Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-03-15
For YNE ENQNLREf
to" IITs I-' V z IHI+H
RICuMoSD March 10Th. lS12

FOR TIE ENQUIRER.
RICHMOND, March 18th, lS42
La periods of high party excitement, every public
man, however obscure, is able to become object of
injustice and misrepresentation. Humble therefore, as
| ain, and unoblrusive has been my in the
General Assembly, | ought not 10 feel either surprise
or resentment al the scurrilous squbs which the Rich
nond Wing has occasionally dedicated specially TO
Articles OF this character have heretofore been treated
by with the silence ui contempt but which p.
peared in tina, paper Of tbs morning would SEEM un
der existing circumstances, TO require brief notice al
my hands.
In the article referred 10, the charge is reiterated Of
NV having odped the final vote in the election of Ma
jor. General Ia succeed General Baldwin-to which is
added another of similar character, reference TO
recently passed. entitled san act, revving the act OF
22nd of June, 1897, concerning the proceedings on
executions, trust deeds and other demands in certain
cases" coupled with statement of altered circum-
stances the tendency of which only to show that
under the influence of some unworthy motive, lodged
the vote on the referred TO- but that submit
ted to personal indgnlty ct dsgraceul character
at the hands OF one, whose not disclosed.
These charges will notice in the order in which they
are stated above As to the first In what sense the
writer of the articles in the Wing has used the
term "dodged, ! may not perhaps correctly under
stand By it he simply meant to say, that was not
in the House, and therefore did not vote the final
vote which was taken in the election of Major Ge-
neral To succeed General Baldwin, have cause of
complaint; as such the fact. But it, the other
hand, he meant TO convey the idea, that my failure
then proceeded from any desire avoid proper
responsibility, any unworthy motive whatever then
his motrcs could only be properly characterized by the
employment of language unsuted 10 public discussion
and from the Of which shall be disposed refrain
all OCCASIONS unless absolutely necessary 10 be used
in the discharge OF some duty.
On the occasion of the election Of Major General
referred TO, the candidates General Sloan OF
Hampshire, Colonel kincheloe of Harrison, and Gene
raj Lewis of Rockingham. Of these gentlemen, &C.
neral Sloan from first to last preferred by II
happened, however, that the day when this cleo
ton occurred suffering severely from atfec-
ton of the head TO which have been peculiarly sub
ect for some months which was much aggravated
by the atmosphere Of The Hall, and effort made
by sustain the claims of General Sloan. Never
theless, determined to remain IN the House, SO long
as my likely to be of any practical Importance
to General Sloans election. Hence, did so remain,
and in several ballots cast my vote for that gentleman,
after it had been stated that he Wing, and utter
/ had been induced to believe tina: such was the
fact. Throughout, it was clear, although General
Lewis whilst the three were in nomination, received
the smallest vote, yet that single handcd he would
be more formidable opponent Of General Sloan,
than Colonel kincheloe, for the reason principally,
of his superiority III point OF military rank, and that
in fact General Lewis being out of the way, Tor the
reason nnated, the election of General Sloan would
be perfectly safe At length, therefore, alter General
Lewis had been nominated and then again drop
ned appealed 10 or two OF his friends to know
q
the House. and having received in reply, solemn
surance in the negative far yielded 10 sense OF per-
sonal suffering, as TO leave the Han.
These are simply the facts connected with the cleo
ton of Major General, which submit, without fur
Their comment than to ask what unlcorthy motive can
be imagined which could have induced me TO shrink
from the responsibility Of 4 vote: So Ia as know,
none Of the candidates known to constituents
II was an election III winch they could not have felt
much if any interest; and in regard to which, had no
fecly Ii To
exercise of my own discretion
As to the second Of these charges, shall content
myself with very brief statement, convinced as am,
that no one who knew me, whether Wing or De-
mocrat would credit the idea, that have submit
ted TO personal indgnity from source which could
notice without personal eonamaotion-especlally that
had suffered any TO seize me by the collar and
drag me about ANONYMOUSLY.
As 10 the bill in question: felt that the circumstances
Of the country rendered its passage efptdte but not
wi,hstandinp entertained difficulties, Of which had
found impossible entirely TO dvest myself, IN regard
to its cons,ituiionality This view had frequently ex
before II came into the House, here and else
where Under the circumstances, however, az my
doubts were only DOUBTS, and Did not amount 10 dec-
ded opinion of the unconsttulIonaldy OF the act, IN
view of the exgencies OF the country; determined 10
vote for IT, If my Yote should BE- essential TO IT'S passage
and not to all, if 1t should not be- knew those
whom ented would not if they desired
Tho rassoue of the bill of which had information
wish that should sacrifice any scruples which might
honestly entertain upon the constitutional question by
voting for it, when practical eet could be produced
bv nv vote On the passage OF the bill, therefore
remained in the House with some Inconvenience to my
self until the ayes anil lad ben caitd orer, but
without voting intending only 10 do so, in the event
above stated The result, however, showed that my
vote was no. essential 10 the adoption OF the mea.
sure q decided majority, as was apparent before The
Clerk announced the result, appearing in its favor
Hence at this point, having urgent occasion to go
ON, of the House. started to do Just as reached
the door Mr. Hunter Of Berkeley stepped ont, and call
mo to me with the friendly familiarity which has been
observed Leween for many years, extended his hand
to me. and gave HIM nine. lie then requested me,
With ;ocnlar air 10 return 10 the House. stating that
be was about to make motion in which was interest
ed did So by stepping within the door, and then IN
ou;red wha, the motion was when he informed me, 1t
woud be to suspend the rule, 10 allow those who had
not voted on the vote just taken, TO record their votes
then told him, that had purPOseiy avoided voting,
mt HAVING intended do So unless my vote should he
essential 10 the passage of the b and that perceivlns
+, was not should not rote and then left hun
If could feel surprise at any statement or allegation
made by the Richmond Wing against political oppo-
nent certainly should have been at the idea winch u
seeks to pronulcae of my having been ANONYMOUSLY
led in by the collar on the occasion referred TO, as
have been appscd of the fact, Mat before his article
was published, and presume before it was written ne
made an enquiry of Mr. Hunter on the subject, who
stated the affair 10 him as il had really occurred