Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-11-02
LETTER FROM GEN. w. IL. RICHARDSON.

-, fNOM GES. w. ii. RlCuANDSON.
10 'ac Editors Of the Iphir.
10 Wy Il" means my WISH 10 participate in the dis
."''''i, ho" occupying some OF the pupers, respect
s ',e ,eoecrc'aryahp OF the State Agricultural Soce-
~: nut some pnssnges in Mr. Ncw,on's letter, in the
n"'S ~ '"c Soa compel me 10 ask IL piaro for re-
ply "hich Silal be as brief as can make il. First
rs ~ MS ".ui oi the first eectiun of Secretary, his
''"e'o" 'a certainly at fault in several particulars.
was present at that meeting and if the Scr,tnry.
snip was offered TO and declined by Mr. Wiliiums
cerly uiu n" near one word Of il, ur like it, and
hl c"nhucn' mat Whatever might have been said 70
that effect before, aud when was NOT present no
such thing occurred at that meeting. On the contra
ry. some oi The Committee seemed 10 he nj o,s and
10 ilhk hn II was desirable Ia postpone the appoint.
!ntEt tor n time, TO enable them 10 select I'M. most
suitable person, and Mr.. Willians was asked if he
could not art until that could be done. NV impre..
sion is, that Mr.. Williams said the business NECESSARY
10 be- done at would require the labor of clerk
Tor three or four ultlS and that he had lost so much
time from his business in the Bank, in perfurniny
the duties Of Recording Secretary, that il would be
impossible for HIM 10 attend 10 it. Sume cunversa.
lion cnsued Us tu the prnctcabilIty OF employing n
suitable person temporarily, and | named gentle.
man, Known both Ia Mr. Williams and myself
lis well qualified, nnd who, believed, could be
got-bGt at that point Mr.. Ruiln was nomna-
ted by Mr.. john k. Eimunds and elected. /,
ad III is my Inprcsson) some others, did not vote,
and | 'l not say at that time that would not per-
mt my nGlnc To bc used against either of those gentle
iirA, no: after the nomination say word. II is
Well known that dissatisfaction with this appointment
u The Committee was manifested soon rs II br-
CANE pablic and that several articles, editorial ani
"crs. appeared in the papers; and fearing that in
The then condition tthc SUccty anything like dlssen-
siun might have dcieteriuIs influence upon its vital
interests, addressed letter 10 the public press i'll
Tended aud calculated, as thought To induce those
who were dissatisfied 10 acluiesce i'll the appoint
meat aud said, in MGt letter, that would not have
allow my nanIe 10 he used against Mr. RutIin or
Mr.. Williams. A.rA WIZ Not because I thought
myself less entitled to consideration in conncxon with
the nppoIni!ncnt-Dut because unprecedented that at
iiih time, contest about the 5 crctaryship or any
thing cse ought Uy all means to be avoided, ns az-
Gd"us, and preferred that none should occur on my
a"c";n'. also went 10 every editor in whose paper
alytilnS had appeared, AMI urgently requested that
they wou! no; only say nothing more Gbou, the ay,-
iuit:L themselves, but TINT they would, il posi-
bic, prevail upon their correspondents to 'io the
Nor have ANY recollection rf seeing more in the pa
pcrs, although NJ. Newton says an active cnuvass
Wa Kept up during the summer by correspondents
ana Otherwise.
cannot conceive why allusion should have been
made 10 my election from tn, Office OF Secretary OF
the Commonwealth AS 10 that, however. | am
happy 10 acknowledge the support OF many ds,in-
gnI>!cd members OF the Democratic party-aud
have O forgotten and shall not forget the support Of
0Gc member II the COMMITTEES on TINT occasion but
that -cnllemaTwas not III public life, nnd most u.s.
enrcdy private individual riskei no personal DO.
