Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-05-12
NO. L.

most honored members of the Assembly and to which
| Gen Smith would do wsU to gios heed
The office of Visitor OF the Institute is an honorary
one-wltnout emoument or perqnistes Itwas there
fore matter OF no little surprise to find in the
appropriation Gill provision of two Thousand x2Oo0,
dollars to deray the expenses of the Board for sim
gle term. The Senate deei mined to stop that leak
forthwith by enactlng that henceforth only actual
necessary expenses be paid the visitors and that NOT
out OF the State Treasury, but from the funds of the
school Gen. 5. objects to this and saws in his card
II paid, at all, they should be paid by the State and
1T is unreasonable to impose the burden upon the
InstItute at this time | believe the law and the
practice at all the other State Institutions whether
educational or benevolent are different and the Inst;
tute is now for the first time brought under the gem
era rule am certain as to the University, the ex-
pepses Of the board all paid by the University
and not out of the public fsc, and have the HI CHEST
authority for saying that these expenses of board of
nine visitors may be set down at an average annually
OF from one hundred and seventyfve to two-hundred
doliars DO my constituents object to this vote of
mine! DO they think 1t betrays on my part either
hostility to the Institute on the one hand or on the
other want OF fidelity to their interests? also voted
tor the other retoi m-rather the author of it.
which was adopted by both houses requiring all nom.
nations for the office OF Visitor receive the sane
ton and ratification of the Senate.
The superintendent tntimates in his published card
and more broadly admonishes me in his letter that
betoregelng to Richmond as "ocal representative"
ought to have come to him some other officer to
learn my lesson-that had done SO .'you TT would
have been promptly placed in possession of nforma-
tlon which would have enabled you mel to speak au
thoritatively and integently as the local
tive, &C., DC. Indeed Pray excuse me, good Gen.
era out think am old enough scholar now to have
'some say" in choosing my teachers. Evidently the
man thinks that both delegates and Senator for this
county and this district but representatives of the
w. M. l.: an6 as such are to be chiefly his mouth
piece From THIS service pray to be excused And
1t VIII be Tor the voters of this Senatorial district to
say whether It is wise prudent and desirable that ther
entire delegation to both Houses shall be taken fvon
beneath tie Qery Sh00c of the Military Institute Ir
Will be for them to say whether there may not be some
advantage both to the Institute itself and to the State
at large, IN having of the 'local
to view it from distant standpoint and with dif.
ferent "visua angle" Such representative NAV thus
be able to assign to it just proportions in COMPARE
son with other objects and interestst least be able
to discern that there other objects and interests
in the Commonwealth. l commend this thought to
the electors, and would, as sincere friend to the
School. commend 1t to the Superintendent; but
years enjoyed so near view of the V. NJ L. that it
seems to HIM bigger than the "House Mountain :" and
all oher objects In nature; both men and things, are
to his vision dwarfed in the comparison.
Fellow-citizens: can say with perfect truth and
candor and do say, that the office OF Senator neither
desirable to, nor desired by for its own sake
hen first yielded my consent to serve you in this
capacity 1t was done purely spirit of sacrifice to
the common which is dear to the heart of ey
one of us and of every patriot in the whole South
possible pIomptiDgs of ambition could actuate me
then or now. Long since have laid aside every such
thought or illusion of my youth But citizens of this
county, who had a right to command my respectful
we're hlnu 10 say tnaI my education,
my early training, and former experience in the Leg
stature as delegate from my native county of Angus
ia would beft me for the Senate and gave them the
right to call on me- Believing, without any affecta
tion, that they placed TOO high estimate my a.
bty to serve the district, but knowing, at the same
time, that could render effective service to the
common cause as soldier in the field, fain TO
forego my personal ease and to do y best in whatever
posi- OF duty might be assigned me. l am proudly
conscious OF having done this your Senator. For,
whilst it was not given me to bring to your service
hA Iuhe nt oh falo
MUS, or the more solid qualities of enlarged and
ripe experience In affairs of State, yet can justly claim
to have performed my duty honestly. soberly faith
fully, boldly; with manly independence and patriotic
devotion to our beloved and beleaguered Common
wealth.
Whenever you weary of my service, be assured l
shall with no small slacrity exchange the labor and
of public life for the more eongenial
pursuits of the private citizen, and the charms of fam
y and home. And shall always rejoice to know thar
you have in the places of high public trust more
lbe than myself to uphold the fame and promote the
best interests of the Commonwealth
Respectfully,
VIM. FRAZIER.