The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-01
r,on AZ. Pr.demore for Congress.

printed an article suggesting the Hon. A.
l.. PridemoSe as the probable nominee or
the coming con gressional convention, which
meets in JVythevil!e August 9Th. The arti-
Gle was simply speculation, and founded,
as we then stated. upon "signs OF the times !"
as indicated by the opinion OF prominent
gentlemen throughout this district, by the
nress through letters TO us, and byapersonal
intercourse with the people OF this end OF the
district. That article was pcnnedin the abb
sence of as thorough knowledge Of the will
or the people as we are now possessed OF,
and was written, as we then stated, with
out General Pridemore's knowledge or con-
sent. We had seen the omen OF trouble IN
the party, and foreseeing the danger OF
split m the party, as well as deprecalng the
IDEA OF a disgracef1l scrub-race, we fe!t tpat
we would be recreant to solemn duty II
we did not suggest a remedy and use our IN
f1uence to secure its end; and therefore, in
obedience to the call OF many Of the best peo-
ple OF this district, we suggested General
P Pr as a suitable man, probable
nominee, and-in case Of the Conservatives
of the district in convention assembled de-
mapdiue his services-an available man.
And, as VIC then said, although unautho-
'rizcd BY him to say so, we know his loyalty
to liis party and his, people would forbid his
refusal to obey. Peg. .t..r /.
:; since that article has gone before the peo-
pie we have received q large number Of
letters from the counties Of Roanoke, Mont
comery, Pulaski, WYthe, Russell, Tazewell,
Washington, Smyth, and Scott, all OF whom
haiithe suggestion with pleasure, and urge
ius to bring him prominently before the
people. we are also told that several Of the
counties mentioned above will send dele
gates favorable to his nomination. ..s
Tt is easy enough to see the cause OF the
dissatisfaction on the part OF the people,
and, as sequence, the cause OF 4 demand
for another candidate. The fact is there
have crept issues into the canvass which do
not legitimatelv belong to Tissues OF a
purely local character-lugged in by gentle
men over-zeaIous in their efforts on behalf
Of an issue entirely foreign TO anything
ever known in national contest.
The gauntlet was thrown down at the
Colorado Hotel, Abingdon, when few, in
dividuals-not one representative from each
this congressional district,
and each county therein, ITO support no
man for any Office; either State or Federal,
whom we do not hcnop to be i'll favor OF
forcib.e readjustment." ..
When such an assertion is made, does 1t
not compel the debt-payers to take an op.
posite stands Does it not say in words un-
-mistakable, " We propose to rule or run?"
Is it not depression from the honered
principles OF Conservatism which have been
Virginia's salvation? Is it not directly
boiling the party? Is it not direct thrust
at General Pridemore, and an attempt to
kill off any chance for his nomination in
case the Wvtheville convention demanded
=. inv Gtinn affirm
atively for itself.
As to General Pridemore's saying he
would not be candidate for reelection, it is
well known that that assertion Was made
with his first announcement as candidate,
aud was q pledge to no person, and was
made in good faith, at his own suggestion.
We cannot see how any far-minded man
can now construe it into a pledge. Ii he is
taken up by the Convention without his
seeking, is placed in nomination against his
protest, what fair-minded man can charge
him with bad faith? tits besh to talk such
stuff. s;s aa rs.-: ~ $3.50
Our prediction is that the Wytbevile
convention will nominate A. L. Pridemore
and return him to Congress. His record in
the present Congress has been such as to
increase his popularity with the. masses,
and his consistent course and moderate
views upon State matters make him by far
the most acceptable man within the reach
Of the people,. And we again repeat, should
the Wytheyille convention confer upon
General Pridemore the nomination under
the existing circumstances, sand he refuses
to accept, it would show him guilty OF cow
ardice, and unworthy the confidence already
imposed upon him.
In Justice to Mr.. ,Pridemore, we will state
that be is absent from town, and that We
had no intercourse with him for weeks, and
that this article is written without his
knowledge and against his expressed wish
40 -Tpp fio3Jnfn Senfinpl 81.