Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-08-22
ll,OMMUNICATED.

10 the Conserrntire Convention Of the Eighth
CONGRESSIONAL District:
You will have before you at ea>, ,:so caudi
tive of this district in the uex U. S. & ugress,
Geu. Huutor, The Present member, All either
Col. john s. Mo>by, or JAS Barbour. Com
ing from Il rural region aln in ignorance which
one will be presented TO you.
1t is charged against Gen. Hunton,
l. That he is ineficen; that hc was silent
during the last scssun; never opcLlug hi, mouth;
never making speech.
.. That Gen. Hunton being member Of he
minority party, is without effective lLhucuce III
Congress.
3. That Col. Mostly is "a live man" can cx-
crt a greater iufucuce, aud accomplish more
for The private aud public Interests VI ills coz
sliueutS
1t is ~ part Of my purpose or desire to re-
Acct on Gen. Huntou 5 competitors, nor direct
ly or Indirectly to cast any lu,putalion oa them.
But it is ouly just to Gen. Huutun to say that
he was prevented by physica lndlspo>lt'on from
speaking; that difficulty is happily removed by
the perfect restoration of his health His ca
pacity to make Il speech, which would give mo
none doubt. But when incinJrr goes to Co-
grcss for the first term he meets those who
nave held leading part, ard If ne steps for
ward to seize the leadlLg staff he bccUluvs sub
icct to the charge Of arrugaucc, arrays all the
elements Of ieulpu>ly against him, aud destroys
Instead of acquiring ahy ii fucncc. 1t Is the
part Of wisdom to lay tuuuualion first by silent
Industry aud personal acquaintance.
,. Il is true that Gen. Ii. would DC Que ii the
present minority, and il that be an otj :;tlon
against him it would be the same agaiusl any
| Conservative, and an argument against the cleo
ton of any but Republican,
3. Gen. Hunton would exert far greater
influence than Col. Mo,by. Col. NJ. might
have Influence with the President personally,
but tia, would be ALL The Republicans would
look a,kance ON hin as making raid On llcu;
seeking to Gisintcgrate their party. The Con
servatives would not trust him because they
would fear that he was not one o them. Be-
tween two fires he would fail TO the ground.
Gen. Hunton has proved hluselfa most Ell
fec,ive aud valuable Committee man, and by
,bem the real work of Congress is done. BY his
ameuity, his stral ghtturward honesty AMI man-
! " qualities he has ToD aS large share or the
personal favor aud confidence Of the RcpuhIl
caus as any new member, and IN all, save party
questions, they are glad to aid him.
His energy, fidelity and ability none can
doubt Can any Ouc claim for Col. Mostly a
greater degree Of honesty and fidelity than Gen.
H. possesses? Why theu >tuItliy the act of the
District at the last election, by rcpudlating The
member then elected, who has held the seat for
the half of Que session, without giving him
the time 10 do more than he has
Is it well TO maae these changes? Is it good
policy? Is it any announcement 10 candidate
if he iecs that the con6d.u Of his coustltu-
cuts is SO uncertain.
Again, is it like the generous character OF a
Virginia people to turn its back on au old aud
we'll tried man, who, in every thing he has
done, 10 any position, has proved himself
what Col. Hutton has-merely because he has
suffcrered from sickness and physical visitation
If COL Mosby be less sure of inuhence than
Hunton, how much less would Mr. Barbour be
likely TO stand on a better footing.
Let US retain our present member and rely
on it that all the elements of Gen. Hun
tons character and MUD guarantee that he will
| gill all the expectations OF his friends