The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-17
fFor the DISPATCH, !

Mcssrs. Editors,-Nct on account OF the
writer, DuS to do my constituents Justice,
do ask oS you hearing to refuse the base
MISREPRESENTATION and slanderous articles
that have. recently appeared in your and
other journals copied from the Lexington
Gazette, to the effect that my election was
secured through the Republican vote, or, III
effect, that 1900 Conservatives had allowed
392 Republicans to beat them by majority
Of 500, when they controlled the ballot
boxes. From such inputation the impress
sion would soon stalk abroad that old
Rockbridse had imported Richmond's bal
lot-box-stutferS, who alone know the
modes operandi by which man receiving
one FOURTH the cote cast shall be returned
elected.
From the following facts, accompanied
with the enclosed statements from the ALL
dStor and Secretary Of the commemorative
office, am sure you and every iair-mlnded
man will sec that such imputations are foul
misrepresentation so far as the writer is
concerned. Rockbridge polcd in the prcSi-
Dental campaign 3,407 Yotcs-2, 5O5 foi 5. }.
Tilden and SOB for r. 3. Hayes. During
the recent election she polled 2,136-Sl3 for
Governor Letcher and 1918 for j. a. Fra
zier-G Governor Letchcr receiving about the
same vote in 1875 (S00), when there was 10
ccntcst-a falling of OF 1,271 votes from
last year. But OF this number 691 were
dsfranchised, failing TO pay capitation tax.
So really only 5Sl less than the heated
presidential contest, when both OF the
great parties were battling for power.
| Who are the five hundred? Are they to be
presumed all Conservatives, when the fight
| is raging with frenzied fury i'll its own
ranks; or is it not more probable that the
Republicans, who only have, after deduct
| ing those found delinquent, about 400, that
they would be the party most likely to be
| lukewarm and refuse to exercise the right
Of suffrage, since they stood in the attitude
Of the careless woman. who witnessed the
fight between husband and bear? But, for
sake OF argument, suppose that every Re-
publican who could exercise the right OF
suffrage did, and voted for James A. Fra
zier, does that prove they elected him? De-
duct 1872 from 1913, and 021 remains, or 121
majority over Governor Letcher and 175
over Shields. This brings me to the inter-
I esting part-and far more slsnitlcant-and
points most clearly where the Republican
vote would go, if it went anywhere
to any great extent. The postmaster
at Lexington supported Governor Letcher.
John Patterson, the leading Republican
and chairman Of their committee, spoke and
labored vigorously Tor Governor Letcher,
and with so much zeal against me. Dan.
Riley, who you recently quoted from, and
wrongfully attached my name to the para.
graph, one OF the Republican tools, rode
| Governor Letcher's horse over the county,
spoke and worked with zeal for him, de-
nouncing me with equal vehemence-car-
rying it to such an extent that on the day
OF election I had to threaten him, he fool
ing several parties, giving out my tickets
with my name erased and Governor Letct-
er's written instead, receiving from Dir.
White this eulogy: 8. he done noble work
for Letcher, and got him many VOTE"
The negro Methodist minister at Lexington
became the patron Of most malicious let
ter THAT have every reason to believe was
written BY the rotten clique in the town
| and sent it broadcast over the county, be-
seecbing the colored voters to cast their
vote for Letcher, Shields. and Enbank:
/ Is it to be presumed that with all the lead.
ers of the Republican party saue one array.
ed against me that I should receive the en-.
fire rank and file. I hope I got some.
/ know I got one for in answer to question
OF C. A. Davidson, asking why he was
going with the Frazier party, Mr. Samuel
| Agner replied, He had determined,
whenever the Republican party laid down
its colors, that he would make responsibility
/ one of the principal tests when he Joined
another party, and that when he heard John
Patterson had Joined the ringsters he began
! to have serious doubts as to the respectable.
ity OF its composition, since John was mol
addicted to such company. And when he
heard that Preacher Wilson had likewise
gone into the wigwam he weakened consld'
! erably more. But when he heard that Dan