Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-11-13


Many Of our readers take an especial in
terest in the politics Of the second Con-
erossional district OF Virginia, from the
fact that it has been represented in the last
three Congress .eS by a Burlington boy, and
. graduate of the Medical Department Of
our University. in the person of Hon.
James II. Plat Jr.
At the clos Of the last session of Con-
gress Mr.. PI att informed his friends that he
had fully determined to decline a renomina-
ton. B at the Democrats having nom
mated Hon. John Goode, a lawyer Of
fine ia .ents, Mr. Platt's friends insisted upon
his aking the field again for Congress, as
he was the only man in their ranks who
&C uld defeat him, especially as eolored
'candidate. named Norton, was in the field.
The triangular fight was a sharp one, and
meetings were held il every hamlet in the
/ district. In recent public discussion at
I Williamsburg. Va. Mr.. Goode assailed Mr..
/ Platt's military career .ayerring that he was
! first doctor and then Quartermaster.
I Here in Vermont We know that DR.. Platt
went into service a. Orderly Sergeant in
/ Company OF the Third Vt, was then made
I Captain Of Company B, in the 18th VT Vols,
and served through the war, the last two
years on the staff OF Gen. Sedgwick. Mr..
Platt'> answer to Goodies structures when
it came his turn 10 speak was happy. lie
alluded 10 Goodies structures on his military
record, and said that he should take the
liberty OF referring to the military record of
his competitor. lie held in his hand
newspaper containing biography of that
! gentleman, and giving his military record,
and he would read it for their information
1t was as follows:
" M. Goode had seven brothers and brothers-in-
law in the Confederate service, one Of whom was
killed"
What unparalleled sacrifices his competi-
tor had made As an original secession
ist, be had done all in his power to force
Virginia into the war, and getting himself
elected to the Confederate Congress, had
sent all his relations to do the fighting.
When reading this account he had been IT.
resistibly reminded of a similar instance on
the Federal side. Daring the darkest
hours of 1864. that great American humor-
ist, ARENAS Ward, had written letter in
which he said, " the Union must be pre-
served, and il necessary he would sacrifice
every one OF his wlie's relations
At political meeting at Yorktown, last
week, Wednesday. when Mr.. Platt and
party Of his friends arrived. they found
Norton and Goode in possession of the
field. Words were at once exchanged be-
tween them and the Norton faction, and
from words it soon came to blows, follow
ed quickly by the drawing of knives and
pistols. Some half dozen shots were
fired, one on each side receiving slight
flesh wounds, when the trouble was quoted
by the better Judgment of the more con-
sentative. The three parties then formed
in triangle, three separate groups. Platt
addressed his friends, Goode his, and Nor
ton his and thus quietly ended a meeting
that at one time bid fair to terminate in
bloodshod.
\ Norfolk correspondent Of the Washing |
ton Republican in recent letter. said
The whole strength of the Democratic
party of the State l. being concentrated |
upon this district Speakers and money are
being poured in from ali sections Their
papers are attacking Platt with vindictive
ierocty only paralieled by the New York
SaR IN its opposition 10 Grant in the last
Presidential election. Their cry is
ANYTHING To BEAT PLArr,"
and they have assistance, first in the indie
pendent Republican candidate, Norton.
negro who resides in the county of York,
where he bas considerable strength. He
appeals to the passions ana prejudices of
race and color, and opposes Platt on the
ground of his tPlatt's) opposition to the
mixed school clause Of the civil rights bill
SOME OF PLATT's OPPONENTS.
Senator John A. Lewis and his son-in-
law, j. Amber Smith, are also working in
every possible way for the defeat of Platt |
and Colonel John 5. Mosby is doing the
same thing-the two former from pure Gus
sedness and envy of Piatt's success and in
iuence in the State and in Congress, and
the latter because he looks with great long
ny upon the Federal Offices in this district. q
md thinks he might control them and ali
he State If Platt was only out of the way.
But they combined have a formidable foe to /
light. Platt Is an able and indefatigable G
worker; his pluck, endurance and perseve-
ance are indomitable. lie is a most per
uasive and popular stump speaker, and a /
oil match for Goode in that respect '
His personal character is above reproacb. I
nd as business man he has the entire :
aspect and confidence of ali who know him.
lis political friends are enthusiastically de- d
oted to him, and there is no man in the il
nited States who Possesses more personal n
ltiuence in Congressional distri ct than he i,
oes in this. So far he has deci ded adyan-
lge; and after visiting many of the n
ounties OF the district and receiving reliable n
liormatiOn from those have not visited | h
IN prepared to say that nothing but fraud.
nd fraud on large scale, can prevent his :
lection in November. v