Year: 1869




Composed Of the Counties Of Frederick, Clarke,


Wa,rea, Page, Shenandoah, Rockingham,


augusta, Highland, Bath, Aueghany,


Roch6ridge and Botetourt


FELLOW CITIZENS The general confusion
IN our town on Wednesday last, and the rumor
freely circulated to my injury, that had with
drawn as a candidate for Congress in this Dis
trict, renders it necessary that I should issue
from the press this additional card


Mr. Lewis has withdrawn, and although I'M
expressed publicly, believe in my favor. did
agree with him to withdraw, provided the peo-
pie Of the Dist let a0ouM have candidate with
disabilities and provided that the gallant Con-
federate soldier, Z. W. NJ. Holiday, of Frede-
rick county, with his disabilities, would consent
to run He is a gentleman and scholar. He
shed his blood in the Southern cause, and was
rash in his desire to shed it, and if you aoiA
have man with disabilities, in Gods name,
have man that you know where to fnd and
who served you faithfully in your hour Of trial
For such man [ will withdraw, and he can
depend upon my support.


In my card Of Wednesday, words were used
in speaking Of John E. Lewis, perhaps under
momentary excitement, which | desire to here,
unsolicited to withdraw and to commend him
to you as candidate on your State ticket in
every way worthy Of your enthusiastic support


| wish you all to understand that for you |
am fighting all along the line. [ am the Con
servatlve Walker ticket a0hste mans candidate,
and will not withdraw unless convention rule
me off, or for Holiday, who is in every respect
worthy your support, and not man like Har-
rls, who during the war, and now, will not let
his friends or foes understand him. Is he anx-
ious to secure the Wells and negro vote? Let
him have them [ neither ask, expect, or de-
sire the vote OF single Wells negro in the Dis
trlct | neither ask, expect, or desire the vote
of single Wells white man in the District |
would be rather be defeated with the white
Conservative vote for me, than elected with the
vote of the Wells white men and the Wells ne
groes. l am an enthusiastic Walker ticket man;
the white mans candidate for the public good.
| have By this action willingly thrown off posi-
bly, four thousand votes. have right to ex-
pect the white Virginia men to rally around me.
l have right to expect the undivided Walker
ticket vote Of the District; and [ tell you, if
don,t receive it, Radical or a negro will repre-
sent your interests in Congress Men ofShen-
andoah, Rockbridge and Botetourt, where |
have been, listen to what say. and believe me.
l am your friend, because l believe you are
willing to do the best you can, and rescue the
old Commonwealth from the hand Of the bar
barian, and her citizens who just now are in
danger of being welcomed with bloody hands
to hospitable grave"


Tell me, some friend Of John T. Harris, what
was the result of his private interview with
Wells on yesterday when [ and others were
honestly casting flowers upon the Confederate
graves as the graves of brave men? Was be
seeking the negro vote, or was he simply get
ting into Wells good graces that he might get
the radical influence toward the removal Of his
disabilities by Congress in the event of his elec-
ton? Or was he calculating upon the election
of the Wells ticket, and Radical Legislature
and thinking how important 1t was to be on his
right side, as he would have to nominate the
Judges? Would he take the Judgeship through
Wells and the Radical Legislature? Does he
desire that the Radical league shall not make a
nomination now for Congress, so that they will
treat him as their nominee? | answer every
question asked me; why won't he? The people
have right to demand it. 1t was demanded
as a right Of Cataline when he stood with a
dogged silence before the Roman Senate


Men of this District have a Convention, il
you choose. All ask, is that you nominate a
white man, gentleman and a Virginian |
promise to give him an enthusiastic support.
be he Holiday, Baldwin, Stuart, Skinner, Jas.
B. Dorman, or any other good man that you
can produce in the District | tell you Gray is
all right, and his text is for the public good
Still if am not to your fancy; if cannot give
you satisfaction, have convention, throw me
aside, and take better man.


1t may be important for us to have repre-
sentative to protect Virginia interest. Dom
elect man who is of doubtful position, or who
cannot be sure Of his seat, who may be sent
back by his disabilities and the place given to
some extreme Radical If the Radal league
don't make nomination, it is equivalent to a
secret nomination Of Harris by them, and will
be SO understood. If the Conservatives don t
make nomination, it should be considered as
equivalent to nomination of Gray by them
[ am perfectly willing that between Harris
and myself, John E. Lewis shall decide, upon
fair statement of all the facts, which shall
withdraw I am perfectly willing that Col
Gilbert c. Walker shall decide; and that [ may
not be misunderstood am perfectly willing
that all the facts may be fairly represented, and
that Gen. Lee may decide which and what is
best for that public good; but am not willing
that Wells and the negro shall decide.


White men of the district, elect Robert A.
Gray, and he viii do the best he can for you
this is fair contract. and Gray promises to
carry out, fail hfully, his part of the contract


My position, briefly stated, is this; the great
doctrine Of Post 10, - for peace and good will
early reconstruction, and future development
flowers to be scattered by woman S hand on ev-
cry soldier grave in the land, whether North
or South, whether Union or Confederate, al