Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1877-08-21

skeleton, aud by no means does iu8o
tice to the speaker:
Ny NeiyhJorS and Friends Were
| the Governor of Virginia, 1 could
not feel more proud than | do to-
night in receiving this unexpected
tribute Of respect and honor at your
hands, and in remembering with
what generous confidence and kind.
ness so many Of you, and my fellow,
citizens elsewhere, have desired to
elevate me to that great Office. Our
Commonwealth is full Of noble men,
who have testified their patriotism
by self-sacrifice, and have proven
their capacity for great affairs, and /
am deeply sensible of that partiality
which deemed me worthy of compe,
tition with them. And especially do
| recall. with a gratitude which words
cannot express, that to the people in
whose midst | was born and reared
the boys l played with, the comrades
fought with, TIE men, old and
young, whom worked with, am
indebted for firm and unwavering
support, aud for that preference
which, through them, was impaired
to and reflected by others.
In contemplating the gubernatori>
al canvass which has just closed.
neither you nor | have anything to
regret. We have not sought at any
time, or in any manner, to impair the
fame, or wound the sensibilitieS of any
gentleman undergoing that ordeal
from which all gentle natures shrink,
though not from fear of public scru>
tiny and dissection. We have en-
| played no means to secure success
which we're not universally recOg>
nized as the fair, open and manly
methods of political address; and our
friends in the Convention. after eX>
hibiting fidelity, and devotion of
which any man that lives might well
| be proud, never once struck their
colors in the face of opposition, but
met the result with equanimity, and
went down with all the honors Of
war.
Isay all these things without de-
| sign TO reflect upon any other gems
teman whose name has been before
the people. They are simply truths
which it is pleasant to recall.
And now let me say to you that |
deem this a fitting occasion of con-
graduation amongst us all. Meas
ures not men" are the watchwords of
all governments az heart republican,
and there should be a sense of satis>
faction in every Virginia home to>
night that the representatives in one
Of the largest popular conventions
ever assembled in the State have put
quictus-I trust a lasting one-to
everything that smacks Of or squints
at repudiation of just obligations, -
No one perceives more closely than |
do the financial difficulties by which
we are surrounded. No one feels
more keenly the embarrassments of
our people; but l know, and you
know, that to forever adv ertise them
to the world is more like the whining
of children than the endurance of
men, and that no relief-but only
increased trouble and complication
can arise from the devious and spa
riOus methods of reputation. "The
gods help them that help themselves. :"
We have got to help ourselves by
straightforward, downright sticking
up to duty and by seeking with a Il
the craftsmanship we can demand
to devise legitimate measures Of Fl
nance which will receive the respect
and confidence Of the world.
| rejoice that Virginia, through
her convention, has said in acts to ).
day, what l thus feebly echo in
words to>night.
But there is to me, and | doubt
not to you all, another cause OF con-
graduation. A man has been nomi-
mated for Goyernorship of Virginia
who will be worthy successor of the
illustrious men who have filled the
Executive Chair. l know some of
you don't like the rather curious way
in which the thing was done, and |
cam say that fancy it particularly
myself But if there was anything
wrong about it, | undertake to say
that he was neither party to, or prlN
w in it. A soldier Of the old Stone
wall Brigade. who left his arm upon
battle field which his heroism had
helped to make glorious-a comrade
who would rejoice at another 5 success,
and take no pleasure in his dlsap>
pointment- lawyer who has never
proslituted his talents or attachments
to any ringmaster's service-a gem
tleman in the sense that that word
was known aud recognized in better
DAYS than these-a man who would
stoop to no low acts, and who viii
guard his State with ceaseless vigils-
Frederick W. NJ Holiday of Win
chester is a noble leader Of the Com
servatiye party of Virginia. As suci
| here give him my allegiance. Let
us then turn this gathering into the
first ratification meeting held in the
Commonwealth. Let us send word
to old Winchester that Lynchburg II
with her in spirit now and will be
with her in power on election day il
November. And let me again thank
you for your generous marks OF es'
TEEN, and close my poor remarks b,