Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-03-27
For the Enquirer.
A CARD.
TO TIE PEOPLE or YIRGINIA.

This is my first card to the public. Heretofore
have been coniented to let time correct the ISLANDERS
of the base and even should do 80, were il not
that should do injustice to those who have honored
me with the position | hold. For years il has been
my desire to- remove from Virginia, believing thar
such a course would better the condition of my ia
mily. In this, as in all else, have had the concur
renee of my family. Circumstances, however,
(chieily my poverty have heretofore delayed me in
the contamination OF my desires. Recently | had
some small addition to my estate, which made my
way more clear. determined, accordingly, to shape
my affairs with view to removal. Last summer,
in company with nay friend, MIR. Wilson, Of Clarks
burg visited Chicago, with view to removal to
that place. was sstisfed-made my arrangements
to spend the winter there. without, however, making
permanent removal until should test the climate,
&c, by experience, but at all events TO make some
investments in that fast growing country. |
returned home-Openly avowed' my purpose
and for three months engaged in making
my arrangements. At this time an aunt OF
of my wife-the one in fact by whom she had been
raised-who has two grown sons in business, and is
upwards of fifty years of age, was on visit to us.
left Guyandoite after visit OF some weeks to the
county OF my old home, in company with my little
daughter, this aunt. and another older sister OF
hers, who ia the grandmother OF number OF child
ren) in the most public manner and in the midst Of
oir mutual relatives and friends. At Cincinnati |
placed my daughter at school. My two aunts con-
tinued their journey to Missouri, and left for Chi
cdSO. Slhcc Indt llut nave never nhu u lady
good or bad-upder my charge, or in auywise con-
nected with me for one moment. On my return
home find that rtmors have circulated over the
whole State, and have been seized upon by the pub.
lie press. to the effect that left the State with
married woman having deserted my wife and child
rem. know not who set this rumor atioat, nor who
is responsible for it, but | have made plain state.
ment of the facts, which can be proved by hundreds;
and now appeal to all good men to say whether
this has not been n great outrage The fact Is,
yl,1i. frnr
1t may, be it propagated by whom it may--is sim
Pile case Of base, ungenerous, unfounded and mali
cious lying, without the shadow Of an apology.
have another statement to make, which | shall
do as concisely as possible. When arrived at Chi
cago did NOT meet Mr.. Wilson, and found that
probably should not for some weeks. At the earnest
solicitation of my friend DR.. Train, was induced TO
make flying trip TO Nebraska, expecting to be ab:
sent some three weeks. On arriving in Nebraska,
made several investments, which delayed Inc much
longer than | expected. Just as ! had completed my
arrangements to return, was applied TO by num-
Der of the best men, and highest in position in the
Territory to go up the Platte river, On the north sde
and select site for the Capitol Of the Territory, a.
large majority of the people desired its REMOVAL
declined the propositions but ultimately consented
to remain few weeks longer, they agreeing that the
effort should be made in favor OF the town of Doug
las, the south side, of which was part owner
This movement was and is popular in all parts Of the
Territory, except the present capitol Ii WAS found
from tho very beginning that the Speakers of both
houses, and more than two thirds Of both houses OF
the Legislature were in ntavoro of the removal. The bill
passed by the Legislature, but was vetoed by the
Governor Two of the friends OF the removal were
notoriously bribed and our twothrds vote thereby
destroyed in Of the houses and thus the bill was
lost. During the passage of the bill, the excitement
was intense, the Oneha mob over-awng the Legsla
ture to an extent that compelled them to call on the
Governor for three hundred armed men to protect
them. The more prominent and determined mem
bers and myself were threatened with the mob, with
assassination, Sc, and called all sorts OF ugly names.
During all this time remained quietly in my room,
not visiting the Legislative halls. But in my room
gave To the friends of the bill the benefit OF whatever
Legislative experience possessed. This is the sum
of my ofiendng-the whole OF it. Who s there that
would not have aided to place the capitol the terrific
ry on his property! 1t was inslnuaed broadly (tor no
acts were ever charged-only words of vulgar abuse)
that | had brbed the Legislature To bribe All Of
cial under the present regime ID regarded
merely in the light of q common aud rather clever
p-ccado, and scarcely more 10 be 6ribed. But de.
clare, that tho intimaton in my case Is utterly false
| never gave or sold one lot, or gave one cent in
any form TO any member of the Legislature for that
or any purpose. But. on the contrary, hold now
every lot ever owned in Douglas City, or can show
to whom sold them, outside the Legislature, for fair
prces-and this all be proven were it necessary
Ii has also been said, that having tried to wrong
Omeha. was about to turn on my friends, Bowen
and Strickland, aud swiBdle them. Messrs. Bowen
and Strickland in the next issue OF their paper set
this foolish slander right, by declaring truly that
had never had any dealings with them to the amount
OF one cent. The fact IL. that, while have been
charged with abandoning my family, | have been
most sboriously and successfully struggling for their
welfare by meane to which none can object.
As to my course in Nebraska, | can refer to
Col. Parker tof Virginia,l and Col. Gilmore OF
the Land Office, Chief Justice Ferguson Pe-
ter A. Sarpy. the great Indian trader. and Mr.
Allen, head OF the Bellevue Mission. All OF them
men Of the most unimpeachabls honor and integrity
in the Territory, and who not only acquainted
with my whole course while there, but with my mo.
tives and objects | refer, indeed, to every man IN
the Territory, who will speak from his own know
ledge and is not q lisr.
Having said this much, leave the base slanderers
who started these rumors, to enjoy whatever OF
endish qualification it may give them. willonly add
in conclusion, that having found in that great, grand
country-Nebrasks-a land that offers me much
greater Inducements, than where l now reside,
shall esign the position I hold, and remove to Ne
braska uninnuenced 10 this course by anything but
determination to better the condition OF myself and
family. Very truly, &c,
+. w. MCCOMAS.