Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-05-01
To the voters of Virginia.
In Caa.p NEAR FREDER1cKsBURG,
April 18th, 1868.

When on the 9th day of February last,
announced myself candidate for thesofice
of Governor of cur State in brief. card,
to be found at the head of this article. |
certainly did not expect to be an object Of
Misrepresentation and SANDER. In this.
however, have been disappointed and it
becomes me to notice one or two Of the OBJ
iections which are made to me.
l. It is said that have already two Off
ces and should not have another. Now,
those who make this objection, know full
we'll that, if elected Governor, cannot as
sumo the functions Of the Office, without re-
linquishing any other may possess.
think it proper to add few words Of
explanation. It is known that [ was a
| member of the old Federal Congress. II
was my fortune while such to have frequent
and exciting debates with members from
the non-slave holding States upon the ques-
tons which diyidcd US and led to the ex-
isting war After the rupture took place,
carefully conaiAsred my line Of duty and
finally concluded that it would be more
manly and more in harmony with the deci-
ded part had taken in ths Congress and
before the people, to enter the army. |
thought too that my example might be; o.
some advantage to. tis in the great struggle
which had just begun. I accordingly ap-
piled to Gov Letcher for Colonels COM
mission, which he gave me; and upon
which. 1 Proceeded to Gigantic tie 49'h
Regiment "a. Volunteers. Atthis. time |
was not member Of Congress; but an the
4th Nov. 1861, ] was elected while in
camp and commanding my regiment, BY The
voters CT the 9th Congressional district o.
Virginia, to the first Congress under the
permanent Constitution Of the Confederate
States. Thus e!ested, | felt at perfect lib
ertv to hold to both positions. at any rate,
that no one had light to complain but my
noble constituents and they were silent
held to both that l might never be idle
aud that might always be in the public
service either in Congress or in the field
Accordingly, after 't5y election to Congress,
as above stated, remained in command Of
my regiment, trtii the 18th of February,
1862 When I turned it over to Lieut..
Col: Edward Murray, a graduate of West
Point and most excellent and indeed su>
perior officer, and proceeded, by home, to
Richmond to take my seat ID Congress,
which was to assemble in that city on the
18th of the same mortk.
| served through that session Of Congress,
which terminated On the 17th Of April aud
rcjoined my regiment at yorktown on the
following day, and from tliat'aay until the
18th of September last, remained in com
mand Of it, except. for a few days, when |
was absent on sicln leave. It will be OBJ
served that 1 was in tbe field ,TiIs command
Of my gallant regiment during the 1st Con-
gressional recess and also in the feIu or on
"a bed Of suffering and pain during the en-
suing session Of Congress and the recess
which followed Although far from being
restored to hiy usual health, had so far re-
covered 40 to attend the present Congress
aud assisb In its organizations Now the
Sc, vices, &C., referred to in this brief and
candid statement, entitled me, | bumbly
submit, to expect the charity, if not the ia
vor of my fellow citizens. had appropri-
atcd Congressional reccsses, not to my bus
mess or my pleasures, but to my country
and in SO doing. had exposed myself to hard
ships and dangers, which were not required
Of me, either by lay or public opinion. Yet
out of the facts referred to, another and
graver charge has been manufactured.
2ndly. That ! held BOTH Offices for the
sake of the salaries attached to them, that |
had received both and thus had made good
thing of it. ..v-s
The ascription Of base and unworthy mo
tiyeatenhe conduct Of men, where noble
and pas-i,t ones are as equally and as OBJ
viously as hand is full aud conclusive proof
Of little aad a malignant soul. The fact
could have easily been ascertalnssd by "a
simple enquiry of either lot. two officers al
ways accessible to the public. But truth
did not answer the purposes Of detraction
and falsehood was accepted in preference.
Abundant precedents would have sustained
me, had / received both the salaries in
question, but had condemned such prece-
dents, as unworthy Of the patriot. statesman,
and If tourse. could not claim their pre-