The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-02-05
Communicated
A Card.
To the Governor, the General Assembly, and
the People of Virginia:

A Card.
To the Governor, the General Assembly,. and
the People of Virginia:
When I was an inhabi.ant of Petersburg.
and in daily intercourse with my fellow.citi.
zens there, / never condescended to notice
the criticisms Of newspapers upon my pro-
fessiopal conduct. But under existing cir
cumstances, in order to prevent injustice, it
is probably my duty to repel the attacks
made upon me in the Petersburg papers of
the I'd, Sd, and 4th OF February instant, al
though in so doing ] concede to malignity
the satisfaction of knowing that it has with
deXterous cunning given me pain by the
wanton wounding of the feelings OF my
"cenerable and respected father " and Of
other members of family whose happiness
Is very dear to me.
In The line of my professional dnty have
engaged with the corporate authorities of
Tue city Oh Petersburg to furnish to their
committee advice and legal information re-
speeding bill introduced into the Senate of
virginia 10 provide Il new charter for the
city, and to give them opinions. verbal or
written, as they might desre-with refer
ences to authority-to be printed and circu-
lated, or otherwise used by the committee
as they might choose. ! positively refused
to lobby" for or against the bill, or to make
any personal effort 10 influence the opinions
or votes Of members of the General Assem-
bly,. Indeed, advised them to refrain from
any effort in that direction whatsoever, mas
much as the passage of the bill was purely q
party question, and they could have no rea-
souable hope of success except by candid
appeal to the good sense OF conscientious
senator's, able and learned enough to COM
prehend the constitutional objections to
which the bill was liable, and manly enough
to vote according to their convictions with
out fear of the party Lash.
l advised the committee
|. That the bill as introduced was uncon-
stitutional.
II. That it was unjust.
III. That it was, in the present state OF
our D. litical controversies with the Federal
Government, impolitic.
w. That it would not probably pass
either the Senate or the House of Delegates
and
v. That if it should pass both, Governor
Keluper would be bound to veto it, for all
three of the reasons above suggested.
VI. That il it should be passed over the
Governors veto, and become an act Of AS
sembly, it could never be law, at least SO
far as its unconstitutional provisions are con.
cerned. And under this head l have ad-
vised the committee
1st. That so far as the special bill may be
held by the courts unconstitutional and void,
it will not avail against the general laws for
the government OF cities under which the
city government is now being carried on.
I'd. That the gift to,the ''city Judge" Of
unconstitutional power is wholly void, and
that appointments made by the judge under
such usurped u:hority--uSurped, because
assumed by him against his constitutional
duty not TO touch forbidden fruit-Will be
null and void.
Sd. That appointments made and warrants
for money drawn by such illegal creatures Of
the city Judge will be null aud void.
4th. That the people Of the city of Pc
tersburg, by electing Il Council, and Mayor,
and Treasurer opposed to unconstitutional
usurpation, will have the power, by cls IN.
ertig,-by the power of repose-to paralyZe
the efforts of those who try to usurp their
constitutional rights and liberties.
5th. That the unconstitutional authorities
will have to proceed by nsanoan1us, or other
aggressive legal process, to get possession Of
the city government, and that they cannot
such usurpation until after the
9th. advised them (the committee) to
exhaust all power Of petition, remonstrance,
protest, ndappeal to the General Assembly
and the Governor to prevent the passage of
an act which could only involve the COM
munity they represented in endless lawsuits.
confusion. and unceI tainty.
For these opinions and this advice, which
l decline to defend here, and for which l am
but not to the newspapers OF
have been arraigned and as
sailed with all the venom oil disappointed
and battle d malice.
To iujure my credit and reputation in
my new home, they have inra-
ded my private affairs, and published the
facts:
1st. That owe debt In Petersburg, for
which judgment has been obtained and exc
cution issued.
I'd. That my tax account for S247.75, due
1st October, 1878, is not yet paid. And herein
they bear unwilling testimony that so far as
assessment is concerned was O substantial
taxpayer.
Sd. That endeayored to secure my pro.
fessional earnings, while in Richmond, to
creditors who bad trusted me in Richmond
upon the faith Of those earnings.
That these publications are painful to me
and those love admit; and SO far malice
has its revenge. This invasion and publica-
ton of private citizens private affairs may
be q matter OF taste. But Of this tact as
sure all parties willing to be responsible
that even the impersonality Of editorial
columns will not protect the individuals, the
private persons behind them, from the con-
tempt and disgust Of all decent people.
john LYON.
Richnlond, Va, February 4, 1874.