Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-08-29
Important Letter From Hon. D. B.


Lucas.
The following letter was written TO Mr..
Newton, in,response to an appeal requesting
Judge Hoge and Mr.. Lucas both to withdraw
from the Congressional contest, and published
in the Grafton Eagle, of which he is the ed
itor:
CHARLEsTowN, August %, 1882.
@. W. Neoolon, Esq:
HoNoRED FRIEND-In the Grafton Eao7e
of Saturday last, you express such views of
the Congressional contest in this district as
might have been expected from your estab- 1
lished reputation for integrity, and your known
devotion to the principles and organization of
the Democratic party in this district.
desire to say to you that my views en-
tirely accord with your own.
desire to express in few words my DO,
sition, in order that no one may misunder-
stand it.
claim that majority Of duly chosen, aud
properly accredited delegates to the Keyser
Convention were favorable to my nomination
That in order to defeat me, and thus disap.
point the popular will, it was found necessary
to resort to extraordinary aud unjustifable
expedients, as follows, viz the established
and recognized basis of representation in
former conventions of the last general ex-
preston of the popular vote, being the press
idential election of 1880, was to be abar.
doned secondly, the delegations were in
some manner to- be so manipulated and
changed as to count out enough of delegates
favorable TO me to prevent my nomination.
The convention was representative body.
individuals had no weight there, except the
weight given them by virtue of their repre>
Juo
talned<number of Democratic constituents, or
voters, in their respective counties. To
change the basis of representation, therefore.
necessarily required a uote by counties upon
the basis last recognized aud acted upon
Indeed there was no authority to take any
important step without such vote. Least
OF all, could the report on credentials where,
by it was attempted to uuseat the whole Pres
ton delegation, because only tho chairman of
the meeting at which they were selected had
certified the proceedings, be adopted. or in.
any wise acted on, except by a rcDresent ative
0ote 6y counties. ANY other vote was sheer
nonsense, aud when insisted on, and enforced
In the face of call for a regular representa-
tive vote, became fraudulent. Evory LAWYER
IN the convention knows this as woll ms I do.
and no candid man, if sane, will dispute the
proposition that the acton of tho assumed
vote by counties was arbitrary, uujustifable.
supplementary, and utter!y nugafory,-as
much.so as if the Speaker of the House of
Representatives should declare tho result of
Presidential election, thrown into the House.
by UtU1 UOce vote, when the Constitution
declares the Same shall be determined ouly
by State representation.
No impartial spectator, if sane, will depy
that the action of the chairman in unscutine
Preston and large part of Taylor, was to-
tally irregular, arbitrary, and utterly nuga.c>
ry No impartial spectator at Keyser could
resist or doDy the influence Of deliberate
conspiracy to practice against Legitimate
majority of tho Convention, intimidation.
Vsurpation and fraud, need not recall to
your mind the regular development, step by
step, of this most brazen conspiracy. You
were there, and saw-it all. You know that
we could not, consistently with honor and
self>respect, have done otherwise than wo did.
You know and feel what q sacred duty we
owe to tho Democracy of this district to pro-
tecs them against the repetition of such dam
gerous conspiracles against tho integrity OF
their Conventions, and the purity of their
organizations
So long, therefore. as the representative of
this fraud is in the field, I cannot possibly
Withdraw. Let this be understood once for
all, unatorably and irrevocably. will never
withdraw while Hoge is in the field. Upon
the other hand, accrediting others with mo-
tivos as conciencious my own, 1 now do
clare to you that the very moment Judge
Hoge resigns his candidature, and retires
from the contest, 1 will Immediately do the
Same. | not only invite but most earnestly
invoke Judge Hoge and his friends to consid>
er the success Of the Democracy in this dis
trict as above personal aspirations l pray
them meet me halfway, and lot both of us
sacrifice all personal feelings upon the alter
of patriotism, and party fealty 1 venture to
suggest that whatever is done in this matter.
should be done promptly, and before, by a
personal canvass, any further responsibility
shall by tho people themselves, be devoved
upon my shoulders. A suggestion has been
made that the issue between Judge Hoge and
myself be decided by primary election
This suggestion meets with my hearty appro>
val. If regularly conducted, such an election
will give the Democratic voters themselves
an opportunity to decide who is the regular
nominee.
Truly your friend.
DANIEL, II. TJICAS