Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-10-04
JOHN ECHOLS.
Reply of Judge Harris to Gen. EchOls's
Card.
Very RespectfU

FELLOW Citizens 1T has been my mis-
fortune or good fortune, as the case may
be, to have had the unceasing hostility
OF certain politicians in this district
since the inception Of my political life.
But it is my cheerful duty to congratu-
late the people of this district as well as
myself, on the fact that this latter day
canvass has been conducted with more
regard to the proprieti6s of life, than any
of its predecessors. Two years ago a
forlorn hope Of the dissatisfied" conclud-
ed that they had perfected all the ar
rangements and combined all the ele-
ments for my defeat. They held secret
caucuses vigorously. They formed al
liances, offensive and defensive, of the
most beWildering description, and con-
spired. deeply and earnestly to make
common cause against me, and to obtain
and embellish by their superior political
wisdom, the seat in the National Con-
gress, with which for some time you
have seen fit to honor me. The people
believing me to have done my duty,
have vindicated me emphatically in the
face of this factious opposition, and their
industrious efforts have only signaIly
mlscarried. To illustrate two years ago.
/ received letter from Characteristics,
containing this expression Il have.
learned that Gen. Ecllols and WA. A.
Burke of Staunton, have been heaa. ex-
pressly to form con- bination for your
defeat" Strange to say, these very
same gentlemen, on last Satu sday, made.
another excursion to Charlottesville
where another little caucus was held as
Will be seen by the following telegram
received by me on Sa' urday last:
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Sept. Is, US.
Gen. Echols and VIM. A. Burke con-
Q red here to-day. They agreed. Echols.
is the man,
This telegram proved correct, for so soon
as the Generals foot touched STANTON
soil on his return Saturday evening. he
said am candidate for Congress- and
that evening the motor press flooded the
city with his circulars So that it was
the politicians of Charlottesville that
constituted 'the voters from the yarious
portions of the districtn that solicited
the General at this late day to run
for Congress. v~, -.
If [ am not :. istakes, in the temper of
the public mind, this little eombination
will share the fate OF it's predecessors.
for intend to give the people an oppors
tunity of expressing their will regardless,
OF all caueuses and cliques, whether in,
Harrisonhurg, Staupton, or Charlottes..
Vile
But to the Gen ERALS circular. NAV,
first congratulate mysslf and the people
that he does not dare to attack any vote.
| ever gave or any sentiment have ut
tered during my term of seven years bs
Congress, but is only apprehensive as to-
the future. He cannot find any enrerTs
have committed, or any wraag perpe- =
trated on the people. This proves there
is no just cause for ma..iag q change.
The Ganaral aflu6eS 40 two rp,o.S:
the public debt and the currency. and
while he defines the position Of uthaxs Z
with great force, he utterly fails in eithan
c. SO to define his own. No one denies
that Gen. Echols has talent of a hiorh
order in his, line, but he seems sn con
stituted as to be unable or unwillino f..
express his views clearly on these great
questions on which there is a difference
Of opinion in the puhHv mind.
TO illustrate, he agsi:l repeats the o1a
song Of compromise with the creditors
she song; be sang so sweesly when ha
was a candidate for the Legislature. and
hen says this can be done within the.
present Eate Of taxation Within the
lresent sate of taxati.ms This Isl aln
my readjpster proposes to do. The sat-
er proposes by law to say Virginia is
lot able to bear an increase of tax. and
he il willing to readjust the debt,an6
'ay all the present rate of tax will reaE
se according to the Barbour bill. Gen.