Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-09-14
the Convention acted with the greatest
fairness-a fairness equaled only by the
magnanimity of the minority.
(ED. NEws.)
SALEM, VA, Sept. 1880.

(ED. NEws.)
SALEM, Va, 8 Sept. 1880.
Dear Colonel.
Before this you have probably seen
the announcement of c. NJ. Webber,
Esq, in his Register, which, though
dated to-day, was issued yesterday. |
hasten to assure you that not only do |
not approve of, or sympathize with that
announcement, but deeply regret it and
strove against it.
True, l was for Blair. True, con-
tended that the "Altizer Delegation"
was alone entitled to cast the vote of
Montgomery, and true also it was play-
fully charged against some of your
friends that "they had stolen one and a
half of the votes Of that county" But
it is also true that the evidence before
the Committee on credentials showed
that neither the "Altizer meeting" nor
the "Miller meeting" was strictly regu-
lar; the former having been called for
/ O'Clock p. M. precisely, and yet was
held, transacted its business and adj
journed before that hour, and the latter
was called without proper authority, and
there were several hundred Readiustcrs
at Christiansburg at July Court who,
not being able for the crowd to get into
the Court house, did not participate in
his meeting, and Haynes contendcd that
he was out drumming up his III Full
kerson men to get them in at the
o'clock meeting, but found when he
reached the Court house that the meet
ing was over and yet that hour had not
arrived. Therefore, both delegations
were probably irregular Yet the COM
mittee decided to admit ah the delegates
to the Convention. There were present
six Altizer (Blair) delegates, and two
Miller (Fulkerson) delegates. 1t was on
my motion, as the supporter of Blair,
with the appreciation Of his friends, that
the eight delegates were allowed TO vote
per capita, instead of by delegation, (each
delegation casting one half Of the six
votes of Montgomery, rs the Fulkcrson
men contended for,) and thus giving
four and n half votes to the Altizcr
(Blair) delegation, and only one a half
votes to the Miller (FulkersOn) dclega-
tion. Therefore, on reflection in cool
blood, | must admit that it, in pldfH
sense, it be true "that Fulkerson's
friends stole one and Il half votes" ," ii is
squarely true, in the same playful sense,
that Blar's friends stole four and a half
votes out Of the same botch. There was
however, in truth no theft, no fraud, no
impropriety at all-only u difference of
opinion widened doubtless by diverse
inclinatlons and interests, and finally
settled by compromise by which Blair
got out Of six votes four and half and
Fulkcrson one ond u half votes.
IL was thought that the four and a
half votes would secure Blair the nomi-
nation. 1t was Il bellevc) alterWard
found that had he received the entire
delegation Of six votes, he would still
probably have lacked small fraction of
majority Of the Convention. There
fore after cosultation with his friends
(and few men have friends more loyal
he decided his name should not go as a
candidate before the Convention. The
honor Of presenting his name had been
assigned me by the unanimous voice of
himself and his friends in caucus, and
so the no less honorable Though may
be, 10 me less pleasant) duly deyolyed
OH me to propose to the Convention the
nomination Of Col. Fulkerson by acCla-
nation. This proposal was hailed by
universal applause, not less from the
friends Of the defeated than from those
of the successful asplrant and was Sec
onded by dozen speeches from the par
ty of the former, the friends of the latter
scarcely getting n chance 10 utter u word.
Cant. Blair himself came upon the stand,
rendered his congratulations, aud In elo-
quent language declared he would cor
daily support the nominee. Not one
disappearing voice was raised to mar
the harmony Of the Convention. It was
tIuly political Glove Feast" aud joy
seemed TO pervade the bosom and illu-
mine the faces of all. True, some few
did privately express disappointment ut
their ftyorlte's failure to get the noml-
milton, und among that number was my
colleague, Mr.. Wcbber, aud said to me
he would not vote for Fulkerson. But !
believed that with the shades OF night,
The gloom of dissatisfaction would pass
away from his soul, and that for sake OF
the harmony and success Of the grent
pnrty of Virginia REIMBURSEMENT, which
/ know, he loves so well and has worked
for 30 long and no lcarlcssly, he would
speedily regain his former ardor and
raise once more his old war cries. For
verify. for as much as he may admire
hls man, aud desire his elevation, he
knows well that the motto of Readjust'
ers Ia 'Principid non homiRes."
Truly your friend.
q. w. llAssBRoudH.