Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-09-24
CLARNsDURt:, FRIDAY, SEPT. "a. 1855

CI.ARKsBURt:, FRIDAY, SEPT. "a. 1858
The following communication is pub
lished at the instance OF q friend oil the
Hon. Sherrsrd Clemens South. :;
'' For 'The South"
Statement.
Being about TO close personal issue
raised against me. by one OF the Editors
OF the Enquirer. 10 connection With cor
respondence between myself and Judge.
Br0cken trough; and being anxious to pre-.
.erve, in case should not survive the
meeting. the motives which actuated mt
! towards Judge Brockenbroush . in sending
20 the Enquire the letter which is the pri
mary cause of the present difficulty.
ore pare now, under the most solemn sane
zion OF my c"n,cieDce. this specific and
detailed account, in writing. for publlcs
ion {: . 1.
met Judge Brockenbrough a. Graf
| ION. on the evening Of the day before he
opened Court at Clarksburg He has
never received from me. from the period
Of our Grst acquaintance to the preseet
hour. any thing but kindness. ] am on
in,ima'e terms with many OF his come <
ions. and the highest considerations were
and are operating upon me to promote
his interest We salked out Of the hotel
and promrnaded up aud down the plat
form 10 front Of it. Il was night. about
the period of the arrival Of the Express
tram from the West Among other sub
iects, upon which we conversed. was that
OF the Governorship: and the substance
and the effect Of what passed, is as iol,
lows: ....
| told him that had seen his name
presented as q candidate. and asked what
his position was He replied. as near as
[ car reccoIlect. as follows: that he aIrea.
dy held position which was entirely
congenial TO his tastes, studies. and in.
cIiuations; that his friends were looking
Tor hi, promotion in the line Of his pro
| fession, aud that was much more accep-
table to him: that he did not want or
wish any Executive office. and not thar
OF Governor for he and the Hon. John
Letcher. one Of the aspiran's. perfectly
understood each other; that they were
goud friends: that he desired no conflict.
especially with him. nor any other per
son who sought the place; and. that much
OF the zeal which had been manifested TO
wards him. he unprecedented. sprung from
circumstances which l shall not now re.
peat.
Just before we passed into the door Of
the hotel. as the light struck his lace, l
said to him. Judge. can state your po-
stiun?" He replied, IL authorize you 10
do So" In justice to him, must. how
ever. mention, that when | called his ut
tenti"n TO this fact. after the publication
OF his first letter to the Enquirer. he did
recall il, and use it now, merely as one
OF the Inducing CAUSES. in my own mind.
which controlled my action.
After we passed into the hotel and
stood At the counter OF IL Office, and in
the presence of another person from his
own town. Samuel L"tcher, brother OF The
Hon John Le,cher. | remarked 10 Judge
Brockrnbrough that there was a gentle
man hen in Clark>burg, who held Fed
erHl office, and rho seemed 10 me halting
between two opinions. but strongly dis.
posed to advocate his claims. He repli
Ell. IL will see him when get TO Clsrks.
burg. and repress any thing Of that
kind"
had no idea Of the press. or Of publ
cation. when FIST spoke 10 him; but the
conviction on my mind was such. frlm MS
whole tune. and manner and language.
that, wien | returned home. and found
appearances tending To a conflict between
himself aud Mr.. Lstcher. Ittlsc ed on
our interview. and thought | would do
Judge peterborough an act OF kindness
IN detuiug his position by a letter 10 the
Enquirer; because. in doing so. | was
preventing the very result which he him
self Tad Su emphaticaliy deprrcaued-A
rivalry between himself and tiend. This
Is the only motive which ever influenced
ME; and | here solemnIy avow, by my
belief IN God. and in view Of my eternal
responsibility 10 Him. that l never had
any other. y '.-'
time sent my first letter to the Enquirer.
and before it WAS published. l addressed
letter to Judge Brockenbrough. then
holding Court at Glarksburg. apprizing
HIM OF what had done; stating. ia terms
that l had endeavored to define his posi-
ton judciously, and believed, or hoped,
it would accord with his views. or meet
his appreciation; that l sent him, at the
moment. no copy OF my letter to the En-.
quirer, because | desired to leave him
utterly non committed as TO its language
until it was published; that 10 it was
alone privy. and for it alone responsible.
To the truth OF this revelation, | not
only pledge my honor. but whatever hope
| may have in the world to come; and
here appeal to Judge Brockenbrough
and TO Samuel Letcher. of Lexington.
Va. in case should not survive. 10 viu.
cate my memory in 50 lar AZ it may be
ANYTHING herein contained. which comes
,, vi. hin their own knowled ,e. ...
| IS,,o.,3 SuERPApN EMENc