Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-08-12
Reply 10 Gen. A. A. Chapman.

In the Of 2ih ul, over tho signaure of .D,-r
IN which there was copied letter from him DR..
n0eAehotoogh relative to the removal aud appointment Of
afosnsster at the Warm Springs The copy OF this let
'e transmitted TO you tor publication. instead OF being
sgned rs (was the Originally "a. A." had aft Ted the
signature OF Augustus Aureus Chapman Before pro-
ceednx farther, will explain how this grave error oris-
some years ago, the gifted, the lsmented editor, the
seauons OF whose genius long shone forth from tho
editorial chair that ILL., detision dubbed the
General "Aurclius IL seems that was not undes TODD
as he intended At the time great many persons re ally
supposne Aureus TO be part Of his Hence has
long been known 10 myself. common with many others
OF ms constituents, by the cognomcn OF Augustus Aureus
Chspman OF more generally and amiisry Augustus
Aurehus" Should be asked, however what this has TO
do with -how "Deferenco," with COPY Of the origins,
oeSto nn came to make such esregous biunder
shus ns Hgnauref he that the naked OF
the letter was taken, without the signature being at
the nme and afterwards the signature Augustus Azure
nus supposed nj the time to be his full nsme) signed
TO It, thinking that II the letter itself
rect matter OF small moment whether or not the
signature appended to it idenesly the on
| ginsl.
In speaking of the communication Of Difference Gen
chapman says "Amongst other matters. your correspond
ent gives what he sfafes and OF the
a statement proof will be sdduecd that will require
OF ingenuity than the General possesses imagine 10
evade) sis the OF letter from the Representative Of
mat congressional District (meanng self DIR. Brock
enbrough" He further says: "Auruius is no part OF INV
name and correspondent attempts TO utter min,
any writing having attached it the OF Angus.
us Auelus Chapman, he commits a fraud and forgery"
Now. there is in ali this miserable attempt at evasion
disinsenuousnes~ from which common honesty shrnks-
uspo>luou 10 sucke and Qubble-a miserable subrr-
iuge, thAtwoud be highly credtable fifteen shilling at
orney IL Is however IN perfect with eharae-
ter OF the man, and in respect worthy of his high
nown Does General Chapman mean TO be understood
making the declaration direct that he did we the let
in question: No Barefaced and unbushing a. h. il
he dared not do that he hoped, doubt by showing
bold 'front.' aud denouucing the signature fraud and
forgery, TO create the impression that he denou the
letter itself as forgery But this attempt has proved an
abortion. The General has indeed put on the lions
skin, but the asss have BETRAYED him After All
this, however, the General on, and the neI,
sentence implicitly admits that he did write the letter.
by saying that II was private and confidential" What
does the mean In the first place did not write
the letter and IN the second it intended prvse
and confidential" Who but Aurslius' would ever have
written hiatt lie Is like the Irish Attorney who said
that he expected prove that his client the fret place
had had the plaintiff KETTLE and in the second that
he had returned il Not very unlike TO this il the
Generals logic II General Chapman did not write that
letter, would have been easy matter for him 10
have said unequivoealy without any quibblnE abou,
Yes, and he would have done -he would like to do
IL now-but he is little afraid. lie would like very much 10
shake of that letter but will stick him like zach
so long he lives. II he did this letter. his at
tempt evasion the last degree contemplate wheth
he Gid did write it, the sequel will tell. He has
raised great fog and justification in which 10 enyelope
himself bu, will presently bring the sun to hear upon
HIM, in the shape OF correspondence between himself and
Mr. Crawford which will probably have the effect of dis
Pelng and clearing away the MIST and give n fair view
OF his august parsonage. Where do you suppose the
General will be found prophecy that We shall find him
htched TO heavy party drag travelling pretty rugged
road, with Dr. Broekenbrcugh making pretty constant
friend the General is in what might termed some
what OF 4 quandary-he is in hard place without hole
big enough to creep out at His sezng with such avdity
and terociiy in the signature his name
ian that under the amounted TO moth
ng,) was the act OF drowning catching at n straw
As the charge OF "fraud and forgery" that the rent.
man urges against vehemenly scorn IT, n. seorn
the man who makes it, shall condescend TO notice
IL hur. II back 10 the source from whence IL comes
But If General Chapman thinks by system of special
pleading this contemplate bubble about nothing to divert
public attention from the extraordinary character and Ian
guage OF this letter. declaring did that he had been
vested with the power OF removing and appointing nj
pleasure, all Government officers within his
District and the unwaraned and high handed use that
he had made OF that he reekons without his host
lie has certainly presumed considerable extent upon
the ignorance OF your readers he expects throw dust
in their eyes in that way.