pvary by tho act. Nj. Newtons account of the
second election Il Secretary indirectly holds ME up
rs defeated nohInc.. AS to THE, II is scarcely
Ccsshry Ia sly that the indications were at least as
favorable tn me as Mr.. kuiIin. was nominated by
& gentleman who had never spoken TO me the sub
leci. and pcrcinptorily Withdrew my name, very
mach against the wishes and rcmOnsiran OF those
who supporting Inc, in order quiet the excite
men: which had arisen III the meeting, and 10 restore
harmony.
tnicr The hcnd OF compensation Mr. Newton per-
si-s in holding up hrelinc, and III hav-
iag been 'cXrava.antly paid | have already stn-
ted. as he very well knows. that the Execu;ivo Com
rnt.cc undoubtedly wished and intended 10 make the
compensation as liberal ~ they felt themselves usti-
lied in drng-tnt it entirely satisfactory 10 me,
hEi that | have neither desired Eor would have ac-
Ccp;cl more-that the operations OF my agency wero
conducted without Instructions control from any
quareT-the various expense., my own voluntary act
nni so directed, as, in my Judgment, was best CAL
culat"d II bald up a great State S0cley-that my
motive for entering upon tie work was rather 20
der what service | could to great cause, than 10
make money by i;-ihhtI relied for support upon
other business in which Ind previously engage !,
md thought il would be in my power 10 render this
service also, without drlrmcnt to my private inte-
TESTS. That the pccuiary result wins 10 myself less
than SltD, and to my son S!l7. This statement |
prcs,in-, will be sufficient for any gentleman.
Mr. Newton has drawn upon his fancy in assuming
'.tha The service necessarily most agreeable
nne-nothing less indeed, than pleasure excursion
at the expense Of the Society and the rail roads.
This is ~ incompatible with manly delicacy, as
it il ufounded in fact. True had free tickets pre-
scented By some but not all the ruii roads but most
of them received long after my agency had COM
rnrncct. The thousands, who Mt various places wer.
c"Cniznnt Of my proceedings, can say how much OF
my time WA devoted TO "a delightful summer travel
commencing in February, and ending the 18th day Of
October. Hospitality aye, kindness. such MS lIr'
giu;a only brstow, and such never can for.
-ct, received by myself and my son, every
where and hIrelinss as some may affect
10 cuLsiir: lis.
The gentleman deemed Sl,5OO patry compensa.
ton his friend with clear revenue Of Sb,OOO per
ammum, but an eXIrarngant allowance To man With
oat dollar ui certain income, for nine or ten months
of at least very active service.
He is careful, too, TO remember that have twice
he'd unanimous vote Of thanks and service of sl!-
Yer plate Of the value of $500 from the Soclety-bui
oini,s the fact that vote of thanks aud service oil
plate of the same value was given to Mr.. Williams
well mer;ted know it was, and earned by Jealous
! and faithful services in the cause.
never forced myself upon the Society or the Com.
mitfce nspiramt for this or any other Office and
VIGOROUSLY and constantly have done what could to
promptc lis interests, mud for pence and harmony
| This will scarcely be denied--and nm Il felon or q
convict, that because numbers of its members have
manifested preference for me over the gentleman
appointed by this Cummt;ee-it should be represent
little less than treason and sort OF lnvaslor
| OF the Royal prerngntive.
II is tar from nv wish to detrac from the merits oil
| the Committee or of the many other gentlemen who
have served the Society with equal zeal and equal ct
iiciency ms myself and who, according to Mr.. New
ton "have neither received nor expected any com
| prrsation whatever" But | have not been mcr.
cerury orr hirelinS in the cause, and will not sub
nit io be sn represented By any man. II know my
self a:n sincerely desrous of seeing this great So
cirty "prospcrnus and harmonous'-and | cannot
sec why its meetings and its elections of officers may
| not be conducted with caimncss and do,iberatlon-
end not with confusion and excitement. 1t is my
lus! earnest desire that they should be 50 conducted
and i, will not be the fault of my friends # they are
not. WM. II. RICHARDSON.
TWO WEEKS LATER FROM CALIFORNIA
Nrm NnRk Oct. In-Thc steamer George Law