Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-02-26
An Open Letter from Gen. Rosser

| An Open Letter from Gen. ROSSer.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, Feb. Is, '92.
Hon. ChaIcs T. OFaraU, Uashiagion,
d. G.
DEAR COLONEL Il shall be candidate
before the next Congressional Democratic
Convention for seat in Congress to sue
coed yoy, but do not think it altogether
fair that !, or any one else, should take
steps in that direction without giving
you due notice. You were, remember,
before the last State Guhernatorial Con
vention IN Richmond, with a congressional
commission in your pocket, asking for the
nomination for Governor, and now your
friends claim that you are candidate for
reelection to Congress, so as to make
sure of that, hut after you are safely
elected, you will again he a candidate for
Governor for the next term.
This being a Presidential year in which
we shall be called on 10 resist, with all
our might, the encroachments Of the re-
publican party. in which contest, if we
win, we shall insure to Virninia and the
South, for the next four years at least
home rule without Federal interference,
and an economical, patriotic and wise ad-
mlnistratlon of national affairs; but if
we should be defeated in this contest then
all the burdens of high tariff, monopolies,
trusts, class legislation and oppressive
combinations would be riyeted to MS for a
| like period. Therefore the people will
not hesitate to select some other candi-
date than yourself to make this fight, and
especially as you can go into it with no
! heart or vim, as yOu are Indifferent to
Congressional hOnors and are looking for
another and higher office.
wish to speak to you particularly as
to my county, Albemarle, for she is a
great county, prosperous and popular as
YOU know. She casts the largest demo-
cratic vote of any one of the ten counties
which compose this congressional district.
| She can boast of her fine schools and the
high education of her citizens. She
proudly guards the TOMB of her great
son, the immortal Thomas Jefferson, who
was the Father of Democracy, and the
wisest and greatest political philosopher
of the Western Hemisphere, and why
should she not ask the privilege OF honor
ing one of her own citizens, by giving
! him the seat in Congress which she has
for so many long years aided the other
democratic counties in the district in
giving you, but of which you appear to
have grown weary and desire to give up
for something which you like better
Albemarle will 90 into the next congress
sional convention supporting one of her
own citizens, and appealing to the Valley
counties for an impartial hearing, and she
| feels satisfied that she will be met gra-
cously and that justice will be awarded
| her. Ali of the four counties on this side
Of the mountain have supported the Val
| lev candidates Loyalty and accomplishing
", for a long time, and they are now look
! ing anxiously for he coming of their turn.
1t is human to noursh hope, ard we now
earnestly hope that our time has at last
come, and we shall ask our democratic
brothers in the Valley, aud our old soldier
friends and comrades and their sons
throughout the district, to support our
petition and give us the nomination this
year, after keeping Us out OF 1t so very
long.
We think that if YOU are in the field as a
candidate for Governor, you should leave
the congressional one, and allow us to
select a new man OF zeal, energy and
ability to represent rs in Congress who
would be content to remain there, and
who does not aspire to another position of
honor, wach being gained, would impose
upon the people the expense and worry of
a special election to fill the vacancy in
Congress thus created.
There are many democrats in the dis
trlct capable Of making efficient Repre-
sentatiyes, and there appears to us no
necessity for nominating one whose pnr-
pose is to resign the scat if he can get the
nomination for Governor which lie is
seeking. Very respectfully yours,
TuOs. l.. ROSsER.