Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-01-02
RICHMOND WHIG.
AN EXPLANATORY LETTER.
JERUSALEM, SOUTHAMPTON Co,
december 2Gth, 1859.

december 26th, lo0F. )
70 the Editcr Of the U1ir.
Some three or four weeks ago-at our November
Court-there was meeting held in the Court House, Tor
the purpose of getting up volunteer company the pro
ceedngs of which, hurredy written 10y me, we're pub
,hcd through the columns Of your paper (oi Zee 2hd
Now my object in again noticing this meeting Is 10 COZ
rect some ricched conclusions in reference to the sp
t of tbas article and to erase some very erroneous im
preSSiOuS from the minds of sOme hope they are eWl
who deeply regret to hear, have placed most iOrrid
construction on the spirit Of that letter. thought my
language sufficiently explicit 10 be understood, even
bv the most ignorant and cannot for my lie conceV'
how aHy man with TWO ideas tmuch less the mtelgeht
and enlightened citizens Of this good old Commonwealth
could have put any but the right construction on that ar
tice They seem to be quite tastdeous and sqneamsh
on the subject OF slavery. Though, TO be short "o"lo
saw that my only object in writing notice oil tne meet
ing all was simply to call the attention OF our prominent
czeus 10 the Importance of raising volunteer company
rs great msorv OF them seemed TO be exceedingly luke
warm on the subject. Now, Mr. Editor, YOU can very
well see that motives the most patriotic prompted me to
dictate the communication alluded to- In that ar'cIe
the subseouent language was used" We have no pro
pertv protect from Northern punderers invaders &c
Ii is TO this language they Ohject-caSung the lmputa
lion that M qre not interested ne the SGtUatoR Of me
Saa and if So publicity ought not to be given to such
sentiments Now say wrote the article with such views
is so prepostcrous absurd and exceedingly r'd'c"o"
fh1t must confess | am at loss in what way TO meet
xays seeking to render themselves c2H7picFo"s, ana
vino carry out the old but nevertheless true adase TINS
case of "strauing a gnat and swallowing a camel
aud who by the force of their vivid maglnauouS' make
out that "tries as light air become combinations aS
strong a. holy writ To those would remark, Oas theY
seem so dull and hard 10 comprehcud) That did not
,,5 io san That there euS dg a' our county 'r'o
ms l{.G,ycpt as to Hs osicHcf IF the institution 9
,lar SjBl Lseoisc he lid not oi0u one Mo- lar from
that or think can safely say that there hota man
i'm our midst but what is ready at moments warning 10
shoulder his arms and strike for the rights OF the So"
No one In my or the adjoining counties has placed ihlS
erroneous construction h'' article that am aware OIL
All who know me- know there is not man on ear'h
more devoted to the institutions OF the South than am
at is with view to correct opinion abroad that "ite
this having heard IT created dissatisfaction IN var
ous parts of ihe State. hope this explanation viii SUI
hce" This is all have 20 say and must confess that "
pains me 20 thiuk | am neccs,itated to say this much
for indeed f. is sore point for am innocent man. work
inc for the public good) TO be bound to defend hse
You will DO me the favor TO insert this in your pap'rI
iyow the authorship of The communication and wrote II
without consulting any man and what Il contained wa.
not the sense OF the meeting at all but my own individual
views. Respectfully, &c,
SETH W. COBB