Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-02-26


pcr, thai j. Wickham Leigh (not Wckham) OF
this city, had been appointed Isl Lieut. Oh so''-
cerrs. Under Capt. James Calwell OF GrcenoEier'
To tic Editors NJ The Enquirer:
BALTIMORE, Feb. 10Th, lS41
Gentlemen: In reference TO The letter OF Mr..
John H. Alexander, published in your paper OF
Yesterday. have TO remark that, In Ihe postscript
Of nv letter 10 MIR. Hunter oil the Ism instant,
did MOI suppose | was aitribntinS 10 nun any
agency he would be unwilling 10 acknowledges
that could for moment be conirovetied. naa 70
rersoba conference or conversation Wnaleve'wi'h
Mr. Alexander previous 10 his visit 10 Richmond
Ills name in connection with this subject, %as
h,n,uht 10 nv notice by Gen. 0'DorneIi, one OF
onr Directors. and through that individual only
had any communication with MIR. Alexander
/, nv letter TO Mr. Hunter, therefore, spoke ac-
cnrdnn 10 nv own personal understanding oil
mo nositiun | intended MIR. Alexander 10 occupy,
and which supposed ne had assumed; ana Il Inc
leuers now forward and which must ask you
10 pubish with this communication 90 mol fsla-
blish The literal accuracy oil he postscript lhey
cannot fail 10 convince any one 'ha'' u any ms
annr,hensions have existed, il is pnfely unaien-
lional. :,
,The postscript 10 the letter 10 MIR. Hunter as
ss,,s M more Than that Mr.. Alexander proceeded
II Richmond as The friend OF Wheelnsi and, be-
tore Going. was informed that Mr.. Hunters bill
was The basis Of any compromise The Railroad
Company could assent 10.
NJ Hoffman's letter is conclusive that my as
semi was given 10 Mr.. Alesander's visit only On
The ground That he was 10 go as The Trend OF
Wheeling 10 induce The adoption Of hlr. hun
ier's Substitute; and the note oil Gen. OlJJaneii Is
equally conclusive moi only Of that bnt oil The
communication 10 Mr.. Alexander thal such was
the object OF his :isit.
In replying 10 The letter OF Mr.. Alexander, |
have no other purpose than 10 explain my oSn
motives and conduct; and, having done thai,
take leave Of he subject finally and forever.
am, gentlemen, very respectfully,
Your obsdient servant
LOUIS McLANE.
BALTIMORE, Feb. 20, lS47.
Hon. Loui, McLane-D Dear Sir II have seen
card Of Mr.. John Alexander in The Richmond
papers. | think he is under a mistake; you IN
s,fuc,ct me 10 get Mr.. Hunters bill, and com
mnnca.ed 10 Mr.. Alexander that what We want
ed was Mr.. Hunters bill. Respectfully, yours,
COLUMBUS O'DONNELL.
In further explanation OF ,he mailer involved
in the preceding letters, We are requested 10 pub
lish also, the following, addressed 10 Mr.. Hunter
oil The House Of Delegates:
BALTIMORE, Feb 10, iS47.
My Dear Sir have let some indls nation
al The reference which, il would appear from he
papers has been made TO me from the city 81
Wheeling; not thu; arPrehenc The possibility OF
sustaining ans inSnuatlon deioa aloIy 10 my char
ac;er as a gentleman, Of unbrcomng my du'y
as hr President Of The company under The CIR
.,h 1 h,t an,t.I III fsnr
insinuatioas al distance, may not he susceptl-
bic of the pfomptest refu,alion. | cannot imagine
The slightest pre;ence upon which The insinGliion
referred 10 IN The Richmond papers could Dc
founded unless il might b. very GiS'oIted
view Of The recent visit oi Mr.. Alexander, II lhi>
ely, 10 Richmond. Il so happens that before vi
AS. departure for Richmond, had 10 convrlsa-
lion wsh him upon The SUBJECT did not see
him In relation 10 The difficulties attending our
app;calols for the Right u wy, have Known
him Only in The relation Of !asl, unwaverin.
friend al the Wheeling in,efesi-as such, ne ha9
attended the stakeholder meeting in 1919 and IN
,ha, relation he had been universally regarded, as
Tar as know. by every body who had paid any
attention - The subject. Ills name wa
brought 10 my attention, in eunnexon viii IT.
p,rdmg application, by Mr.. O'Donneii, one q
ON piiec;o.s in III manner stated IN the cnclo-
sed letter nom Mr. uo.!man-a gentleman wnose
word wi.l 10! he questioned where he l. Known
which will speak lnr iIsei The conversation
lei, rred 10 in that Letter occurred late in The eve
nlro, ana SIR. A. projected 10 Richmond al IL
O'Clock he same night, without any conference
with me- understood that his approach 10 VIZ!
