish refused to award the contract to
Ordway s. Co. until saw him ahd appealed
to him to act promptly and give the contract
to Ordway s. Co., SO that the stone-cutSefs
might 90 to work. In all my acts have Ia
bored for, their advancement, and have al
ways regarded them as great acquisition TO
Richmond. .Et,.g .
! Finding that Mr.. Smith was inclined to
make his responses more defence OF MS
own position than spicy statement OF party
difficulties our representative smiled upon
hi,n his sweetest and hlandest smile, Dade
him good.day, and departed.
MEETING OF HEsRIco sUPERv1soRs.-The
Roard of. Supervisors held meeting yes'
ferllay and granted permission TO Messrs.
Scott & Clark to raise the wall in the rear OF
the Clerks office. The board alter audinnS
q few accounts adjourned
STATE TREAsuRy.-The balance 10 tne
state Treasury yesterday was ss.887 2SS9 ,Sa.