Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-02-17

Of lcT lldDlllLy lur TIC WnOlt. toU tuaI IL 10 q
question among honest, intelligent and thinking
people here whether all these questions had not
better be settled before assuming this debt, at
least, the question of the mutual responsibility
Of both divisions Of the State as partners in the
formation of this debt. If the general govern
ment, by the laws OF nations, is responsible to
foreign State bond holders for their claims,
Virginia in the general taxation, comes in for
her share of it. These seem to be the views OF
many of the people, though anxious to see the
most honorable solution of this difficulty, for
which we all hope that light may soon spring
up, and both justice, aud the honor OF the
State, be maintained. NERITAs
BRADLEY T. JouNsoN's STATEMENr-The
following letter appears in the Richmond
papers 81 never was cnplo, ed to aid the pas
sage Of the funding bill by any one in any man
ner, had no connection with it: was absent from
Virginia when it passed, and never saw it until
August last, when | lead it for the first time in
Baltimore.
was leading counsel to aid the passage of
what is known as the bill for the sale Of the
States interest in her public works my en-
ployment being to secure the sale OF her inter
est in the Petersburg railroad. insisted that
no one with whom was connected ShonId have
any thing to do with the funding bill, in any
manner, direct or indirect, and | AIN certain
that none of my associates had any such con.
ncctlnn.
Within a few hours after the passage of the
railroad I'LL, which occurred Oh Thursday,
was called to the 'llse where | was then
boarding by domestic duties, and never lett
it until left Richmond on Sunday to attend
the funeral Of member of my family, and
Il; al. he
Legislature adjourned.
During Friday, Colonel jenkins called on me;
stated that certain parties, whom he did not
name, proposed to employ him to aid the pas.
sage OF the funding bill, and proposed to pay
him some sum, 81 900 to $4,000, [ forgot
| which, contingent on success that as he had
been associated with HE in the railroad con
tests, he was unwilling to undertake such EN-
puymcnt without was associated with him.
told him was not in condition to be employ
ed; that such contingent compensation was Ut
tcrly out of the question, and do not doubt,
| though do not recollect, that some amount
was mentioned which would be an inducement
to undertake such business very different from
that offered He then left, and | never saw
him again for weeks. We had no understand
| ing that amy one was to be employed, for the
terms offered were not to be considered. Nor
did consider myself i'll amy manner interested
in the matter. The conversation did not last
| ten minutes in the hall of the boarding house.
During the day, however, he sent to me for Il
copy Of Il printed argument had written on
the subject Of the State debt, published in the
! Dispatch on the It'll Of February, 1871. over
my iuiraE:, which sent him.
[ left ON Sunday, and never heard anything
more on he hject until some tune after III
Raleigh received Il certificate OF deposit Ion
| 81 ,GOU from him, which he considered | was
entitled To on account Of the service the arSu
mcnt had been. had no understanding with
him or amy one as to any Zee | was to receive
for the argument and his payment to me was
purely voluntary. | should have been equal
| ly satisfied with half or nothing
The argument itself had been prepared some
time before with considerable labor as an in
vestigaton into "A novel and interesting question
Of law was inspired solely by interest as 4 citi
zen and lawyer in the questions involved, anu
was published by the Dispatch as Il communl-
cation and extensively copied, | believe. !
never saw the funding bill, as have said, and
never had any communication with any mem
Der OF the Legislature, direct or Indirect, on the
| subject.
Nv domestic circumstances We're such that
| | wonld not have accepted employment at that
time from any one would further state that
have never been employed for or against any
measure before any legislative body, save sim
ply and purely in the line Of my proicsson--to
wit: in preparing bills and amendments, argu-
nenls to be submitted to committees and the
body they represented, and supervising and
assisting the application Of parliamentary law
to aid in the success Of the object desired. -
Such employment in England aud in this coun,
try has always been considered in the very
highest line Of professional occupation. In the
former country it has been sought by such men
as Brougham and Scarlet; in America, by the
class at the bsad Of which were Clay, Webster,
and Chnate.
Beyond these limits have invariably de-
clincd to 90: within them ! 2;'iisiicr employ
ncnt most desirable
BRADLEY II. JOHNSON"