Year: 1869

Rooms REPUBLICAN STATE CENTRAL }


COMMIT EE,


RICHMOND, VA, July 81, 1869. }
DR.. George K. Gilmer, Chairman Walker


Republican E1ecutiUe Committee:


My Dear Sir,-For long time previous
to the late election you and l worked hand
in hand in the Republican organization in
Virginia, with, | believe, an honest pur-
pose to build up party in harmony with
the great national party of the country, the
object of which was to exercise healthy
influence in restoring our beloved old Com
monwealth to her proper place in the
Union of States and believe l am not
presuming too much when I say that, ordi-
narily, our views harmonized on the policy
of our party up to the date of the nomina-
tions at the Petersburg Convention in March
last.


You were at that time the honored chair
man Of our State Committee, made so in
great part by my exertions at the re0rgani-
zation of our party in January Of this year.
After the nominations to which | have
already alluded were made, yourself and
others who have long acted with the regular
! Republican organization of the State diff
fered from myself and q very large maj ority
of the members of our party in the State, and
in consequence of that difference of opinion
you organized what was then, and is now,
known as the "Walker Republican party"
and presented your candidates to the peo-
pie, and by the aid OF the entire Conserva-
tive vote of the State your party achieved
victory. am not willing to believe that
the movement in which you then engaged
had for it's object the permanent disruption
of the Republican party. The unhappy
division of our party at that time was, in
my judgment, more difference of opinion
as to men than any substantial variance as
to men and principles.


The future prosperity OF our State de-
ponds, in my humble judgment, upon the
fidelity of those in authority to republican
principles. In other words, complete and
thorough organization Of our State Govern
ment in all its departments in harmony
with the Administration of General Grant
and the policy of the Congress of the United
States and the great Republican party Of
the country.


This alone, it seems to me, can give peace
and quiet to our own people and restore con-
fidcnce to our friends abroad in the perma-
nence and stability of our institutions.
When this is done, and not till then, will
the people of the East, North, and West,
have confidence that reconstruction in Nir-
ginia has been complete. Then, too, will
the people Of all Europe have learned that
Virginia is indeed the "home of the free "
and an asylum for the oppressed.


When this confidence is restored, as it
surely will be under Republican rule, i'm
migration will flow in upon us, bringing
history of any State; and soon, very soon,
instead Of Westward" it will be " South
ward the Star of Empire takes it way" and
Virginia, from her central position, genial
climate, and unequalled resources, will re-
ceive into her borders a large majority of
those seeking homes, and there will be
poured into her lap the great bulk of the
capital seeking profitable and secure invest
ment.


Then will her gallant sons who have gone
forth to people our great western domain
return to the bosom of their old mother,
with a spirit of enterprise sharpcned by the
experience of life, and engage IN earnest
and energetic work to make her record in
the future more glorious than the past.


Then we shall have, not Old Virginia." !"
but "New Virginia." grander, prouder,
and more powerful than ever before, and
soon the proud boast of our-pardon me-
your newly elected Governor that "Vir-
ginia will be the New York of the Union,
and her Atlantic city the queen city of the
country" will be realized. 's~--


I assure you that 1 am actuated by no
selfish motives. As Virginian, my high
est ambition is to see Virginia prosper and
acting upon these grave considerations of
public policy, take this early opportunity
to communicate with you upon the propriety
of uniting the two wings of the Republican
party and establishing liberal Republican
organization in whose ranks all who really
love the Union may join, whether they may
have been buttoned in the grey or the blue,
and thus create permanent, powerful, and
lasting party, which shall secure the perma-
nent prosperity of the State.


I have within few days past been hon
ored by my party with the position of chair
man of the Republican State Committee !;
and representing, as do, over 100, 900
voters, it is with confidence that now
make the proposition for consolidation with
that wing of the party which you have the
honor to represent; and should the propo-
sition which I now make be met on your
part with a spirit of Cancellation and re-
union, and be approved by those with whom
you are associated, it viii be my pleasure
to name committee Of prominent gentle
men of my party to confer with such gen.
tlemen as you may be pleased to name as
to the plan of consolidation and arrange
ments Of future committee for the party
in the State. *...


have the honor to be, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,


JOHN W. JENKINS,


Chairman Republican State Committee.


A SHARP RUsE.-Many remarkable sto-
ries are told of the fortunes accumulated