The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-15

The CAUCUS LAST NIGHT Defeat o
the BdIdicia SHIRT Gefstlenaan---A Traitor
Doom" Or Ryeo Gone to tie Tomb O
Me Copulas-Mdy Peace Attend Him.
The election by the General Assembly
foreshadowed by the caucus last night, Q
Messrs. Mcdonald, Taylor and Rogers, t
the offices which they now respectivel,
hold, is in every way the proper thing t
be doEe; for each of these gentlemen ar
courteous. capable and honest, as wei
as in accord with the political powel
which elects them, but the lgnominious ex
pulsion of George Rye from office is still
more proper and meritorious act of politi
cal justice. The only title which he eveI
had to the office, was that which Judas IL.
CARROT had to the thirty pieces of silver.
He sold himself, got his price in hard
money, and, like his prototype, has now
gone ito his own place." 1t would per-
haps have been better, certainly more credi-
table to him, to have gone and hanged
himself as the other did, for. by doing so,
he would have done all in his power to-.
wards relieving his character from the utter
blackness which now shrouds it.
The virtue of repentance he might have
| INDUCED in, the atonement of the suicide.
was within his power, but obdurate, in
sensible and graceless to the last degree, he
neglected the great example set hin, and
died without making even Judas Iscariot's
stonement: t.
Behold the aged sinner goes g-l a.s
Down the regions OF the dead i.r
With endless curses on his head"
The leading facts of the history of the
deceased are these: ''Born of poor but
honest parents" he early became an Abo-
litionist, when to do so was esteemed 4
disgrace; which was probably the reason
why he continued one for the long period
of forty years. Not fit for, nor inclined to
be, asoldier, with slender means and feeble
capacities, the war found him in q menial
service in one of the Departments at WASH
imgton. Having, however, subsequently
been severely punished in the public streets
of the town where he was best known and
appreciated, he became ambitious for some
political employment that would secure
him home, as well as the means of living
elsewhere than at Woodstock.
The meeting Of the Constitutional Com
yention IN 1867, found him candidate for
Secretary Of that body, to which office he
was, by the Efforts of men who subseq lent
ly received employment under him, duly
elected.
Early in the spring of 1868, by the liberal
donation of the small pilferings which the
prolonged session of the Convention afford
ed, he succeeded in having his name men
toned, by comparatively few and msig-
niticant number his menias, as roba-
babie candidate for the Office of Governor.
at an election which everybody knew was
never to be held.
Subsequently, because there was no.
body else willing TO take the office of Trea-
surer, during what was supposedto to be only
temporary vacancy, occasioned by the
suspension, not removal from office, of
Colonel Calvert, he was, by General Scho-
held, appointed Treasurer, which gave to
nun the only importance he ever had in
public estimation.
About this time, Tor within year after
ms appointment rumors began to be cir
'ulatcd to the effect that considerable sums, !.
n "black mail" !" had been levied by the
ireasurer's office, or by some one in it, ..
ipon the Richmond banks and Insurance !
as condition for hsving the de-
'osits of State funds, which then had be- !
,ome to be matter of large Importance. )
And the investigation which followed
inereon, dld not. In any degree, increase
ne declining harmony then existing be-
RrnuDllrAn
fficials.
Chosen by others, or sell-appointed, as
e was, to wait upon General Schofield and
thers, to urge that il would not do to al
ow the disfranchisng clause to be stricken
rom the constitution, he, with Col. Hum 6
hreys and others, visited Washington in i
ne winter OF ls6S-69, for the purpose of v
efeating Col. John B. Baldwin and his v
OF nine in their famous attack S
pom Congress. - d
1t is remarkable what the power of a
hirt has been upon the great characters in Il
ne worlds history from time to time.- h
me nero, when clad III his immortal shirt, |
le work OF the seven sisters, became in o
lsible; so 1t was with him whose obituary t
e are now penning. On the occasion re- Il
'rred to, and while in Washington, his il
men having become soiled, sour Rye" c
orrowed shirt, the property of some one p
the committee oil nine, and the magic of h
ne garment was such as to transform the
oolition advocate of an iron-clad oath into
he tool and ready instrument of that noted s
of nine. lie grew, too, with T
vitality in an incredible space of n
me INTO the true apostle of Democracy.-- o
other words, he sold himself as Arnold ?
nd Judas did, before him, for fifty lucre; t,
G changed his coat, denied his master and
lasphemed his faith, ON condition that he
lould be made State Treasurer for Vir-
mia. i
The purchasers kept faith with him, ful. 8
lied their bond, gave him the pound of
esh, but no more they used him during
he period just ended, and now, dishonorcd,
,spised, and disgraced, thrust him, like y,
~ other shameless bawd. into the public u
rect. 81
For the man, we have no malaci nor any
'gret, and only mention, thus briefly, his J
retched career, and now point to it as @
'lemn warning to all other men and wo- a.
zen whom the devil may, at any moment.
inpt to barter their faith, principles. or p
ouls for office, for station, or profit. =
The example and effect produced upon al
nblic morals by continuing an individual o.
public office, especially one of great re-
and trust, who VIGOROUSLY OBJ
lined his position and preferment by polit- Of
al treachery, is gross and demoralIzing in b.
le extreme. We are glad that the black st
'ot in the board of State officers at the 81
apitol has been wiped out. Il
We feared, when we recently saw the 81
tate Treasurer's lying statement as to the ol
,ndition of State finance, and especially pl
lat part of it which referred to the Fund ia
hat l.