Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-11-23
Tor u 10 .NVNTN.
ST tTENENT.

Clemens:
FIR "THc .SoWth."
STATEMENT.
Being about 10 close n personal issue raised
against me hy one of the Editors of the En-
duircr, lin connection with Il correspondent,
between Judge Brockcnhrough; and being
anxious to preserve, in case | should not sur
vive the meeting, the motives which a~ct,latcd
me towards Judge 5r~ockcnbrough, in sending
to the Enquirer" the letter which is the pri
mary cause of the present difficulty, prepare
now, under the most solemn sanction of my
conscience. this specific and detailed account,
in writing. for publication:
met Judge Brockcnbrough at Grafton, on
the evening Of the day before he opened Court
at ClarkSburg. lie has never received from
me. from the pcriod Of our first acquaintance
TO the present hour, anything but Kindness.
am on intimate terms with many Of his con.
n~cxionS. and the highest considerations were
and are operating upon me to promote his in
tcrcst. We walked out Of the hotel and pro-
mcnadcd up and down the platform in front OF
it. 1t was night, about the period of the ar
rival of the express train from the West.
Among other subjects upon which wc convcrs'
ed, was that of the Govcrnorship; and the sub.
stance and effect of what passed. is as follows;
told him that had seen his name present
ed As Il candidate, and asked what his position
was. He replied, as near as can r%ccollcct, as
follows-that he already held a position which
was entirely congenial to his tastes, studies and
inclinationS; that his friends were looking for
his promotion in the line Of his profession, and
that was much more acceptable to him; that he
did not want or wish any executive office. and
not that of Governor-ior he and the Hon. John
L.etchcr. one Of the aSpirants, perfectly under.
stood each other; that they were good friends;
that he desired no conflict, especially with him,
nor any other person who sought the place;
md. that much of the zeal which had been
manifested towards him. he apprchcndcd,
sprung from circumstance which | shall not
now repeat.
Just before we passed into the door Of the
hotel. as the light struck his face, said to him.
Judge, can | state your position He replied
II authorize You to do So" In justice 10 him,
must. however. mention, that when called
his attention to this fact, after the publication
of his first letter to the Enquirer" he did not
recall it, and ] use it now, merely as one of the
inducing causes, in my own mind, which con
trollcd my action.
After we passed into the hotel and stood nj
the counter of the office and in the presence Of
another person from his own town, Samuel
Lctchcr, brother Of the Hon. John Lctchcr.
remarked to Judge Brockenbrough that there
was a gentleman then in C~larksburg, who held
4 Federal office. and who seemed TO be halting
between two opinions, bnt strongly disposed to
advocate his claims. He replied, II will sec
him when ret to Clarksburg and rcprcss any
thing Of that kind"
had no idea of the press, or Of publication,
when ! first spoke to him; but the conviction
on nv mind was such, from his whole tone and
manner, and language, that when | returned
home and found appearances tending to 4 con
fict between himself and Mr.. L.ctchcr, re
ilccted on our interview. and thought woulG
do Judge Brockcnbrough an act Of Kindness il
defining his position in n letter to the I'm
q%uircr;' because, in doing so, | was preventing
the very result which he himself had so en-
phatically deprccatcd--a rivalry between him
self and his friend. This is the only motive
which ever influenced me; and here solcmnly
avow, nv my belief in God. and in view Of my
eternal responsibility to Him, that ! never ha'
any other.
As corroborativc of this. about the time
sent my first letter to the Enquirer. and be
fore it was published, | addressed a letter tc
Judge Brockcnbrough, then holding Court al
Clarksburg. apprising him Of what ha(
done; stating in terms, that | had cndcavorcI
to define his position judiciously, and believed
or hoped, it would accord with his views. OIL
meet his appreciation; that | sent him. at the
moment, no copy of my letter to the En-
nu,ircr" brrausc desired TO leave him utterly
non.committci rs to its language, until 1t wa
published; that to it was alone privy. aad tol
it alone responsible.
To the truth of this revelation | not only
pledge my honor, hut whatever hope | may
have in the world to come; and | here appca
to Judge Brockcnbrough and to Samuel Letch
or. of Lexington, Va, in case | should not sur
viye, to vindicatc my memory in so far as i
may be implicated by anything herein contain
cd. which come within their own knowledge
Signed SHERRARD CLEMENS,
RICHMOND. Va. Sept, l6, 1858.