Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-11-29


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oo snith. as,yered 10 public fund: OF th, Institute 4
s Ie.s o The s sss
chr,sti.n, April H. Isssl hi, .omp.ipt Mt true No
H PIED N = s,, n; ' Of ; &c, = q
nh. Va. Il. l. dated June 5
Gentlemen 10 your paper Of the Esd inst YOU have
epuolshsd the request Of correspondent, much
be report made by Col Fr.nci. H. Smith, to the Boart
Of vhi Of the Virginia Military Institute, at the
meeting In June .st, refers to the unhappy case
late cadet Blackburn Your correspondent onounces
Col Smiths vindcaton Of himself from the unjust ssper
sious which have been cast upon him, triumphant and
| uusnswerable.
As tho extract referred contains covert assault,
upon myself sure tAst shall appeal to your
courtesy and sense of justice in vain to accord to me
the use OF your columns TO make Q suitable reply.
Col Smith compsins that his conduct 10 reference to
the prosecution Of Charles B. Christian for tho murder
Of cadet Blackburn. 'has been most grossly msrepre
ted aud made Of unjust compliant
and anima dversop. He does say, In express
h.t the author Of this Outrage upon his character
and feelings, but bis subsequent reference to me- IS the
Law instructor Of Mr. Christian who had sf the beach Of
the U. s. District Court and taken active part
advocate in his defence, leaves, doubt that Colonel
smith designed 70 hI the charge OF eliminating hun
connection With tbis case, will abu1daptly repe the
just charge iusnusted against me.
Ny appearance in the csse, one OF the counsel Of
Mr. Christian, the result Of the sudden illness Of my
distinguished friend, Charles L. Mosby, Eco, whom
mad been Committed The duty Of delivering the closing
argument for the defence. did not reach Lexington
until the fourth day Of the trial did hear Colonel
smiths testimony, which had given days before
my home, bu! frequent dsc isson Of It, in the
private conference of the prisoners counsel perfectly
pprised its tenor. His declaration that he HAD
of Mr. Mich
prosecu or At III expense vi the siute Vas the sub
of indignant comment these interviews, in which
most cordially sympathised The argument before the
Iry Occupied six tire days Mr. Stuart aud NJ Doyle
prec, ded in the defence, had both mueutcd
~h much free ION, and the latter, vi very great
vsr y, tho conduct Of COL Smith in employing the
pubic funds OF the Institute, in ministeng he
pressed il, the purpose OF private vengeance Doh
gentlemen demanded to kno~, by what authority If Law
Col Smith bad assumed weighy responsibility p
aud yet for watch Col Smith alone
compliant ganst either Of Them and levels his
censures exclusively at myself / do not
whether similar structures the Conduct Of this
made By Mr. DOrnan in the .riy argument
With which DE opened the driencs. Mr. Doyle concadei
MS argument at late hour Saturday evening, aro
the adj 1urned until Monday morning the eih OF
April when 1t vas expected that nc. Mostly would de
liver bis closing argument behalf OF tle prisoner o,
Sunday Afternoon M Burke the uncle OF young Chris
called 10 see ne, sni ev!ncei great agitation u.
said that Nc. MoSby had been taken suddcny ILL., AID
qlested su immediate interview With me. M, Burke
sad. that the desire all the iriead.
Of young Ch:si!sn, and especially OF bis mother aud
-ister-sho were in Attendance the iriai-thst
souj consent 70 defend their relative in the event
Mr. ao'hys continued illness. mue lately repaired
Me- Aosbys bedside. and found him in state OF very
great po'aIinn. He deplorei his nopporiuue i'll
ess as the great misfortune OF hs lie; and appealed
ne in most eloquent aud imprisoned represent
aim the next day should his ilue.s Continue He said
ne knew that ms relation TO the cause deli
cate one, aud that the unusual spectacle Of idge ap
pe,Iiug 10 ine forum in def pr-o err might prI
ilisera ! a-sl | l,.s
Dise mvsei could allow lier TO rler
NJ on eS-rting every faculty of my mlnd save m,
pupil from feon- Ny s-nsiol,,ies were stir
to their pro'oGnd ;: depths aud With mutt Of strong
emotions which had never before felt clrs u tot.
drfsncs OF who hal occupied most .nde.rnc r-i.-
uon toSards me- aud whom, IN my heart. believed
Innocent Mr.. h'cnie had addressed most elaborate
ginent TO the july OF which it Is rough to say that
Was one OF Characteristic power sui senuy. With the
weight OF su:h al argument thrown ino the scale agi-
the prisoner, IL was the nstu4i thing in the world
that should advert the cum stances most uuUs
- theT were which bad brought into the cue
Gel. SElths memorable words. VIII ch had been 80 much
commented On % Others we're still ringing 10
~ MAD TO take ne :csR..IShtp Asy,sy and tMyiQX Mr.
