The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-11-27

| 10 MyttfpporterS for Congress:
! lFello w.CifizeDs,--I am daily asked the
tnuestipn whether | will contest for The seat
| IN Congress from this district, and feel IL
| to be duty owe to you as we'll rs TO NV"
self 10 make public statement on the SUBJ
Iiect. When | bee lme candidate Tor Con-
oress promised to do all in my power TO
succeed. That promise has certainly been
redeemed No man ever worked more
earnestly and increasingly than did TO
achieve success. believe | am right. L
believe our cause is right. have done no.
thing | am sorry Tor. nothing | am ashamed
| Of, and am as ready 10 renew the hight when
occasion occurs as il had been triumph
antiy elected. The returns are against us
| by large majority. With opinions and
| convictions uncbsnged, accept the result
without murmur. Regrets I bave-Dot
regrets for the lost baubie OF personal sue.
cess, but that our party has not been TIT
umphant In this fight. Its ultimate supre-
macy regard as certain. but ] regret that
the battle must be fought again. whereas
| victory for us in the last contest would have
ended strife.
will not contest my opponents return.
The wish that IN 'uld do so is freely in.
dulged by many Of our friends. II | could
do so c0nscIeDtiousiy would not hesitate
an instant. would owe IL rs a duty 10 my
supporters, no matter what the cost or trou-
BILE, and feel certain they have confidence
in my fidelity to them sufficient 10 assure
them would not fail 10 make the contest il
| had case.
However sperate ardent supporters may
be. they must remember l am as much in.
terested as they are. and have perhaps bet
ter Information than any one else as 10 the
facts.
Immediately after The election canvassed
the district by precincts, addressing Ietter
TO one or more trusted friends iD every
voting-precinct 10 ascertain nj. frauds and
similar Influences, aud the extent thereof.
Also to ascertain The effect Of the Injunction
issued Ivy the Judge OF Manchester. have
received replies IN detail from nearly every
precinct In the distrc', and am fully In.
formed now upon these points.
The returned majority Of my oDpouentis
9 800. Undoubtedly lost abou, 1900 votes
in the district by the action Of Judge William
Izatd CloWon, granting 40 injunction re-
Siraning the Judges Of election from receiy-
ing the votes OF parties holding taX.receip's
from collectors, and by the partisan course
If Funder judges Of ELECTION who, although
not euiOined, took their ell from him and
refused such votes. forbcar from anv ex-
preston of my opinion Of the conduct or
motives OF the Judge who issued that pro-
cess. Perhaps | could not give an Impartial
opinion. AS 10 the law ius'ifyiDg 1t, no
reputable lawyer would damage his repuIa.
ton by arguing 10 favor OF the proposition.
| am advised that Judge FitZhugb, TO whom
the bill was addressed, aud perhaps others,
declined 10 grant the Injunction. Ii may be,
ho yever, that Judge William Izard CioptOn.
during the intervals between his excited
political speeches In behalf OF my cOmpeli-
tor, learned some law, unknown TO the calm
aud wise FitZhugb, authorizing and iusti- |
fyiug the issuing OF an injunction without
notice, served at HundowL the cay before |
election, which virtually d>franchi,ed 1900
legal voters without opportunity or hope Of
In contest for these excluded |
votes I entertain no doubt would have |
them counted for me.
Friends have urged that / contest for |
them, and claim that the moral effect OF
their exclusion aud the intimidation pro- |
duced by the Injunction and several absurd |
preceding and following it was |
such that the election was not fair eX-
preston of the popular will OF the district. |
The logic Of this is that by these things | |
lost not only these 1900 voice. but 1865 |
OtutT VOICES vi ptOpit Nuo NouiU Oiuti
wise have voted for me.
am not, as at present advised, prepared |
to take this ground in petition, and thereby
to declare my solemn belief OF the truth OF
the assertion.
have been unable 10 ascertain that such
was the effect OF ihi- INJUNCTION in the coun-
ties !; mucn less am l prepared to sustain
The position by proofs. My observation OF
its effect in Richmond was that several gen.
tlemen known TO me, filled with the dis
gust and contempt which greeted the in
junction here, refused TO vote. whereas
otherwise they would have voted against
me. have been unable to Ieai the names
OF any persons not holders OF tax. collectors
receipts whO were deferred by The iniunc-
ton from voting for me.
AS TO the count OF votes actually cast in
believe il was the fairest count
ever made i'm this city. ItoOk such precau.
ions as TO make cheating in the count here
next to impossible.
Frauds 10 a small eX ent were practiced
1t several precincts in the country. At
precinct in Chesterfield and one IN Hanover
he registration books were mutilated so as
10 exclude colOied voters, but the extent OF
hese was insignificant, amounting only TO
lbout 20 or 30 at each.
Threats OF discharge from service for vo-
ing for me were INDUCED in at Ashland
and elsewhere. These belong TO the grand
ury OF the Federal court, II anywhere, and
have nothing TO do " ith them.
Whiskey and money were undoubtedly
nicely used In varions sections against me-
sy whom furnished l know not and care
not.
Undoubtedly no election for years in this
district has BEEN productive Of more cam
1aign falseboods, more active canvassing,
more insidious and Injurious but intangible
railds, than were resorted 10 TO miSlead The
)eople and secure my defeat.
These things, while Known OF all men
mopgst us. are, however, not susceptible OF
proof 10 any form that would be ayailal lie.
I Is the bot OF every man who enters upon
political life, aud do not complan.
The faree great causes Of my defeat were
Judge William lizard Clopton's injunc.
ion.
The utter paucity Of the Rtadjuster vote
n The eitg OF Richmond |,
The active opposition OF General VIII
Jams Z. Wickhain and his son.
AS to the hrst. have spoken.
As 10 the second, confess nv surprise.
We calculated upon vote OF 1900 for The {
uly ticket ia Richmond. We received {,
My about 400. AS TO why we received no {
lofe II IL unnecessary to discuss. II We
al received what we expected ! would |
ave been elected la spite OF the Wickbam
influence. ran ahead Of The combined Re-
djuster aud Republican ysie In Richmond.
~ competitor ran hebind his ticker 10 the l
~. 1t was. therefore, owiEg to no fault Of {
lise.
Az TO the opposition Of the wickhsms 10 s
le kase no complaint 20 make. They bad s