The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-04
Congressman 1t Large.
To The Editor of the Dispatch:

To the Editor OF the DtSPdtc"'
Who shall be the candidate for congress
man at large in opposition to John 5. Wise!
This question now excites earnest discus
SION, and is Of grave importance to the iu-
ture status OF Virginia.
Is IL desirable to defeat Wise! We think
il Is: because he represents the Federal
Administration, and il elected the great
State OF Virginia will surely be classed
among the Republican States. He was
nominated by Republican influence; he Is
backed by all the Federal patronage, and
his election will be regarded as Federal
victory throughout the United States.
Who, then, can defeat Wise? Certainly
not q debt-paying Democrat, because the
nomination of such a person ut this time
would give coloring OF truth to the false
assertion that the debt question is involved
in this canvass. Shall Virginia be Con-
seryative OF Republican State! This is the
true question at issue, and no local or side
issues should be permitted to conceal the
national questions alone involved in this
canvass. The nomination OF any one sim
DIV because he was n debt-payer would
very properly insure defeat, because this
local question has already been settled by
the popular vote and the legislation result
ing from that vote. Wise nominally repre-
sents rcadjustment, but really Republican
ism. He is General Mahone's candidate.
Malone represents the Republican Adj
ministration. He holds in his grasp the
Federal patronage, and has controlled q
large percentage OF the late Readiuster
vote, all OF which he seeks to influence IN
favor OF Wise.
The debt question does not properly
form an element in this canvass. Many OF
those who were leaders in the Readiuster
party have affiliated with the Republican
party, and now seek to drift OF drag the
whole party into the Republican ranks. a
large majority OF those who voted with
that party last fall are not Republicans, nor
can they he made to appear such unless
those who have heretofore opposed their
policy on question solely OF State polity
now play into the hands OF these few lead
ers BY directly or indirectly making the
debt question All issue in national can
Yass. where il has no business.
Many honest-minded Readiustcrs seem
to think that in some mysterious way the
debt question does enter into Federal poll
ties. Possibly they believe the Hon. Attor-
ney-Gencral Of Virginia was in earnest
when he pledged the party to eventually re-
adjust the public debt Of the United states.
For thi, reason, and because individual
opinion or action rs 10 Che State OF virginia
is not practical question in the selection
Of congressman, a Rcadiuster Democrat
should be selected TO opposed. :. Wise, and
should receive the vote OF every Democrat
i'm the State, no matter whether he be a
Debt-Paycr or a Readlustcr. Let every
voter who wishes to see Virginia Demo-
cratic vote for such candidate, and every
one who wishes to see our State Republi-
can vote for John S. Wise.
Our personal preference is for Massey
because there is no discount on his reid
justment; and in reply to question pub
iicly asked him last fall he replied, "When
the debt question is settled | propose to
continue fighting for the Democratic
party" To support his claims for con-
gresham at large seems the prompting OF
COMMON-SENsE.