U'Donnell was as the friend Of Wheeling, dssi
.ous u compromising The opposition By lha; city
10 lie Right OF Way; ard might not unnatural
IL have concluded iha, such an approach from
such quarter was mol made without know
ledge, il not an ihlima ion, Vi The wishes OF
Wheeling. Viewing him al least as The friend o
The Wheeling interest, proposed ana assent Ia
his going, and distinctly understood that. n
.nch hi ..-~:~- = = -~..'- = = ~'-S,s
point ii convincing ih-t interest Ut or drieImi-
naiiuu 10 accept .; no terminus above Fishing
Creek, and of inducing il - consent 10 s.ch ,;:-
iniuus with branch 10 Wheeling, upon The terms
III your substitute, as all that We would accept. In
10 other character, and lor no other ohJeci, Woui
have consented 10 his going. | naturally sup
posed that his Wheeling friends would be more
apt 10 respect the assurances knew lie could
give of The determination Of the Board and VI The
Stockholders, Than they might The representations
OF others occupying dtiercnt relation II is in
his sense only tina ] intended, in the postscript, in
my letter To YOU oi The l3h list 10 desig naie him
going Ia Richmond Is the liend OF Wheeling,
and in that sense The postscript Is strictly true
Indeed, in 4 letter intended Tor publical on, il
had Otherwise been ca pable ct doing wbal could
ONLY scorn il was impossible shuuld have inten-
ded any thing else than 10 now adm; AMI aver.
Being tic known friend OF Wheeling, and The OBJ
jeci Of his mission b,ing conhne! 10 negotiations
with agents representing The inleres Of that city,
he was not expected 10 see or hold Intercourse
with any member Of the Legislature. His only
purpose, repeat was 10 induce his own friends
Of whose interests he had been uniformly the Gd- |
vocae, b. representing facts he knew 10 be true,
10 assent 10 The only terms which, as ! sup |
posed. he had been assured before his depar-
lure, il was possible The company could ac-
cepI. As never conversed with Mr.. Alcxan-
der there being in fact no time for that purpose,
cannot speak Of what passed between him and
Nr. O'Donnell, excepl tom The acccun, II Mr..
O'DonnclI, which you have. Nor can | consent
Ia be responsible Tor any Thing not embraced in
the instructions expressly given. MIR. OD nGell
states hat he informed him that your substitnie
vas 10 he his guide; and, thai being, in fact, The
only object Of his mission. il j. almost imposs-
bic Mr. ODonnell could have omitted this ma
tpiial point MIR A. WIS not authorized 10 con-
cu.e anything, as his letter in your possession
fully admits. On his return IRON Richmond on
Saturday night, he called A. my house 10 explain
The nature Of a compromise 10 which Wheeling
would agree, ana that promptly rejected as
wholly inadmissible AMI mpraclicable. He al
forwards addressed me a letter, Ia which | re-
Piled, referring him 10 Mr. O'Donnell; ard
my answer is III your possession. He sub
sequenly addressed me second letter, which
you have, and 10 which have not given any
answer The ohjec, OF his visit 10 Richmond
having wholly failed, had discharged my duty
in saying so, and was quite averse 10 being
drawn INTO correspondence respecting the acts OF
conversations oil others To these iacis ! desire
10 add no comment; my purpose is 10 say no
more han may be absolutely necessarg Tor Just
understanding Of The case, for any u.s. you may
think proper 10 make d H.
am tear sir,
Most respectfully
Your ol' >srY'i
LOUIS McLANE.
AsDREw HusrgR, Esq, &c. Sc, &c.
BALTIMORE, 18th Feb, 1917
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