the expense OF d. Blackburn ami partlv a, N,
Of The Lns!ituis" Ny STRUCTURES GU the conduct q. IN.
sitne's, as detailed by himself expressed gen
lie terms api yet were scarcely pulgent enough give
uii expression to the intense inis alton felt asked
how that gentleman di.e TO lay rofae hand, on tr.,
sore which the bounty Of his Dedicated TO the
little less than sacred purpose, Of Educating ind geat
=
no gave IA" commission TO weigh out the gold OF
the Institute ag nst the blood of Chrstau RUG ,h-
changes upon that memorable vosi--responsihty.
SAID there might be g.nces in the alrs of States and
niuoas that would excuse fthey ID even require
plolc man TO take the responsibility o. violating the
strict law, and illustrated my position pv some rem,rk,
ole Instances Afforded nv our own history: denied
tnit any political ntceiiy could exist Justify mere
njucary 10 msappyiag funds committed to him Tor sp.-
clal aud definite purposes. Al! this aud much NOR.
sill, wtich cannot now possibly repeat. Col Sntn
~ nfp .nth A, I'D .I..s. =
remark an yet dti not iniin,te thu hal ms.ppre-
hende s testimony Fun veil he kneS tnat ~olt no,
in'ento I'y we done min iujusticc aad that would
With the utmost al!cr r..racai every exor.s.o
Shich cou wouni his seusioities il satisfied maj o
cone tin wrong His silence under these circumstances
Is remi ibe, indeed lie had not used the l.npu.,
which tue notes Of all the counsel, and the memory Of
more than one hundred witnesses concur ia arbutng TO
h in.
COL Smith says he hes paid dollar 10 Mr. Niche
out u 'ne iindS OF the Institute. nave this
- strictly true. Ihe Storm Of public Indignation when
testimony raised would have prevented that; but Ar.
tosly unable reconcile his rsport with his te,,o,,
Nh"n ne says III The oI never cont eiyed that
was sunor |e1 - pledge, oF In any
!ne iunds o tue nstue Tor any services rendered by Mr.
ID ohe' Gan he me al that III gIvug is testimony he EN-
poyed terms which inpy ui legal authority and
that IA taxing ne re,bo"ubiti,y Sgpr i ersnt 10
employ MI Niche at The expense If he L,.t,tus-be
CON htrd al act vi arDrry pJsrr, .us un Ter nr
e"eu' a"c"' o' et'rme AID o'erulus necessity ~ wncb
re Was placed Tn- can not meaning Tor ne de-
les that he di 1" fact pl dso the iuuds. Blu. It's m
part OF my os nrss plaza this discrepancy Tn. ia
aue between CJi Smith AID self II .I reiply u,ttos
aud Eist iosI that he shall strictly coufued
IL evidence IL correctly reported Oy tue notes o
coinsrl, or il IL not If uacurstey, no ceusure
ca Jlsy attach To ms, for | did not hear IL
or report u, aud il - the msiOii4ae Of Col Smith
I'd tot "y fsut hat lie correct the efor OF cJr
SCI, WHICH, du Tim 50 mucI wrong. But he - accurate.
reported, GsD by his adm --ion no mas jisty in
tafed cesufe, Tor II N auth Irity TO pledge tn
iuIds OF the Institute for the feo o prya,e prosecutor
DC ought not SO ~ have pledged them do ne surely d
]ben tie took he EN-.
pIoyins 'Im at the yptmss OF the Iustiue. IT, too ne
ia Ia truth u-s tue language which these notes att rue
tD, thea IS the extract from the tport Of the Board OF
sof5 "heh ne bus published by way append to hi,
report the nV't sSugng renuke which th,y could -si-
oy nav adneroi for they desire -tiuctly 10 eIpre,
TIE opinion that ueitsr thg funds Of the Institution nor
me aeposies OF the Cadets should he applied toward.
jeyng the expenses 81 pros cuoo 10, should they DC
10 any minncr pied ;e3 such object Is Il not ru.
81 tN-' his bed Ue q bed Of torture he has mad. II
for nseli
Let mo request, gen lsm"n that you will do me the
I"or 70 publish, " this mnunicstion the encI,sed
10 Ter IRON dr Ho,oy. Tn gent smans report of Col
mus Iesuon' has been ca sfIly compared with that
c"t7hed IN tie n1es Q; each tie Other coun Of and