The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-07-11
Alas for Old Virginia.

~n
Remarks of MI. Mckenzie in the House
of Representatives on the contested elec-
ton between Booker and Tucker:
MIR. Mckenzie MI. Speaker, the short
time the House has to sit ut this session adj
monisheS Inc to be brief, as it ought to adj
| monish the long-winded gentlemen on this
floor to be briet in reference to this case OF
Mr.. Booker. Now, so far as the question Of
the loyalty of Mr.. Booker is concerned, it
depends very much on how Il mar feels. If
a man is honest and feels in his conscience
that he is right, he need not care for the
| world, the flesh, or the devil.
Now, sir, l have no Doubt never had
| any doubt-of the loyalty Of Mr.. Booker.
I have known him long, and l never had
| any doubt about his loyalty, although L
| knew him to be a timid man. did not see
| the testimony until / saw it printed. Ii L
| had seen it | would have advised him as a
| prudent man, in view of all the circum-
stances, to apply to the House to relieve
him from disabilities. But, sir, l know OF
| nv own knowledge, from the relations IN
which I stoodt to the late distinguished John
| Minor Bolts, and from the correspondence
| which took place between MIR. Booker and
| Mr.. Bolts during the rebellion, that Booker
| was a loyal although 4 timid man. Perhaps
| he did not believe-I do not know his rell-
| gious sentiments, only he does not belong
to the church I belongto (the Presbyterian,
| and perhaps he did not belieye-that
! ever is to be must be-. l~Laughter.]
All Jefferson Dayis's forces would never
| have cot me to swear allegiance to the rebel
| Government, if I had been hung for it.
But, as regards Mr.. Booker, here is a letter
from Hon. Alexander Rives, one of the
most loyal men in Virginia also letters
from G. Y. Thomas and X. NJ. Hughes
which | send to the desk to be read.
These letters, testitiying to the " loyalty'
and "Republicanism" of Mr.. Booker, were
then read. Mr.. C. Y. Thomas in his letter
says that, "uuder distress and pressure
during the war, Mr.. Booker may, and
ceptible of an unfavorable construction, but
which were we'll known and understood by
the Union men,"
Now, Just let me say to the House and to
you, MI. Speaker, that John Minor Bolts
preserved every letter that he ever received
up to the day of his death. When he died q
lot of old letters were burned, and among
others those of Mr.. Booker. But 4 senator
from Virginia (Mr. Lewis) saw the CORE.
spondeuce which was conducted between
Mr.. Booker and Mr.. Bolts during the time
Speaker, because in the South it was 8
great deal easier to he Il Union man after
the rebellion than during the time of it,
None Of your babies would do for that
Laughter.l Well, Ill that correspondence
and Senator Lewis has seen it-shows that
the sentiments of Mr.. Booker during that
time We're loyal.
| will do Mr.. Booker the justice to say
that he was Il very timid man, and | am very
sorry that he had anythingto do with send
ing supplies to the rebel troops out there,
But, us / have said, he was a timid
man, with a large family, and there was
great allowance to be made for him. He
would have done better to have acted in a
way TO show that he cared for no man still
I have not the least doubt as to his loyalty
That is my view of the case, and l hope the
House will admit this gentleman.
l do not feel much sympathy with the
gentlemen who have spoken ON this subject
on behalf of Vermont. 1t was long after
these events that Mr.. Tucker left Vermont
to come into the Commonwealth Of Vir
ginia, and he had no knowledge Of what
had been going on there. He came in after
the war into Fairfax county, and after thai
he emigrated into the county of Henry tc
run for Congress against this gentleman
believing that he could rely upon getting i
large colored vote. l think the House
should admit Mir. Booker. / have no doubt
they ought to do it, and l hope they will.