Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-04-21
From the Wnehsasr Republican, .iprl 10.
TO THE PUBLIC.

The Winchester Virgnian Of the 30th ullimo
contains card over the signature OF Ricu'p T..
Bad, which, reluctant as | am 10 appear before
the public IN newspaper controversy, Justice 10 Mr.
Edmund Hunter, as well as TO myself, requires me
To notice. The hlack-heartcd malignty evlnced by
MIR Byrd, in his communication well his ute
disregard OF truth. would perhaps render 1t unne =
cessary Tor me TO respond, n It's circulation we're
confined TO the circle where we are both known;
bu, such not being the case, now proceed to my
task.
So far from Col Hunter being the author OF the
article published by me in the Richmond Wing, rs
asserted by MIR Byrd, that gentleman never was
consulted by me upon the subject, nor did he know
any thiog OF II until It appeared IN that paper am
the author OF it, and "poor cd man" as am, do
not feel disposed to dofgs any responsibility in
which IL has involved me. | wrote II without con
ISOLATION with any orc-lt ~ my own baniling, and
| am not ashamSd ot IT. True. It may be proSump-
ton IN an humble descendant OF the PLAIN and hon
est Wing stock OF the Revolution, to como in con-
tact with such aris,ccralic blood rs flows IN tho
v,ins OF this BiTi-the noble descendant OF a Tory
captain OF the Revolution and ha.f-pay British OH
Ger; vet. humble as my pretcniiors are. imperfect
rs my education has been, with truth on my side
have nothing TO fear, either from the superior ae-
quremcnts, the noble hood, or the gigantic intul-
lee ct this mighty Bird.
Bcfore,he Legislature adjourned, It was the ro-
eeived opinion, and believe so svOwed, that Mr..
Byrd had acted meanly, and that he was DESTROYS
1T rendering ridiculous ms he had Already rem
dIrsd himself. / have no hesitation IN declaring
that AN well satisfied there was not respectable
Dcmocrat ~ the Legislature who had no; = poor
opinion OF INN. lie was not much more than Ia u
LIS time IN the House. mud when there but little a..
tention paid 10 him. tfoIsh have no doubt he re-
ce,ved pay Tor the whole session | never lost ore
day | was iniotmed that Mr. Byrd was at Wash =
inston and Gt Petersburg Frequently; but admit,
that. on his pass.ce through Richmond, he genera
ly called and attempted 10 @muSe the House with
the powers Of his oratory: several occlso -,
however, the members were enpiirdeR by his
ecggenes that he appealed TO the Speaker aud told
him there was 81 much noise in the Hail he could
not hear lbs own voice. Upon those locations
that pafld hfIirris would sczo upon, and scmc-
times drive him from the House, as was the use
in the election OF Gen. Sloan. a very convenient
headache. indeed
As to his dodg ng the vote referred to in his card
think no person can doubt, ho he Democrat or
Wing; u Is sustained by proof too clearly. and Mr.
Cyri cannot dc2 - the Tact. In the malisnity Of
his heart this BirG charges me with being passive
tool IN the hands oi Others. When did Mr. BYRD
come to this conclusion Was il when | told the
truth which DID not answer his purpose or II
when he followed ne up and urged me 10 aid him
IN 4 matter IN which hs constituents were ntereS =
ed, when he found he could Effect nothingl When
the petition from The county OF Frederick, asking
for the appointment OF two Commissioners OF the
Revenue for that county, yeas before the Committee
Of Finance, (oi which | was n memher) this man
Byrd urged and pressed me to aid him in getting II
through the COMMITTEE, and thinking II proper, |
gave him my aid but MIR Byrd stated to the COM
muee that the present Incumbent was a Democrat,
and that If the law passed allowing two, Wing
would get the other appointment, and annoyed the
committee so much that not Democrat voted for
It, and the committee reported against it. Alter the
report was made, Byrd urged me, time AFTER time,
TO move the House to the report; refused,
and told him 10 do IL himself. He then insisted
that If would make the motion i. would have u
better chance OF success: still thinking the PROPOSE
ton reasonable one, | made the moiion-it pre-
vailed, and the law passed.
| only mention this to show tha, Mr. Byrd, at that
time. had rather more respect for my independence
and standing than he affects TO have now; and he
knows full we'll, that, when he declared me to be
tool in the hand OF others he lied and the truth
not IN him. With respect TO Mr. Byrd's pretence
OF sickness pending the election OF Major General
| am confident no respectable member OF the com
mltiee believed It. | would, therefore, advise Mr.
Byrd, and all iidappers like him, before they assnl
a gentleman, 10 see that their own hands clean.
WILLIAM VANCE.
ROAEET, April :. 1872