General Chapman further says The letter he l'Dcfer-
ence) purpos Ipufpos indeed is IL only purports C;e
neral p give would be private and confden-
ua letter from myself Dr. Brockenbou gh nd it would
have been presumed that honorable gentleman Youd NOT
have published u without the DR..
and myself" q tempOTa! o m0Tes! Let the Devil
preach you WILL but don't let Gen. Chapman say hono
rabe" after this. man 10 be honorable according 10
Wobs'ef must be without hypocrisy, without deceit with
out Discrimination, fair open, candid, &c Will the Gene
raj that he has acted thus in this shall be
his own Judge
"oh wad some power the gifue gle
Tot see ourselves as ithers :"
Had the General been thus rarely endowed metbinks
that word would not have escaped HIM just time and
under the circumstances it did. n Jake my enemy,
NNNf ~
IAN is fair IN love and war" IT, however Con Chap
mans confidence has been violated it was done by his
confidential correspondent He come to me about
that Ii Dr. Brockenbrough deemed this letter confden
ts, why did he hand Mr.. McGufnl Ii il was given
Mr. McGuthn with restrictions confidence IL WINS
given Mr.. Crawford without. But that matter thew
settle among themselves. Ii would be prepo,terous
talk about Mr.. Crawiords considering it confidential
for 1t 10 him the hrst inmaon Of his from
office. IL was letter from the Deputy Post Master &C.
neral Aurelus saying that he had determined" on and
had had "change made" IN the Post Office Ii reads
like an official document than private letter
If they unwary enough put weapons in the
hands Of their enemies they should complain that they
made use Of They gave stick with which their
heads might be cracked and we have used IL Again
say they must blame themselves not us.
In taking leave Of Gen. ChSpman's card would say 10
him. that though have never had opportunity Of dis
playing my Ignorance, in the Representative Halls Of the
Union have no Tear OF comparison with him, regards
his reputation, both an honorable genteman
The suboined is the correspondence between John s.
Crawford aud Gen. A a. Chapman, relative to this affair
IL needs no comment. IL speaks for itself:
WARN SYRINGE 9th July 1876
Dear Sir was appointed about three years SINCE Post
this place; and from that time down 10 the pre
cent PERIOD have endcavored to discharge tho duties Of
my office faithfully. had the slightest ntimation of
any dissatisfaction from any quarter, until the arrval Of
the Eastern mail yesterday which brought the apoont-
ment OF Mr.: D. Z. MeGuihn, as my successor. When
Mr.. McGufhn received the appointment he professed
and seemed to be much surprised IT, declaring at the
same time, that the appointment made without his
knowledge solicitation aud that he had no a1encv in
it, short tune thereafter, satisfy Of the sincerity
Of his deearauOn he handed what he stated TO be
copy Of letter written by you DR.. Bfockenbrough Of
this place, which is o. follows, TO wit:
"Desr Sri received your letter some time since rela
tive TO the appointment Of Post Master az tho Warm
Springs, and waited time for the arrival OF the re-
"gnauon Of Mr.. Crawford but that failing to
hand have defTiaed to have the change made and have
appointed Mr. McGuin Post Master at the Warm Springs
The Department 10 kind enough permit me- oil oeea-
si0ns, 10 make any change dssrs IN my district.
ON, &c. a. A. CHAPMAN"
Now Sir, independent Of my being Of your oons-
tuent', think have right, under the circumstances re-
speculy 20 ask AZ your hands information the cause
causes Of my renovation persuaded my removal
must have been based upon alleged cause-informa.
ton which an satisfied Of justice will per.
init you TO withhold. received my appointment upon tho
application OF many citizens Of the county Of Bath will
be seen BY reference % petition filed in the Post Office
Department AZ Washington, and justice them az we'll
10 me- IN my humble Judgment, requires that should
not be removed from office without opportunity Of vim
dicahng myself against any charge that moy have been
! preferred against me.
II would from your letter 10 Dr. Brock enbrougb