Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-06-08

We copy below an extract from the card
of the Hon. A. Fl. H. Stuart, lately pub
lished in the National Intelligencer, in refer
ence to the structures Of Mr.. Trumbull in the
U. S. Senate against him, for having endea-
yored to get copy of the petition and sign
ers presented from this county to the Senate
by Mr.. Trumhull
II take it for granted that Mr.. Trumbull
has been imposed on by some designing
knave, for I cannot, persuade myself that he
had deliberate purpose to do me wrong
Be that as it may, l oppose to the imputa-
ton contained in Mr.. Trumbulls remarks an
emphatic denial of its truth.
MY connection with the matter of the pc
tition was simply this: Some weeks ago |
learned from the newspapers that Mr.. Trum-
bull had presented to the Senate of the Uni
ted States petition purporting to be signed
by 146 citizens Of my county, asking that
Federal troops should be sent back, because
loyal citizens could not get justice in the civ
il courts, and were in constant danger of
personal injury.
Z Being a lawyer by profession, in continu-
al intercourse with the people, and a regular
attendant on the courts, [ knew these state
ments to be untrue, and naturally felt indig-
nant at such an imputation on the integrity
of our magistrates and the good faith Of our
people. inquired Of many Of our citizens
if they knew anything, or had previously
heard anything, Of the petition or the alleged
causes Of grievance. The answer was inva-
riably in the negative. I therefore conclu-
ded that fraud had been attempted on the
Senate, and wrote letter to Hon. J. NJ.
Howard, with whom I had formerly served
in Congress.) expressing doubts as to the
authenticity of the paper, and affirming that
the allegations in the petition were untrue,
and requesting that he would send me a copy
Of the petition and Of the names of those who
were alleged to have signed it. To this let
ter Mr.. Howard replied on the 7th instant,
and after expressing his belief that the sig
natures were genuine, from the fact that they
were attested by notary public, he added !:
I" The document is now in possession Of the
Military Committee, and they object to a
copy being furnished"
After receiving Mr.. Towards letter, had
nothing further to do with the subject. had
discharged what believed to be my duty,
as good citizen and and the representative
elect to Congress from my district, and /
was content. IF had meditated any parti-
san or vindictiye purpose toward "loyal
men, certainly would not have sought the
aid Of Mr.. Howard in carrying it into effect
The sequel would seem to show that my
original suspicious were well founded. A
copy Of the petition and of the names of the
alleged signers have been procured and pub
lished, but not through any agency of mine
Thcreupon a large number Of the supposed
petitioners have published cards, some deny
ing that they had ever signed, or authorized
any one else to sign, their names to any such
paper. Others declare that the nature and
object of the petition were misrepresented to
them. 1t further appears from these cards,
that whila Dews, who seems to have been
the active agent in getting up the petition,
as well as the acting notary public, swears
that all the petitioners are citizens of Angus
ia, in fact, many of them reside in Rock
bridge, and others in Pendleton county, West
Virginia.
One of the petitioners, a baker by trade,
has had the candor to acknowledge that he
signed it, and that he did so because he had
found the United States troops profitable GUS
toners when they were here before, and he
thought if they were sent back they would
enlarge his market for bread Probably 9TH
ers were influenced by motives equally patri-
otto and disinterested."