The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1873-10-23
[Co rrsspondence of the Valley VirginiaH.)
Historical References.

Mr.. Editor.-From an article in your val
liable paper, of date the 9th inst. | learn
that, in q recent speech made at New Hope.
In your county, Hon, A. Fl. H. Stuart claim
ed for the celebrated Committee of Nine, or
as some Of the Richmond papers were wont
to call it, at the time, by way Of derisien,
the s'Tuneful Nine," that it had obtained
from General Grant the privilege OF voting
separately on the Constitution, expurgated
Of the two obnoxious clauses, by which Vir-
ginia, as, be assumed, had been saved from
desolation and degradation; and you seem
not to dispute the justice of the claim. AS
you will remember, Mr.. Editor, another dis
tinsuished gentleman lGov. Wells.) during
the Gubernatorial campaign in this State, in
1869, laid claim to the same distinguished
service, and declared that it was he, and he
alone, who brought down the bird. Now, I
would not for the world deprive either Of
these gentlemen of any honors to which their
services justly entitled chem but the old
adage says "the truth should be told though
the heavens fall )" and am compelled to-
declare, therefore, that neither Of the gentle
naen named had any but the rensotess agen-
Hcy in the matter, and Gov. Wells none,
whatever, except to approve of what had
bee1, after he found that it had been deter
mined upon. And Galilleo, with his tele
scope, is as much entitled to the honor Of che
discovery Of the grand theory of the force of
attraction and gravitatiou, which all the
world nave attributed to Sir Isaac Newton,
from his day to this, as is Mr.. Stuart and his
"Committee OF Nine" to the service claimed.
With your permission, Mr.. Editor, will
state few facts, and leave you and your nu-
merous resdes to determine TO whom tie dis
tinguished honor of the service belongs
Mind, | make ne claim for myself, and sim-
ply write to vindicate the "truth of his
tory"
It so happens in this world that no one
fast is absolutely independent Of some other
fact. Something is always preliminary or
precedent to something else. And this is
probably what Solomon meant when he said
there was nothing new under the sum-
In this sense the COMMITTEE of Nine" did
clay part, I way say a necessary prelimina-
~, but remote and indirect part, in the
great achievement. The developments of
popular opinian made in the State, during
the winter of $3.50, which Developments
we're probably FASTENED by the discussion
over the action of said Committee, led to
division in the ranks of the Republican par
ty of the State, on the very points contained
in the clauses Of the cons titution referred to
by Mr.. Stuart, which divisf on finally culmi-
mated in the formation of the "True Repub-
lican committee" (of which haa the honor
to be made chairman) and the nomination of
Col. Walker for Governor against both
Wells ald Withers-which nomination here
[ will take occasion to say, was solely the
work Of Mr.. Franlin Stearns, for I knew not
o.. Walker, and regarded the points to be
made az by far too important to be entrusted
to entirely strange hands. Howbeit, after
[ had seen Gel. Walker, and heard his views
(Which he took two OK three occasions, du-
ring the day, to declare, saincide1 precisely
With my OWN surrendered my objections,
and gave him my earnest and hearty support.
But to continue. claim that, whatever
honor is due for the secursment of the priv |
llege Of votiag euen at all on the constitution |
that year is due solely to the true Republi- |
can Committee, and a few outsiders who al !
dsd in the good work by their presence
For the truth Of what I here assert, ! will |
refer to Messrs. stearns, F. G.. Ruffin. J. B. |
Crenshaw, Lewis Mckenzie, P 7. Sutton, |
J: W. Lewellen, and Major A. R, Courtney, !
III Of whom may be reached by letters to
except friend Mckenzie, who re-
sides at Alexandria What part I, as an in-
dlvidual, played in the transaction will APP
pear whenever it becomes necessary that it
'hould-not before. am prepared, howev-
or, to give the whole programme, step by
step, and even the words that were spoken,
Whenever such statement becomes necessary
tor the vindication of the truth.
No, MIR. Editor, it was not the. Committee of !
Nine" who did the great work for tho State,
but committee Of the much abused native
Republicans, or so-called scalawags, led on
and assisted by such non-nativss as Mr..
otearns, and other worthy gentlemen that l
might name, who did it. And I will tell Mr..
Stuart another secret It will be these same
True Republicans, aided by the great Virgin
"a public, native and non-Dative-black,
white, grizzly and gray, who will elect Col.
Robert W. Hughes Governor next month.
Mark what say.
Respectfully, &c.,
G, K, G1LMER.