Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-08-06
Communicated.
IyxcuprRe. VA. August ID, 1890.

LYNcHBURG, VA, August I'd, 1871.
NJ. w. b. GALLAHER, Charlestown
lTy dear Mr.. Galiaher: The convention
met Yesterday at Amherst G. ii. 10 re-nom-
mate Harry Tucker for Congress, and, al
though not in my district / went to hear
our distinguished fellow townsman, Willie
Wilson speak. He spoke under great DIS
advantages, but acquitted himself, as he al
WAYS does, splendidly. The heat was IN
tense and the house-not go)d one-pacA-
ed. His reputation as the best speaker IN
Congress" had preceded him and attracted
a crowd of the solid men from all over the
district. Besides this he commenced speak.
ing at two o'clock, after 'Young Harry
and "Old Ran" had spoken to a crowd OF
hungry men, as the convention had been IN
session from early in the morning, had I'M
ished their work, had not adjourned tor an
nsr. aud were ready to return to their homes.
Under such circumstances it was hardly to
be expected that the crowd would remain,
but they did. II was certainly great COM
pliment.
Curiosity TO hear for themselves the great
"orator and scholar" from West Virginia
prompted everybody to remain. From the
very first utterance everybody was interest
ed. As he proceeded with his solid facts,
uttered with such beauty and force as are
peculiarly his own, the interest increased
and n more attentive and delighted audi
ence | never saw haze attended many
conventions, las spectator nearly alwaysl
have never missed hearing q political speech
when I could hear one. since the days OF
the discussions between Boteler and Faux
ner. and / have never seen 4 more intensely
and universally interested audience. If my
opinion is worth anything you can quote
me as saying it was the clearest, ablest, most
convincing and, with all, one of the most
eloquent logical arguments | ever heard and
and at the same time in such plain and SIM
pie language the most uncultured could APP
preciate aud understand every word OF It.
There is no telling the wonderful good 1t
will do in the whole community Every
body was delighted, and without an excep-
ton it was pronounced the best that was
ever delivered in that section. felt proud
that | could introduce him to my friends IS
a representative Of our Valley boys. | wish
| could repeat some of the many comments.
One or two must suffice. One, an acquaint-
ance, a cultured lawyer, said "lf we had
such q man as that, one that you see feels
and believes every word that he utters, to
90 all over the country and talk to the peo-
pie. there is no telling the good he could
DO" Another, a very spectable-looking
old gentleman that did not know, remark
ed, "What a magnificent speech; it is the
best ever heard. When the people can
get such man TO serve them the wonder is
that anybody should wish 70 turn him out
of Congress" Another old man, apparent
ly very old, said, 81 have been listening to
speeches for fifty years, but there was more
meat in what that young man from West
Virginia said than in any speech | ever
heard.
At the close of the speech, when "Old
Ran" proposed "three cheers for Willie
Wilson," if you had been listening you
could have heard the noise in old Jefferson.
l do most sincerely trust that the people
of his district will appreciate him as he de-
serves, and as they do here. -