Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-12

/ Geceraor's Report through the
Whig Of March the Och, 1896.
4" Gov. TAzEwrLL AND TIE
I'D DrMAcoGUEs.-We have in
timated in our two last papers,
that we shouIdbe prepared to sub
anti to the public an authorised
statement OF facts explanatory of
the precise agency OF Gov. Tazo-
well in the incidents Of the ODD.
This is rendered necessary from
the exaggerated misrepresenta-
tions OF the proceedings of tho
Iday-and the part the Governor is
made TO act, by letter writers and
others, who, from design or igno-
rance, have transmitted 10 every
part OF the Commonwealth, mat
ter, ut once tho most slanderous
and infammatory. A plain, un-
vanished statement of facts is tho
best vindication of the Governor
and tho only cffcctual rebuke for
faction. The Governor, early on
the morning of that day, was on
his way to the Executive Cham
ber-when upon the Square, he
met the Public Guard on parade
them--and proceeded,
as usual, To meet the engagements
of the day. Shortly Afterwards,
Capt. Boiling, in full uniform, re-
ported to him that he had been or
dered by Major Winston, tho Ser
gcant of the House, (also in uni
form,) to hoist the flag of tho
United States on tho balcony of
the Capitol-tbat he had reported
for orders.
The Governor, astonished aud
indignant at the circumstance OF
others prcsuming to give orders to
one OF his officers, (he being under
the Constitution the Commander
in-Chief,) without his knowledge,
or without the respect being shown
him of apprising him in amy form
OF the purpose. simply, however,
advised the Captain ofthc Guard,
as friend, TO procure the order
in writing. He returned home,
and amer an interval, Captain Boil
ling arrived with the order in wri-
ting. He made a written report
TO the Governor, reciting the fact
Of the order, and stating further,
that there was no flag Of the
Union TO display, the ono pro-
cured on the 22d of February,
1892, lthe hundredth birth day Of
Washington) having been destroy
ed on that occasion by its coming
in contact with the lightnins-rod,
and the staff broken. The Go.
veroor, then, through his aid-de-
camp, Col. Smith of Frederick.
addressed an order to the Capt. OF
tho Guard, to tho effect that AFTER
examining his report, no discover
ed that nothing could be done, and
therefore had no order to give. In a
lew minutes, however, having had
his attention called to the resoIu-
ton of the House by tho Soc'y of
The Commonwealth, which he had
aoi previously looked at, he drscov-
erred II to be directed TO Blair Boil
ling, Superintendent of the Public
buildings, and not 20 that gentle
man IN his capacity of Commander
Iof the Guard. He immediately
recalled Col. s., Withdrew tho or
der, az requested him TO say to the
Superintendent, il perchance no
might meet with him, that no had
no control over the Superintendent
Of The Public Buildings, and no
must act on his own responsibility.
This Is the tohoic truth OF the
matter. Ii will be perceived that
the Governors agency was go
yerncd by the superstition that the
order of tho House was addressed
10 the officer (tho Captain of tho
Guard) whom under the Constitu-
tion, he alono had tho right to
command; which, had II been the
fact, was a palpable cncroachment.
We add, that the flag was mover
displayed on the Capitol except on
the I'D February, 1892, as n spe-
cial ceremony on tho bundredth
birth day OF Gen. Wilmington
No custom therefore was violated.
nor was there any Gag TO display.
There was no such duty on the
Governor, nor the smallest con
seriousness on his part that il was
expected or wished, previous To
the report made by Capt. Boiling.
a Senator informs US, that meet
ing the Governor and first appris-
ing him Of what the House had
ordered, the Governor observe
that no flag was in his charge, and
that II there was one il would
give him pleasure to cause il TO be
displayed. None would 20 farther
TO do honor to she memory Of
Washington, or pay more respect
TO the flag Of the Union"
n - - -. as n. ~