Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-01-22
Election Of Col wisasrs Is Senator.

Colonel Withers was IN the Senate
chamber, where lie had been presiding
over the morning session and from
which he had been unable to make his
way to his quarters because of the
crowd which blockaded the way. His
friends rushed into the Senate chamber
and gave him the warmest congratula
lions. He received them very quietly
but with evident pleasure, saying !:
81 thank you. | appreciate AS | cannot
express the kind efforts and cordial
good will of my friends.
Presently some gentlemen who had
voted against him came up and said:
swell, Colonel, we made the best fight
against you we could, but you are fair
" nominated, and we congratulate, you
on the result" Colonel Aithers re-
piled Il thank you. | have no
animosities against any who honestly
opposed me. 1t has beer a gallant
but fair fight
Major J. w. Daniel, of Lynchburg,
rose on his crutchcs and proposed
Three Cheers for Our. New Senator,
which were given with hearty good
will.
Colonel Withers now attempted to
leave the capitol, but the crowd gather
ed arc und him and literally forced him
into the hall of the House of Delegates
and were so clamorous for a speech
tina, he at last took the stand and said
that he uttered the simple truth and no
trite Commonplace when he assured
them that his .sheart was too full for
utterance."
He had upon tLis occasion no
thought but one of profound gratitude
for the highest honor conferred upon
him in deeming him worthy to repre-
sent this proud old Commonwealth in
the highest council of the nation. He
would make no pledges for his course
as her representative. When he forgot
the honor and interest Of Virginia he
hoped that his right hand might forget
its cunning and his tongue cleave to
the roof Of Ills mouth.
1t had been said that he was an ex~
trcmis.-that he was always looking
back and mourning over the "Lost
Cause" He would say in reply that
he did dearly love Old Virginia her
glorious history and her grand tradi
tons and usages-but he trusted that
he had-arrived at the age of discretion,
that he fully appreciated the situation,
and that be would be found ready to
support any measure that would be for
the promotion of her prosperity and of
that Of the whole country.
He deemed it proper to say that he
honored the distinguished citizen Mr..
Hunter) who had been his competitor
on the last ballot, and fully appreciated
the fact that he had high claims on
Virginia for most distinguished and
valuable services, beth before and dur
ing the war He did not recognize in
the result the triumph of any personal
favoritism for himself, but he regarded
il as simple expression Of the TACT that
the time has come when Virginia has
determined to bestow some of her
honors upon the men who barred their
breasts TO the storm and served her as
best they could in the tented field in
the days of her darknest peril as an
expression of a purpose to put on guard
once more the men who have stood on
Virginias outposts in every emergency.
This sentiment was greeted with great
aDDlauSe I He wODld not IonUar do
tain them, but would once more tender
his warmest thanks, and say, from the
bottom of his heart, No man ever had
truer friends.
The applause with which Colonel
Withers was greeted Throughout his ad
dless, and the enthusiasm which his
presence excited, showed concusivel,
that the choice met a warm response in
the popular heart, especially among the
oil soldiers who were gathered at the
capitol to hear the result.