Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-04-11
A DELICATE SUBJECT.

been called 10 it BY request, which we cahho'
reconcile il TO our feelings TO refuse.
By request. then, we repubish the following pro-
ceedings of the people Of Lexington, Va, ana We
do il most cordially; as they are the spontaneous
tribute of virluous and highly esteemed ci''zels
who step forward 10 defend from caiumhlous dhu
revolving charges, The spotess character Oh dii M
ured lady, whom, as friends ana neishooIs, ne,
have long known and admired as the Inodei Oh
her SEX for her purity, deicacy, intelligence ana
sweetness of manners and disposition. w nat
"madness ofthe hour" could have influenced tx :
Governor Thomas to have published pampniel
so odous in every respect, orevolllng 10 me llio
raj sense OF the community, 50 Sel-coniulihS III
its shocking contents, surpasses our con]ectuies.
Nor does it become us TO search MS moli'es. ~
should be sufficient solacc TO the caluinnta'tu
object ofhis fierce attacks, to know that her helsl,
bors in Lexington, and her numerous and deVotea
friends in this city, where she is admired and
most highly esteemed, Indignantly hurl back the
grossly offensive charges aimed al her pure name
Painful as il is to be paraded so scandalously be-,
fore the public her own bright conscience, and
The sympaihes and devotion Of her many friends.
should sustain her proudly in the hour OF distress.
The Wing makes the following remark in re-
gard 10 a statement in the Enquirer, taken, we
think, from an exchange paper:
nLet US here correct an error OF The Enquirer:
I, states, we understand, that Governor Thomas
was presented for This publication by the Grand
Jury of Washington, al the instance oil Col.
Benton. The facts, we learn, are, that Col Ben
ion had Mr.. Thomas indicted for libel upon
himself, and that the presentment Of Thomas
outrageous pamphlet as anuisance, was Inc spoh-
taneous act of the Grand Jury"
LEXINGTON, Va, March 18th, 1915.
AT large meeting OF The neighbors and &C
quainlances of Mrs. Thomas, convened by pub
lie notice in tie Courthouse, on motion OF me
Rev. Henry Ruflner, D. D.. Capt. Robert White
was called 10 The Chair, and Col. Samuel McD
Reid appointed Secretary.
On motion of DR.. Ruffner, it was
Rcsolrcd That Committee of thirteen be APP
pointed 10 consider and report the form oil pre-.
| amble and resolutions, expressing the sense Oh
this meeting and what is believed 10 be the gene
raj sense Of this community, respecting The cha
racler OF Mrs. Sally G. P Thomas, against
whom charges or insinuations of criminal con-
duct have been male in late publication oil Mr..
Francis Thomas Ex-Governor OF Maylandi
and also, concerning the character Of Mr.. Ro-
bert J. Taylor, involved with her in the same
/ charge.
Whereupon, the following gentlemen were ap-
pointed Committee, viz:
Dr. RutTner, Col. F. II. Smith, Rev. MIR. Bry-
ant Professor Dabney, Professor Armstrong,
! JODn w .DTOckenDIOuSi, E'i., Soi oHoI 1otuet"i
/ Matthew White, John A. Cummings, Esq, DR..
Graham. James Compton, Samuel Nj. Dold and
\ Samuel r. Jordan, Esq
The Committee retired, and, in a short time,
reported the following preamble and resolutions,
which, after some remarks from Dr. Rufiner,
! Professor Armstrong, Rev. Mr.. Skinner and Dr.
Leyburn, were unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, Francis Thomas, Ex-Governor OF
Maryland, has published pamphlet, which has
been widely circulated making The most wanlon
assaults upon the character OF his wife, Mrs.
Sally C. p. Thomas daughter of James Nc
Dowel ESQ.,, Governor OF Virginia; and where
as, Mrs Thomas was brought up from child
hood and for the most part educated in this place.
and consequently the moral character sustained by
her UP 10 the time of her marriage with her pub
lie accuser, must be better understood and appre-
cia,ed by her former neighhors and friends, than
BY any other persons whatsoever and whereas,
as a community. we have heretofore felt our SEN
sibililies deeply wounded by the outrages OF Co
vernon Thomas on his wife, but have never ielt
at liberty, By our interference. 10 give publicity
10 a matter so delicate, and that now all scrnples
having been removed by the publication of Mr.
