Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-28


Hp'os REPUBLICAN STATE EXECUTIVE COM, !
PETERSBURG, VA, July -. 1883.
Dir. d. i. Houston, Roanoke, Va:
Dear sir.-Your letter TO me, dated at
Roanoke. Va, July 81, 1888, was duly re-
ceived, and in accordance with The wish II
expressed was submitted 10 the Republican
State Committee at its session IN this city on
the 2Sd Instant. and l am directed to make
tbs reply:
on the 10Th Of July, 1888, you and num-
Der OF your associates met in Richmond city,
n the newspapers stated. and adopted the
following resolution:
Whereas the National Republican Con-
Sention st Chicago. in admitting TO its men,
bership the district delegates from Virginia
tlat were chosen by the district conventions,
established by thai action the legality OF the
electors chosen by said conventions: there
fore be II
"heSOlUed, That the electoral ticket TO be
supported by the Republican party OF the
state Of Virginia shall consist OF the follow
ing persons"
Tbereupon is given list Of names. in
GLIDING those OF SIX Of the electors appointed
by the regularly constituted authorities OF
the Republican party OF Virginia, and those
OF six other persons for the Second, Third,
Fifth, Sixth, Seventh. and Eighth districts,
chosen by you and YOUR coadiutors In
this connection the following uncontradicted
statement was published:
"ChMrman Houston was seen at the Tx
change Hotel by q Wig reporter after the
committee bad adjourned yesterday after
noon. and he spoke plainly Of the attitude OF
his wing OF the party.
"'That is our ticket and we propose TO
stand by IT. said he, emphsiicaily. III Ma
hone dont like 1t he can put up one OF his
own"
1t was after seeing this and in copsidera-
ton OF this ian UltIildtum In terms) that the
language quoted by you from me was used,
and thai ~ chairman OF the Republican party
OF Virginia issued brief circular TO pre-
vent misapprehensioD. giving, not an cleo
torai ticket OF nv own, but the electoral
ticket framed by the Republican voters Of
Virginia through their organized and duly
chosen representatives. This circular OK
.Juy 18th YOU seize as the occasion OF your
present bela.ed communication dated July
2ist.
In none OF the published reports OF the
proceedings OF you and your associates 10
Ricbmond on the 18th OF July Is there any
mention, or hint, OF resolution empower
ing anybody on your part 10 make any
propositions or concessions" and we hear
munieation, In which you still otter the list
OF names you framed on the 18th instant
with no further propositions or conces-
sions'--snd ask our concurrence"
IL Is very curious assumption that the
action OF the Republican National Commit
tee m seating. upon gross Misrepresentation
snd fraudulent conniyance, number OF I'M
authorized and unsccredted persons as dele
gates from certain districts In Virginia,
shonld authorize you or anybody else 10
name the electors for those districts In con-
tempt and contrNention OF the legally ex-
ercised will ard power OF the Republican
party and people OF these districts ana OF
the State. IL the National Convention, upon
a false and flimsy tecbnicality and pretext,
bseked by interruptions missta.ements,
was misied In the midst OF excite
ment ana confusion TO commit monstrous
outrage sgains; our people and party with
respect to delegates whose qualification and
election were fully under its authority and
judgment, that surely gives no warrant nor
color OF justification or excuse Tor the repe-
tition of the outrage here Ia the matter OF
electors, over which no national convention
has ever exercised or claimed ANY jurisdic-
ton whatever. aud whose election at the
polls II not by districts, as In the case OF con-
efessmen, but by toe vote OF the people Of
The whole State. Even the pretext employed
a, Chicago as TO district delegates has no ap-
plicstiop stall as 10 electors, s neither the
Eafionsl Convention nor National Commit
Tee OF the party has az any time pretended 10
direct how electors, whether for the districts
or The State ut large, shall be chosen.
10 the total absence OF jurisdiction In the
National Convention over The appointment
Of presidential electors, ana VIXEN no pre-
tensions 10 direct such appointment have
ever been made by that body. the pfenxry
end exclusive jurisdiction aud antAerity
over the subject are vested in our STATE CON-
mifiee. II was by formal resolution and
vote that our last state Convention directed
tho delegates from every congressional dis
trict 10 select an elector, aud they did 20, the
whole body Of delegates constituting the
State Convention choosing the electors for the
kts,s MT large. II 4 unQuestionabie that The
State Convention might bare AFRO chosen the
district electors II II bad so pleased. and u
follows that II conferred smpie and compe-
tent authority on the delegates OF the re-
speetise districts to select these district elce-
tors. no matter wbcthe; these delegates, act
sn1 outside Of the territorial bounds OF their
several djsirscts, were legitimate conventions
or not, 10 elect district delegates 10 the Ns-
kionsi Convection under the direction that
these delegsies should be chosen "in the |
same way that candidates for Congress are
noIifnsted."
But what, where. and who are you and |
pour associsles, and what do Jour preten'