The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-06
A SOuffrsider Against Nr. Massey.
To The Editor Of the DiSpdtch :


To the Editor Of The Dispatch:
see by reading your valuable paper
that there Is considerable opinion expressed
favorable to the nomination OF Mr.. Massey
! by the Democratic party OF this state fol-
! the position Of congressman ut large, and
your paper seems inclined to give both
sides IN opportunity of expressing their
views upon this important subject. 1t is
for the purpose OF protesting against his
nomination, which |, with many others in
this section. consider would he equivalent
to political suicide, that / contribute this
article to your paper. expressing rs it does
the sentiments OF majority OF the Demo
Gratis with whom l have talked upon this
subject. Think can furnish reasons which
will be ample and sufficient against Mr.. Mas
sey's nomination, which will inevitably
consign to defeat, disaster, and final ruin
the Democratic party Of this State. | live
in the benghtcd and unfortunate South
Side" and whilst my opinions. may not be
entitled to that weight which is attached to
the opinions of older and wiser men,
have more to apprehend from the prospect
OF a defeat than others who live in more
favored and prosperous portions Of this
Commonwealth. In the first place, what
has been Mr.. MaSsey's conduct heretofore
towards the Democratic party OF this
State? Ever since the question OF read
iustment was agitated in this Common
wealth he has been one OF the abest, Bit
terest, and most relentless foes Of the DEM
ocratic organization. Last year he fur
nished the means, by the INSCRIPTIONS
appointment OF delinquent taX-cOllectors,
| through which Colonel Cameron rode tri-
umphant and roughshod over the gallant
Daniel into the Governors mansion at
| Richmond, and by virtue Of which Rid
| dlebergcT goes to reinforce Malone
with his Trades against us at Washington.
! Then what good can possibly come from
our eXalting one who, with ceaseless ac-
tivity and untiring energy, contributed 50
much TO the overthrow and defeat Of the
party TO which our allegiance is due! Can
he get more votes Than any one Of the GAL
liant and gifted standard-bcarers whose
fidelity has never been questioned and
whose LOYALTY has never been impeachod :
| think beyond I'll question he cannot, and
il he cannot, TO nominate him were worse
than folly. i have taken some pains IL
elicit the sentiment OF the people Of my
county and section on this subject, and
can say seriously and truthiuily that
]
Gratis who will under no circumstances
vote for Mr.. Massey, and have yet to find
the first Readjuster OF Republican who
will not vote against him. Last year Mr.
Massey, in this county and section,
had many warm and active friends, who
ardently desired and worked for his nomi-
nation for Governor on the Coalition
ticket-many who even SympathiZed with
/ ha ifop A..
ship at the last session Of the legislature
but now, with perfect and uneXampled ac-
cord, they den0unce him as traitor whose
"ambition has o'erlcaped ITSELF" and will
work against him with an energy that is
inspired by hatred stronger and deeper
than their previous affection. They believe
the Richmond Wing when ii tells them that
Mr.. Massey. Judas-like. has BETRAYED them
to their foe, and in order TO crafty his own
inor>tinate ambition or indulge his revenge
for iancied wrongs has turned upon the
party OF which he was the founder to
strangle the offspring Of his own loins
and all the eloquence OF the most
gifted orator we possess, together with
the ablest appeals of Mr.. Massey himself
cannot turn them from this idea, which i,
paramount to all Others, nor reconcile then
to vote Tor one whom they consider as falst
to his allegiance, TO their PARTY. and tC
; them. They believe that MI. Massey's de.
: lection from them was not due to his onpO
sition TO ''boss rule" nor TO caucus dicta
! ton ms 10 who should be the employees o,
his department, nor TO his suddenly-dis.
covered yet much-b0asted Democracy. but
TO the fact that his ambition had vainh
; scared above the dizzy walls OF a basement
Office and contemplated the beauty OF the
Governors mansion, or had fingered low.
ingly on the irescoed ceilings OF the Senate
chamber at Washington.
Does any one pretend to deny that Mr.
Massey to-day would have been member
OF the crew, in the same political boat with
Malone, Riddlebcrger, and all the rest OF
his former associates, if they had yielded to
his demands and gIatified his wishes
Where, now, would be his Understanding
and stalwart Democracy had he won the
prize his ambition eOyeteds Is there any
one so simple as TO seriously ask such a
! question, or for one moment to doubt what
the answer should bel Are we, then, to
crown this man whom they have refused 10
honor. TO anoint him the captain OF our
hosts, whose desertion from the enemy
brings us no recruits; and must we stake
our all-our very political existence upon
his election, which Is contingency too re-
mote to be consideredy But, all say Mr..
Massey's champions, 10 him and the "Big
Four" we are indebted for the defeat of
the commissioners-of BILL" the
''infamous judiciary act" and the "con-
gressional redpportionment geirymander,"
and for this we should reward Mr.. Mas
sey with our nomination and support.