Thomas, we desire promptly, cordially, and una
niinousy, by public expression OF opinion, 20
shield female character against an attack, wicked
and unmany, if not insane and whereas, II not
being pretended in the publication referred 10, that
the revolving charges made by Governor Thomas
are sustained BY any direct or positive testimony
whatever, il is deemed By this meeting that the
previous character of the accused lady, for virtue
and morality in The community in which she was
reared is entitled to be considered both in the eye
Of enlightened reason and of law, as most impor-
lant testimony and whereas, the character Of Ro-
bert J. Taylor, Esq, the near relative Of Mrs.
Thomas, is also directly inpugned in the publ
cation OF Mr.. Thomas and this community IN
which he was born and reared have had the hest
opportunity Of approaching bis claims 10 the
character OF gentleman and man OF honor,
Be ii Therefore Rcmircd,
Isl. That we, the acquaintances and neighbors
Of Mrs Thomas here assembled, do collectively
and individually bear our cordial and cheerful
testimony 10 the fact, universally conceded By all
who have known her,-ihat no young lady ever
lived in this community, who uniformly sustain
ed more exalted character for purity OF morals,
and refinement of manners than did Mrs. Sally
C. p Thomas up 10 the hour Of her unhappy
marriage; and dodeclare lha, we have ever found
her a lady in the highest and best sense OF that
lerm,-a daughter every way worthy OF a mother
on whom this whole community look with the
highest respect and admiration, and we brand
the insnuaion contained in the pamphlet referred
10, that her character had already been sullied al
| The period OF her union with the writer as false
and calumnious.
| 3D. That since Mrs. Thomas return from
Maryland, after the separation from her husband,
her conduct has been modest. retiring, and be-
coming lady 10 her trying circumstances to
degree thai would be satisfactory 10 The most ias-
| idous.
| 3d. That we do unequivocay declare, that the
confidence heretofore felt by US in the purity and
| virtue OF Mrs. Thomas, is as firm and mistaken,
rs it was before The publication Of the elaborate
statement of Mr.. Thomas. and that she has bnl
10 return 10 The midst OF her friends al her home,
! (for she has no enemies,) TO be welcomed, as one
Of The loveiiest oil our women, and as one OF Inc
falrest ornaments ofour society.
9TH. That We, the members OF this meeting,
while of course we can know nothing PERSONAL
~, as 10 the truth of the allegations made by Mr.
! Thomas respecting The conduct OF his wlIe during
her residence in the State OF Maryland ana
whilst we would also refrain, as far as possible
from giving ullerance to those feelings OF indig-
nant >corn and unmigated disgust which that
publication has excited in our bosoms-at the
same time in view OF the unsue'i character
maintained hy Mrs. Thomas up 10 the dale OF
her marriage, and also in view oil the great pro-
| prieiy OF her department since The separation
| from her hushand-we feel constrained TO declare
it. as the opinion Of many of us, that It would De
both more rational and more consistent win
truth, 10 refer the injurious differences and conclu-
i oioHS ucuuCeu Nv lHc WIHeI HoHi VIZ S''N"'ii1"
ces detailed to the influence of an insane Jea-
lousy, perverting and deludins the judgment OF
the husband, than to any criminal conduct on the
| part OF the wife.
9Th. That in obtruding upon the public ear,
in the form selected by him. the story OF his prl-
vate griefs, whether real or imaginary, Mr. mo,
mas has committed an act alike offensive TO good
taste, demoralziDg in its tendency, and injurious,
10 the peace and harmony OF society, which call
fnr no ,l-o ~
sentiment.
9th. That we do tender to Mrs. Sally c. P.
! Thomas the expression Of our warmest and
liveliest sympathy IN the distressing circumstances
in which this unnatural persecution has placed
her; and we do declare our abiding and undoubt-
ing confidence, that she will pass through any
ordeal 10 which she may be subjected, with