The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-09-17
The Second Congressional District.
NORFOLK, September 10, 1852

To the Editor Of The Dispatch
An impression prevails among the leaders
of the Conseryative-Democ party OF
this district that if the convention called
TO meet in Portsmouth OH the 4th OF Octo-
Der "for the purpose OF nominating, or
considering The prOpTiety Of nominating,
candidate to represent the district III the
next Congress OF the United States" shall
fail TO nominate a candidate, such omission
will be construed by She negroes a> taclt
endorsement of Dczendorf by the Convcn-
ton and induce concentration OF their
votes on the Malone candidate. Ma
ture reflection and careful inquiry lead
me TO an opposite belief. The Re-
publican status OF Dezendor has been
too long and too well established in the
estimation Of his party, OF every shade OF
color, to be shaken by any demonstrations
in his favor on the part OF the Conservative
Democracy. Dezendof has more friends
than Libby among the negroes OF the dis
trict, and they desire his election. II they
have anv reason to believe that ConSerYa-
five Democrats will sustain DeZendorf it
will increase their confidence in his cleo
ton and make them more stable in his sup
port. They know that the Conservative
Democrats outnumber the Malone Demo
Gratis. and will be more than IN Offset
to the latter who will support Libby.
Their present attachment to Malone Demo
Gratis is based solely on their voting ca
pacity in aid Of the Republican party.
They would rather elect pure Republi-
can like DeZendorf by the aid OF Conscrva-
tive Democrats than to elect Republican,
Readluster like Libby. In the former case.
they get all the fruits OF their victory;
-, f.ss ,f,tI oil erat
| the lions share of the spOils. There
| is no danger that the negroes
will desert the DezcndOrf banner on
account Of any possible assistance he may
derive from the Democratic ranks, any
more than that the negro element OF the
Republican party will drop Libby on ac-
count OF his unholy alliance with Malone
For the sake Of political aid and comfort
the negro will drop for the time being all
prejudices he may have hitherto enter
tanned against the Democracy. This is
shown by the avidity with which he has
embraced the offers of Malone, who boosted
that he was - better Democrat than Ben.
Hill" The grand object in view at this
crisis Of political affairs is, or ought to be-.
to wipe out Mahonesm. IL there is any
political sentiment that antagonizes with
this idea il ought to be suppressed. The
nomination Of a Democratic candidate for
Congress in this district would not by any
means subserye this great purpose. 1t
would be the direct means OF electirg
Libby and to faSten upon us the
disgusting tyranny of Malone, which the
better class of Republicans are anxious to
escape. The negroes would naturally rush
to the rescue Of the Coalition candidate,
feeling themselves alone too weak TO elect
the candidate of their real choice, and De-
zendorf would be dropped. The Malone
leaders OF the district were iubilant the
moment the call for q Democratic Conven-
, ton became certain. and the friends of De-
zendorf were corresp0ndingly depressed.
, The latter have somewhat rallied OF late,
partly because their champion has
,, shown himself stronger man than
Libby, but principally because OF
that clause Of the call for a conven-
ton which indicates that the question OF
O the propriety of nominating candi-
date" will be open foriree discussion, and
the hope that when the sentiment OF the
: Democracy Of the district has been fully
@ and definitely expressed sagacious pru-
dence will dictate the wise policy OF de.
: Ginning to make nomination. This is the
p only chance OF prostrating at a single, well
aimed, and powerful blow the Malone ty
Z ranny in the Second congressional district
g As first impression, | confess to have en-
tertained quite different opinion from
this, but it was born Of flattering hope ri
c ther than OF sound conviction. | must con
q Tess also that the rather cavalier manner II
, which the party in our district has beer
4 treated In the consideration of the cues
F; ton at headquarters" created In me, as il
: has in others, Il little stubbornness Of dis
: position, which may have materially aided
!. he in hastily coming to what | now deem
an erroneous conclusion. II is better "a
stand temporary snubbing from our SUI.
periors than, out OF spite, to lie down per-
manently under our own folly. 1t is a
= iallacy TO suppose that the apparent diyi-
, division OF the negro vote be-
tween the Coalitionists and Straight
outs Will secure the election Of Democrat
from this district. Those who suppose SO
have but slight conception of the relative
numbers OF the white voters who have
changed fheir attitude toward the respec-
tive parties since the power Of official life
and death was conferred on Malone by the
Administration. They are obiivious Of the
fact that there is navy-yard at Gosport. a
custom-house ut Norfolk, and other peren-
NAL streams Of Federal patronage In the
Second congressional district OF Virginia.
Even the election OF Democrat from this
district would not break the power OF Na.
hone, for the simple reason that he would
stili control this vast disposition OF spoils.
The defeat OF bis candidate and the
triumph OF pure and unauthorized Re-