Year: 1859

, the sake of rotation" which tue resolution as
sailed and condemned! And Mr.. Goode has
emphatically repudiated this very doctrine in
his own letter.


But Mr.. G. is equally at fault when he as
cribes to the Amherst meeting the intention to
assail or condemn the previous meeting in Bed
ford Upon what ground could he reasonably
base such conclusiont Had the Bedford meet
ing assailed me: Certainly not Did that
meeting enunciate the doctrine Of rotation in
Office 1t had done none Of these On the
contrary, that very meeting adopted reSolu-
ton highly complimentary of myself as faith.
full public servant; and received the most gra.
tifying assurances from Democrats who were
present on that occasion, Of their entire salts.
faction with my course as their representative
Indeed. the mover of the resolution for q Con.
yention assured INC, that if one should be
called he would attend and sustain my
denomination. And since the Bedford meet
ins I have received abundant proof that
these assurances reflect the sentiments of
large portion of the Democracy Of that
county. These things were known to my
friends in Amherst and utterly exclude the pre-
sumption that the Amherst meeting intended to
assail Bedford Democrats or Bedford aspirdHh.
embrace the opportunity now afforded to
give public expression to the deep sense OF
gratitude which feel towards the faithful Dc.
mocracy of Bedford, and to return my grateful
acknowledgements to them for the uniform
kindness, courtesy and steady devotion, which
the sterling and generous Democracy of that
county has ever manifested towards me since
have had the honor to be their representative.
So long as they continue to give me assurances
of their appreciation Of my services to them. ]
shall not regard the unjust insnuations Of as
pirants.


While would not detract or underrate the
claims of Mr.. Gaode he must permit me to
mention the fact, that he was not known in the
severe battles which had been fought and won
and which gave us the asccndancy in the Dis
trict. This great struggle had passed before
he made his appearance upon the political
arena. lie may not yet have emerged from
College walls and assumed the responsibilities
Of manhood 1t was certainly no .J;tult Of his.
Not at all But he has vauntcd his proves in
the hour of trial, and deprecated my efforts,
and merely cite these facts to admonish him
to be more careful in future how he deals with
weapons which may recoil with destructive
force upon his own head.


Nor has he or his friends the slightest pre-
text for complaining that the Democratic party
or myself have neglected him. Although he
was the youngest prominent member OF the
party, he has been more highly honored than
others who arc his seniors in service, and Ger
tainly his equals in talent and general merit
lie has had the high compliment OF having
been Presidential Elector over the heads of the
distinguished men Of Madison, Albemarlc, and
the other counties Of the District; and did
choose to retort upon him for his gratuitons al
lusions to my services. could do so most cifcc
tualy by reference 10 the fact that although he
was the chosen standard-bcarcr Of the party in
the last Presidential election, "hs voice was
not heard nor was "his mAite plume seen to
wave amid the ranks Of war" in only a small
portion Of the District. True, he met the ia
Tented Whig Elector, when he assailed our party
at his own door, and once at Amherst Court
house; but only then. 1t is quite as true that
the field was left in the undisputed possession
Of the Opposition forces, who were proud and
boastfnl of their champions efForts, when
Vim. T. Gordon Jr, the assistant Elector, was
called to the rescue, and the able and faithful
manner in which he discharged the duties Of
his position are we'll known to the Democracy
OF the District, and will long be remembered
with pride and gratitude.


Nr. Goode says that repeatedly declared
nv intention not to be candidate again, and
! that such was the understanding in his
county.


The Opposition having given ME no co,npe-
titor in the last canvass, and feeling under a
sense Of gratitude to my political friends did
entertain the opinion that would retire, and
so expressed myself; and positively and in
dignantly deny that / entered into any "n'-
dsrstandings" with any one in regard to the
matter. What l said to one, was said to all to
whom broached the subject--and to all SAID
! rolunarHy, and Of my own accord, without
the slightest solicitation from any human SOU!
in the district or out oft No man in Mr. GoodeS 5
county can say otherwise and speak the truth
Such thought Of selfhulniation could never
enter into nv mind as "understandings;;' and
man of proper scnsbility and honor would
have repelled propositions of this character:


When the subject Of my retirement from
! Congress was mentioned, was met almost ILL.,
yariably with rcmonstrancc against such a
course: and do not remember that one single
person advised me to such a course or express.
cd desire that should not again be candi'
date. On the contrary, appeals soon came to
me from among the leading and influential men
Of the party in different portions of the Dis
trict to make known at once my consent to
run again. and did then ayow willingness
10 continue the candidate OF the Democratic
party, and for nine months past it has been so
! known throughout the District.


PArLrs POWELL