The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-03-25
sTpat r,etter--" TINT Ranaaereat,y.' !,

Qeep hhu CuIiVUss 4uc bCcues pdAeAy An eAAAD
city and parity IN the good old county Of
Prince, Edward. The main facts upon
witch all the interesting details hinge are
these: Mr.. w. II. SAMUEL, Of this city,
wrote letter to Mr.. EDGAR ALLAN, Of
Prince Edward. II never came to Mr.. Al
LIN, but found its way to Governor WELLS,
and was by him copied. It related to Re-
publican party politics, and disclosed plans
inirnical TO WELLS. That gentleman d.
vulssd, the contents Of the letter, and thus
ALLAN, by. . roundabout way, first heard
Of it. Then come in the publications and
denunciations Of, the outraged men-the
lame defence and reciprocal abuse from
WEIIs--the general diminishing on the
subject in the convention at Petersburg
which nominated WELLs-the subsequent
pursuit Of WELLS and his aceomplices un-
der the allegation that they intended to fee
from justice their arrest on dismal rainy
night, while their pursuers, Messrs. SAMUEL
ana ALLAN, were drenched in the pitiless
storm as they waited in the street to learn
theregult. is9si = ~ 7a
1t is capital drama, and is capitally
played. We anticipate the finale. The
grand defence Of himself by Mr.. WELLS,
which can be surpassed only by the man
who held himself at arms length by the
tsilos his coat! Now, if he could only
defend himself before Judge UNDERWOOD
Then his triumph would be certain, for
there no never failed. Coming here
stranger, his first case as defender Of o
yiolator OF the internal revenue laws was
such triumph that afterwards all Of
similar character naturally selected him
for counsel. The docket shows it. The
pretty able bar of Richmond saw them all
20 into the hands Of Governor wells.
The members of that bar stood round
like storrks at the feast Of the fox, served
in shallow dishes-not 8 drop could they
insinuate into their thirsty beaks, while
the. fox Tapped heartily and licked his
chops in provoking elf-complacency. There
stood Governor WELLS, the mailed (some
say black -mailed) champion Of the rings,
and by his wonderful talent, or wonderful
something, he cleared them all. The Judge
and the prosecuting attorney did not seem
to be grieved, and are not supposed to
have suffered. Could the Governor but
catch his adversaries on the arena of his
hundred victories, he would not only be
acquitted, but if he did not put his ac-
cusers in the pillory they might thank
their sters for good luck! To that court
the case may go, and We tremble for Messrs.
ALLAN and SAMUEL.
1t is exceedingly interesting, in contem-
plating this drama, to fancy to ones self the
exact situation of the parties to it at the
time of the Illicit act Of copying the stolen
letter by our Military Governor. The gen.
tleman to whom the letter was addressed,
at his rural home in Prince Edward, was,
in all probability, engaged most innocently
and yirtuously at his rural occupation-cer-
tain he was not counting money, as that is
rather scarce but there may have been some
t.honey in the parlor," and "the maids inthe
orchard" might have been hanging out
clothes " amidst the chattering Of the lit
tie birds, which, though they may not have
soiled the noses of the girls, were probably
taking great freedom with the clothes-lines.
This was picture of innocence. Here in
Richmond the author of the letter was. de-
voting his active mind and muscle to
the cause Of GRANT and "peace Ibis
thoughts were on peace and making him
sell, quiet and comfortable in some position
wherein he could serve his country. At
no time Of their lives, 1t may be supposed,
were these gentlemen more innocent and
unsuspecting! ..r.
sJust then Illicit eyes were dsvouring the
contents of the letter written by SAMUEL
to, ALLAN, and in a twinkling illicit hands
were guiding an illicit pen in writing down
the contents. Of the letter surreptitiously
obtained, and known to have been go OBJ
tanned by the Governor, who made this
illicit use Of it. :" Look on this picture,
and then on that" Innocence and grilt.
It was an aocursed opportunity" for out
raging the rights of two gentlemen not
supposed to be excessively pious at mo-
ment Of entire innocence in which they
should have been left. 1t was suggestion
Of the devil that they were not.
And now that letter 1T that handker-
chief" How did Governor WELLS get at
it9 Where is the original? 1t should be
deposited in some museum as reminis-
cence Of the strangest drama with which
any Governor Of Virginia was ever con-
nscted. But what is to be WELLs's fate
for his connection with this mystery this
very offensive mystery We anticipate it,
and think it msy be ikened to the case of
.s-dog that flies before his prosecutors with
a tin kettle tied to his tail. Colliding with
post, the kettle may be sent rumbling
down hill, but the dirty rope which the
boys picked out of the gutter to tie the kettle
on with will remain permanent ornament
to poor Trays caudal appendage. And go,
although he may be acquitted of purloin-
ing the letter, is the dirty link which
connects Governor WELLS with very low
and mean transaction to attach to him
until the solemn face of the undertaken
enters his silent chamber.
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