Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1882-09-02
Important Letter from Hon. ID. B
Lucas.

Lie lOiiOWlDS leLtcT was Written 10 MT.
Newton, in response to an appeal request
ing Judge Hoge and Mr.. Lucas both to
withdraw from the Congressional contest.
and published in the Grafton Eagle, Of
which he is the editor:
CHARLEsTowN, August %, 1882.
{. w. NEWTON, ESQ.,:
HoNoRED FRlgND-In the Grafton Eagle
of Saturday last, you express such views
Of the Congressional contest in this dis
trict as might have been expected from
your established reputation for integrity,
and your known devotion to the princi-
pies and organization of the Democratic
party+n this district.
desire to say to you that my views
entirely accord with your own.
| desire to express in q few words my
position, in order that no one may misun-
derstard it.
claim that Il majority of duly chosen
and properly accredited delegates to the
Kevser Convention were favorable to my
nomination. That in order to defeat me,
and thus disappoint the popular will, it
was found necessary to resort to extraOrd-
iLary and unjustifable expedents, as fol-
lows, viz: tie established and recognized
basis of representation in former conven-
tons of the LAST general expression Of
the popular vote, being the presidential
election of 1880, was to be abandoned;
secondly, the delegations were in some
manner to be so manipulated and changed
as to COUNT OUT enough of delegates ia
vorable to me to prevent my nomination.
The convention was a REPRESENTATIVE
body. individuals had no weight there,
except the weight given them by virtue
of their represent alive capacity, as repre-
eanti,,y .n aSpartnipaI nnmbpr n Damo-
cratic constituents, or voters, in their re-
spective counties. 10 change the basis
of representation, therefore, necessarily
required VOTE BY COUNTIES apon the ba-
sis last recognized and acted upon. In
deed there was no authority to take any
important step without such vote. Least
of all, could the report on credentials,
whereby it was attempted to unseat the
whole Preston delegation, because only
the chairman of the meeting at which
they were selected had certified the pro-
ceedings, be adopted, or in any wise act
ed on, except by 4 REPRESENTATIVE VOTE
By COUNTIES. Any other vote was sheer
nonsence, and when insisted on, and en-
forced in the face of call for regular
representative vote, became fraudulent.
Every lawyer in the convention knows
this as well as do, and no candid man, If
sane, will dispute the proposition that the
action OF the assumed permanent chairman
in refusing 10 permit vote by counties
was arbitrary, unjustifiab.e, nnparliamen-
tary, and UTTERLY NUGAToRY, as much so
as if the Speaker of the House of Repre-
sentativeS should declare the result Of
Presidential election, thrown into the
House, by 4 VIVA vOCE vote, when the
Constitution declares the same shall be
determined only by State representation.
No impartial spectator, if sane, will de-
nv that the action OF the chairman in I'M
seating Preston and large part of Tay-
lor, Wa; totally irregular, arbitrary, and
utterly nugatory. No impartial spectator
at Keyser could resist or deny the intlu-
ence OF deliberate conspiracy to prac-
tice against Legitimate majority of the
Convention, INTIMIDATION, UsUKrATloN
and FRAUD. / need not recall to your
mind the regular development, step by
step, of this most braZen conspiracy. You
were there, and saw il sill. You know
that we could not, consistently with honor
aud self-respect, have done otherwise
than we did. You know and feel what =
sacred duty we owe TO the Democracy OF
this district, 70 protect them against the
repetition of such dangerous conspiracies
against the integrity of their Conventions,
and the purity Of their organizations.
So long, therefore, rs the representative
of this fraud is in the field, cannot pos
sibly Withdraw. Let this be understood
onco for all, unalterably and irrevocabiy.
] will never withdraw while Hoge is in
the field. Upon the other hand, accI edit
ing others with motives a. conscientious
as my own, now declare to you that the
very moment Judge J1oge resigns his
candidature, and retircs from the contest,
/ will Immediately do the same. | not
only invite but most earnestly invoke
Judge Hoge and his friends TO consider
the success Of the Democracy in this dis
trict as above personal aspirations. |
pray them meet me halfway, and let both
of us sacrifice all personal feelings upon
the altar Of patriotism and party fealty.
/ venture to suggest that whatever is done
in thi. matter, should be done promptly,
and before, by a personal canvass any fur
Their responsibility shall by the people
themselves, be devolved upon my Shout
ders A suggestion has been made that
the issue between Judge Hoge and my
self be decided by n PRIMARY ELECTION.
Tits suggestion meets with my hearty
approval. If regularly conducted, such
an election will give the Democratic
voters themselves an opportunity TO de-
eide who is the regular nominee.
Truly your friend.
DANIEL 3. LUCAS.