National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-09-27
THE EIGHTH TIRGINII DISTRICT
Letter from ID. w. Clnrls.

To he Editor of The National Republican:
SIR: desire through your columns to
speak TO the citizens of the eighth congress.
sionul district OF Virginia. | notice an arti-
Gle in the Virginia Liberal Of the 23d instant,
signed by w. Wiiloughby. Said article Is
designed TO deceive aud iujure the republican
PARTY aud to make capital for the democracy
II Is a tissue OF faschoods so apparent to
those acquainted with the situation that a de-
NAL would hardly seem necessary, and more
especially is it robbed OF its sting by my
knowledge of the author. Prcsuming, how
ever, that there are those in this district who
do not fully understand the situation, deem
it my duty (Deing a member Of the state cen
trail committee and fully cognizlnt of all the
facts to reply to the article in question.
At the state convention last spring a confer
once was held, the delegates from each county
being present, the subject under discussion
being the condition of the republican organi.
cation in this state and district. Having
asccrtained that the congressional committee
| in this district had become extinct, it WAS
| thought best that the members of the state
central committee from this district should
| issue q call for II congressional convention M
such time rs they might think proper Such
call was made about the LIST of June last by
| publication in newspapers and circulars, which
were thoroughly distributed throughout the
different counties in the district, calling for a
convention to be held In the city Of Acxan-
dria July l, 1880 Pursuant to that call the
chairmen of the county committees issued
calls for primaries, which were held and dele
gates elected according to the usage of the
party. The convention was held at the time
| and place designated, every county in the dis
trict being represented except Madison and
| LoudOuu. | have attended every congressional
convention that has been held IN this district
since the war aud | am quite certain that
Madison has never been represented in any of
them. Loudouu failed to be represented in
this instance more by accident than other.
wise, aud has since expressed her satisfaction
with the action of the convention, and heartily
Endorsed its nominee. The district was more
thoroughly represented than on previous occa.
sOns, and by tried and true representative re-
puhlcans. Sampson p. Bayly Of Fuuqucr
county was nominated us our candidate for
congress by the unanimous voice of the con.
vention, after which Il district committee was
appointed and other business finished, the
convention 0djourning sine die.
Two months later, after our candidate had
travelled nearly over this entire district, or.
ganiZiug the party aud arranging for Wig.
orous campaign, this man Willoughhy makes
desperate effort to get himself before tho PEG,
pie rs n candidate in opposition to Bayly.
Having utterly fliled to get countenance and
support in his effort to disrupt the party ho
retires, thanking you for the imaginary conf
dcncc you failed to express, and assuring you
of his hearty good wishes aud his readiness to
promote the interest Of the party, the welfare
of which he is attempting TO promote by writ.
lug and publishing over his own signature q
letter slandering and viilying the nominee
of the party, denouncing the convention and
insulting every man connected with IT, stating
many things that l know Of my own
personal knowledge TO be absolutely and un.
qualhodly false, aud ! naturally judge that
rartion of the letter which know nothing Of
TO be corfGsnondingly false, Now, desire to
warn every citiz:G in this district to beware
Of any man who shall pursue such canrsc.
regardless of what may have been his pre-
yious character or condition, And | further
warn every republican against that old polti-
cal fraud, the editor of tho LibCr3i, who sails
under the cloak of republCansm aud issues
his viudictiye Gdicts of vituperaion and
SANDER against the republican party in tho
interest Of the democratic candidates of this
district for the few patry dollars he receives
at their hands, and to crafty few office.
holders in Alexandria, who propose to rule or
ruin the party. Dissension in the democratic
ranks has made success for us possible-yea,
more, almost certain if we improve the pres.
ent opportunity; therefore, let every republ.
can do his duty at the November election and
the vctoryi is ours. Very respectfully,
b. W. CLARK.
HERNDoN, FAIRFAN Co., VA, Sept 20, 1880.