Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-11-21
COVINGTON AND ONO i. K. OFFICE,
WHITE SULPHUR STRINGS. Nov. ~, lSji.

To The Edi'ors IF the Enquirer:
BY attention hH, just been called To a communica-
ton the signature of "a Nir:Iiun, which ap-
pcGrcd in your paper of the 18th inst.
This communication reflects i'll the most lIbelous
and abusive Language upon lny professional charac-
ter md upon my fitness for the place occupy upon
Ibis work Principal Assistant Ensinrcr-a post
Ia which was appointed By the Chief Engineer as
svun rs was determined t" prepare the por
ton Of the rond for public letting and after had, t"r
scvcrnl months, served under him by appointment
from the Board Of Public Works Principal Assist
ant upon re-suTvcys. | have reason To believe that
INV call To- the latter duty wns made by Dr.. Graham,
tI. President ut the Board ut tile suggestion Of
OF the Commissioners, who, Us II prominent and most
active Director for several years, Of the Virginia and
Trnacss,c Railroad, Ton which work | was Principal
Assistant,l had ample opportunity of Judging Of my
qualifications 10 direct the surveys anu location "i
Railroad lines.
Again: Whcn some three or four months since,
proposed 10 leave the service o: this company, Ills re-,
DIV was that services could not well bc dispensed
with In view Of these facts, think the coIninuni-
cation may he considered IN Gnc! upon the Board
of Public Works for the npp"Iaiinclt OF person
whose qualifications were known 10 them, ana upon
the Chief Engineer for retaining n u!cr TN ncOn
preu. officer ai.cr he had voluntarily proposed 10
resign, being himself incompetent to judge of the
| qualifications uf his assistants.
For ,cs. REASONS, | deem it proper to defer, until
Mr. Fsks return To this place. any further notice OF
communications, the vMdictivcnes- and maIsnity ol
which il aggravated by entire absence of truth III
general md downright, deliberate talsehood i'll It's
| specifications
In order that the disn,crcstcL motives Of the pro-
.r!S Ui thc communication may DC fully apprccil-
ted i! may not bc ass state certain aspiring C0m-
Dcai assistants Ito WHOM great credit IS due for their
| prccnciolS exhibition Of skill i'll locating themselves
at ;he mc of their birth South of Mason and Dixon :
Incl hold themselves in readiness soon s their en-
buIs have effected their objects. very pnrloculy to
step forward and ill ;lic vacated offices
] have inadvertently characterised the coinmurca-
| ton of "a Sirginian ~ caAUtiy devoid Oi truth. l
Will quality This assertion hy admitting thnt early i'll
Of allowing myself 10 be born in the thrn District Of
Maine. Although it * no lnlliation Of my offence,
vet il is satisfactory 10 kuow that have such com
puuiuns in guilt III Messrs. EGt, Gill; Fisk, Sanford,
| DnmDck. Shaw, Walton and others who are direct
| " or indirectly in the employ ni the State
| | do not know that it is any mitigation OF my Of
fence ;ut have lived iii the State some SIX years;
that have family who are natives OF Virginia. that
| have in my humble way contributed, my inite 10
the ad encciGcm of the interests vi the State which
| consider nv home, and that il is my desire and i'll
tentvn, 80 long can find employment necessary
to the support ot those dependent upon ne to remain
| a citizen of the Old Dumniuu.
In conclusion, shall avail myself Of the earliest
opportunity OF showing up the motives and menda-
cts of my nuligners, not by vague assertions, but by
substantial evidence from witnesses whose capacity
to testify in the matter will be regarded by all impair
tial and candid men, at least equal TO that OF the
! aOupP gcHhcncn who have sought nOtorlety by I'M
justly assnln others, md may, i'll the sequel regard
thrnsclves fortunate, indeed il III this vnuitihS effort
at srliadvancemcnt, they have made themselves RI
dIculous only. y. ELLlSON, Jk'