The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-07-09

mond papers OF the LIST inst:
RICHMOND, VA, Both Juue, 1874.
4 To the Editors ofthe Dispatch:
| No little discussion having appeared in tn
| newspapers over the supposed contents of cer
tain private letters, writtenby myself.
have gone to much trouble to procure the O
| iginals and now place them at your disposal
| l scarcely have the time, and never the incl
nation to engage in such discussions. No
| do conceive that it is incumbent on public
official to notice assault upon himself through
the press especially when they are. accompan
led with proof, relate to his private correspon
dence, and emanate from those who never hae
| any connection with the matters they seek to
make puplic. 1t is, therefore, with reluctance
| that, under the exceptional circumstances Of
this case, yield to what seems to be the wisl
OF my frenrs and the public in giving publicity
! to all have known in the premises.
have nothing to recant in connection with
these or any other letters of mine-public or
private. To-day stand, as have consistent
~ stood from the beginning, to the clear mean
ing OF these letters fairly construedr They
were rapidly dashed off under the pressure Of
constant and onerous engagements they were
written with the unguarded confidence and a.
bandon with which one gentleman addresses
his private letters to others who are his warm
supporters, and were dispatched without copies
being retained.
q These particular letters were thus written in
view OF the 'sproffer Of reconciliaton'' held out
IN the third resolution Of the conservative plat
FORM The first letter was part of the effort
then being made, and in good faith, by thous-
ands OF leading Conservatives to avert or neut-
rallze the opposition of the Federal administra-
ton to our State ticket in the late canvass. 1t
was Written with special reference to then
impending evil which threatened Virginia with
SOI1tf, Ma = 4
our CIVILIZATION. This is treated as the most
appalling OF our then impending evils; the
third term is assumed and implied to be anotll-
er evil; the two evils are contrasted, the one
with the other, and it is declared in effect that
IN choice between the two the third and even
the seventh term were the less and the better
OF the two evils for us. 1t is position re-
peatedly declared in better and more explicit
terms before the people in the late canvass, and
one which [ re-avow today
Ihose who have been my daily associates
well know that from the time the suggestion
OF third term was first seriously presented, I
have habitually and pointedly opposed it as a
proposition considered by itself. When my
own name has been more than once proposed
IN connection with scheme or plan of third
term ticket have in every instance promptly
repelled the proposal, refusing to be counted
IN any calculation or to make myself party
to any political movement not sanctioned by
the organized action Of the Conservative party.
lhaue neuer supported, and aoiW not support an
candidate c:. tc::;;y office aoAo RMS c1aatra,y to
ne decision oragainst the regular NOMINEE Of
Me party, MY views as often and uniformly
expressed, will now be restated:
A third term violates one of those traditions
and eAamples-unwritten laws-whicIl in free
country constitute some of it's bet bulwarks of
liberty. In the language of Mr.. jefferson If
some termination to the services of the Chief
Magistrate be not fixed by The Constitution, or
supplied by practice, his office, nominally for
years, Will IN TACT become for life !; and history
shows how easily that dcgenerates into an in
heritance" 1t was the proclaimed idea of the
great statesmen OF Virginia, who mainly found
ed the American Government, that any DEPART \
ure from the rule which limited the incumbent
to two terms, would be attended with stipend
GUS peril to all the institutions of the coun-
try. And the opinion has been eversince held
by the most trusted statesmen of all sections,
that the usages, as settled by Washington and
jefferson, Is hardly less strong in moral obliga-
tlon ana authoritative force than constitution
al inhibition. L do not believe the country can
remain IN its present abnormal condition. We
are going to have either popular self-goyerl-
ment OF central Imperialism. Intend to stand
for the liberty side as long as fragment of it
remains. am opposed to a third term for the
reason that, notwithstanding the past, have
falth In the cause Of constitutional free Gov
eminent. But oppose some other evils still
more. One of the cruelist calanlities which
could befall all classes and colors at the South
would be the social intermixing of the races
to result from the enforcement of the civil
rights fanaticism and barbaris1n, and it is hard
TO conceive what greater evil than that could
De involved in any possible revolution of the
Government
II the future should bring forward a candi-
date lmpersonating a third term principle il |
ne should cut loose from old party tra1nmels |
and take his stand ON our safe Conservative |
Of universal reconciliation and |
peace nnder the Cons-ituton-and if SO stand |
lng ne should De opposed by any champion Of |
Ehe clvll-rlghts lniquity, then in contest be- |
tween the two the Conservative party ought in |
my opinion, to go decidedly, but as an organ
yea party and not otherwise, for the third |
5ermer-yet with protest on their lips against |
5he third-term principle and in spite Of that |
principle.
Having to touch this subject, it is but fair
% 60 through with it, and to develope all 1 |
know as bearing upon it, in any of its rela-
ions. 5l1
Early in December last, desire, spontane-
ously expressed, that l would call and see the |
PRESIDENT was conveyed to me orally from the |
1est sources duly appreciated the courtesy.
Ind felt an inclination to accept it. A yerv
eW days afterwards, 1 came to Richmond. |
.uvlseu VIII a NUMBER OF very able and lead
ny conservatives, as to my duty in the pre-
nlses, and as the result of such conference. / |
men made up my mind and then fixed and an
bounced to many friends my determination to
make that call.
On the 3lst of December I returned to Rich /
mona, and after my arrival on that day finish
"a writing my inaugural message to be trays
nitted ON the LIST of january.
Inc message went freely and fully into the.
uDJect OF the relations of the Conservative par
y with other parties and with General Grant.
I insisted upon maintaining the integrity and
of the Conservative party as then
md new organized 1t alleged that The Con-
ervatlve party was under no ties or obligations I
shich bound or identified it with Any existing
l "a party, but was independant of them
". 1t set forth the principles of the Conserv-
1--WE party with emphasis; asserting that we
meant firmly to adhere to them even to the ex-
ent OF supporting all who supported them. and
opposing all who opposed them, It argIled
nat all good men OF all parties could pronerlv I
ome over to Our ground and find room enongh
o stand on, but it clearly excluded all idea
ND all possibility of the Conservative party he
ng carried over' to and merged in any other
Existing party. ~ o''AsA
Inc message commented freely on the third ii
esolutlon OF the Conservative platform which,
Ike every other part Of it, conteniniates The
maintenance OF the party as an inelenendent{ (.
rgahlzatlQn. The long and short of that reso-
utlon, as then repeated, is that as a PARTY We
We VIII wage no factious opposition to General
irant; that we will fairly and ;nnartiailu
lld0e him nv his actionc ~ lf. .ii-.J 4