The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-11
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.

In the House of Delegates, on Tuesday
last Mr.. George O. Round, delegate from
Prince William. sent the following extract
from the Petersburg News to the clerks
desk and asked leave to make personal
explanation
'Mr. G. c. Round. independent" of
Prince William county, who has gained q
brief and unenviable notoriety for himself
by his opposition to the Petersburg char
ter, first saw the light of Heaven in New
York. He came to Virginia as an agent
Of the Freedman's Bureau, and was one
of the most Jealous assistants of that
'Ohistian soldier General 0. 0. How
ard. When Virginia was Frustrated
beneath the iron.clad heel Of military
despotism, Round received an appoint
ment as commonwealth attorney
for Prince William county. When
be lost that Office he was made postmaster
at Manassas, and in that Office remained
until he came to the legislature, being then
under Grants order compelled to resign it.
He was elected as an "independent;" the
white people of Prince William-at least
some of them-would not vote for the
regular nominee because of his views about
the removal of the courthouse to Manas-
sas. They have now the satisfaction of
knowing that their representative Is Civil
Rights man. and Radical of the deepest
dye"
After the clerk had read the above Mr..
Round said:
Mr.. Speaker-The extract just read bv
the clerk reminds me Of ''little story"
When Culver, the great French natural-
ist, was preparing cyclopeda of natural
science he had student assisting him,
who, in the absence of his master, came
to the word ''crab," which he proceeded
to define as follows:
"Crat- A fi,b, of red color, that moves
backwards When the great man re-
viewed the work Of his assistant, having
read the definition referred to, he ex-
claimed, "Young man, that is an excellent
definition, an excellent definition. have
only three criticisms to make on it. In
the first place, crab is not fish in the
second place, it is not of red color and
in the third place, it don't move back
wards"
Mr.. Speaker, it is evident that the Pc
tersburg press knows about DIS much con.
corning the history Of my life as Cuvier's
student did concerning the natural history
VI tlo Cidus luc ilISt CuaiSo hSdiiiSt Luc
is that first saw the light Of Heaven in
New York., Now, Mr.. Speaker, have
the highest respect for the great Empire
State. that stretches from the metropolis
of this continent to the great lakes OF the
West, Had been consulted beforehand,
! might possibly have chosen New York
as the place of my birth. Candor, how
ever, compels me to acknowledge, Mr..
Speaker. that | was very young at the
time, and that my recollection of that
august event is not particularly vivid.
But from the best information have been
able to obtain, it is not true that I first
saw the light Of Heaven in the state Of
New York.
The second charge brought against me
is that "came to Virginia as an agent Of
the Freedman's Bureau" This is entirely
incorrect, as nerer toas connected 10Th the
Freedman's Bureau IN any capacity schat-
erer.
The third charge is, that l served my
county as commemorative attorney I'M
der military authority. The facts are, Mr..
Speaker, that withoM any request or
knopledgs on nay part General Stoneman
sent me q commission as commonwealth Is
attorney Of Prince William. King George,
and Stafford counties. ! declined the ep-
pointment in King George and Stafford,