Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-16

ginia, and our correspondents throughout that
State win bear US witness, one and all, that
the charge Of moddlias impsrtinently has no
foundation. Yet the Enquirer cannot conceal
its evident modification, at the truth, that our
paper, by means Of the facts and arguments
which It presents, has an influence in Virginia,
which is fast undermining the foundation of
tho Enquirer's power The Enquirer's article
above copied, implies, in ats fears Of the Organ,
compliment, which, from truthful sheet,
would be highly valued It is in rather bad
taste, we think, to call our sheet stupid"
when manifesting so much fear of Its influence,
and falling to respond to its arguments; but
it is not unusual for drunken men to imagine,
that all the world are tipsy, themselves only
excepted.
We take occasion to assure our friends, that
when the Enquirer shall have presented the
promised "reminiscences" and zoe shall have
presented our proofs and explanations, the de-
velopment win increase, rather than diminish
that confidence in us, which, in the liberal
support of the Oryan," they have hitherto
manifested.
THIRTY-FouR YEARsHAvE NOW ELAPSED, since
the occurrences which gave rise to the imputa-
tons upon us transpired, and yet not single
circumstance has faded from our memory, and
lift had, the record is now before US, to which
we may appeal, as well to correct the defects
Of our own memory, as the possible misrepre-
sensations Of our accusers. Hence we do not
object to revival Of those "reminiscences,
even after that space Of time, but we will hold
ourscfin readiness, to meet the accusations,
for thirty. four years longer, if our life shall
be so long continued.
On several different occasions, at different
points of time aud space, we have met these
accusations with the record of the facts, and
eren turned our enemies into friends by the
triumphant refutation Of their charges. We
trust no such result viii be produced in the
present instance, for should it 80 happen that
the Richmond Enquirer becomes our friend,
we shall begin to question our own claim to
the respect of the " American party"
1t is but Just to the people of Richmond that
we should say, it is not their fault, nor is it
ours, but results from circumstances beyond
our control, that I" the tradition of our conduct
Gin the words of the Enquirer) still offends
decent people in that vicinity" This may be
true, nor would it be strange, for the charges
were made public in that city in 1821-wc
| only heard Of them nearly thousand miles
distant in 1892, and only explained, andrefuted
them in February, 1928, and even then, the
the knowledge Of the refutation was mostly
confined to the Masonic fraternity, and thus
thousands who had heard of the accusations,
never heard of the result Of the subsequent in
vestigations.
The transactions which gave rise to the
charges against us, were in short as follows
In the spring of 1921, on the eve Of our depar-
ture from Richmond, we gave two checks for
an aggregate sum of about $500, upon the
Bank Of the United States, when 100 supposed
that funds had been placed there for US, as
promised, but when, in fact, no funds had been
deposited there to our credit. The fact Of the
promise to deposite the funds, which we had
intrusted to another, was distinctly proved on
the final investigation.
One check was Immediately cancelled by a
return of the property purchased, and the
other one was subsequently paid. We had
hardly reached the age of manhood, was alarm
ed at the excitement and instead of postponing
our trip, we left Richmond, under circumstan-
ces well calculated to excite suspicion, and es-
pecially towards northern man soourning in
southern city. In August 1922, whilst re-
siding in Alabama, we learned accidentally,
that the Manchester Lodge of Masons, Of which
we were member, had, in our absence, pro-
nounced sentence Of expulsion against US.
The moment we heard of the expulsion, we
returned from Alabama 600 miles) to Virginia,
on horseback, and demanded an investigation.
Finding an amount Of prejudice existing against
US in Manchester Lodge, which we could not
then overcome, we appealed to the District
deputy grand master, CDR. John Dove, of Rich
mond) who organized an appellate tribunal, or
commission of seven Past Master Masons, to
hear the appeal. or this tribunal the lamented
Judge Upshur was member, with whom we
then formed an acquaintance, which resulted
in permanent friendship, of which we have
many written proofs in his correspondence.
The appellate tribunal Reversed the decision Of
Manchester Lodge, on point Of Masonic law.
We were then again summoned before it, on
the same charges.
| A state Of feeling had then arisen between
ourself and some prominent members Of the
Manchester Lodge, on account Of personal and
private matters, not necessary or proper now
To he repeated which caused ue IN decline adj
ducing any exculpatory proofs or explanations
to that body, and a second sentence Of expul-
sion was Immediately pronounced, from which
we again appealed to the District Deputy Grand
Master, OR. John Dove,) who appointed an
other commission Of appeal, composed of seven
prominent Past Master Masons of Richmond,
to hear and decide the appeal on its merits
This commission consisted of the following
gentlemen, to wit Alexander McRae, ESQ,
John Forbes, Esq, DIR. George Cabell, John
McKeage, ESQ, Rev. VIM. II. Hart Captain
Blair Rolling and DIR Erastus Willev They