Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1878-06-20
A CARD.
To the PuJEtc i:


of the United States in 1872 Gov.
Vance and many Of his Jealous
friends have waged an unjustitiahle
warfare upon me-sonetimcs open
ly-sometlmes covertly-wholly
unworthy of that gentleman and
unmerited by myself. Unwilling
to parade my wrongs before the
public when | could avoid doing SO,
anxioHs for The harmony of the
Democratic party, the quiet Of the
people and the promotion of the
general welfare, have silently sub
milted for more than five years TO
gross detraction, misrepresentation
and insolcnt jecrs and taunts. choos~
ing TO rely upon my character and
conduct, both public and private,
for my sure vindication. My si-
lence has been rniscoustrued by my
adersaries. The have taken advan-
tage OF it-in view ut the approach-
| ing August election for members Of
/ the Legislature, and the election of
my eucce ssor in the Sel.ate in Jan
uary next Xt-and have OF late renew
ed their assaults upon me with such
violence as mauitests the wicked
purpose to destroy me, ii possible,
IN tie esteem of my fellow citizens.
Forbearance in this respect on my
part, long since ceased to be vir-
tue. have submitted quietly long
enougfl-perhaps too long-to such
calurnnics. In defence Of myself,
in Justice to my friends and the
people generally. | teel called up.
on to- .ake some notice of the false
and untounded imputatinns made
against me. | am averse to and
deprecate such Il controversy, but
venture to trust that, under the
circumstances, | shall be pardoned
for engaging in it now only in de-
tence of myself.
Daring the time have been IN
the Senate, matters AND questions
of the most complicated and embar
RAISING character, and many of them
| of grave moment to the whole coun'
try and particularly to the Southern
States and people, have come be
fore that body Tor consideration and
action have voted rpon all, and
discussed, TO Il greater OF less extent,
most of the important on S. 1t
could hardly be expected tnat L
would make no mistakes. l am,
however, gratified to know that no
serious objection has been taken to
my course of conduct rs Senator.
| have endeavortd to serve my State
and people and the whole country
faithfully, and | cha lenge the clos
est scrutiny of my conduct and re-
cord. think [ can truth;ul.y say,
that L have not neglected the bnsi-
ness interests of any one. rich or
poor, white or black, and without
regard TO party affiliations, when
the same have been brought to my
attention and | might he properly ly
charged with them. And while |
have paid due regard TO the inter-
csts OF the country and particularly
those of the people whose ;nmedi-
ate servant | am, [ have been ever
faithful to the Democratic party
In matters OF substance there seems
t" be no complaint or ground of
compliant against me.
The single charge against me,
that l have heard of, is alleged in
subordination to the Democratic
caucus in the Legislature in 1872,
on the occasion OF my election to
the Senate Of the United States ;
and in that connection, collusiun
with the Republican meu.bers III
til" Legislature t. secure Their votes
for my self fiol Senator.
This charge flatIy deny It is
utterly false in substance and dc
tail, and challenge any one to
produce anght III proof of it.
1t has been said, and often re-
peated, that those Democratic geu-
tlcnen in the Legislature who sup
ported me for Senator and mysel
'.boltcd" the Democratic caucus.-
r This is not true, and those who sa,
So, either do not know the facts, q
: they are unacquannted with party
usage and practice; or they wiitull,
rervert the truth. In fact, [ ex-
pressly refused TO submit to or b.
bound by the action of the caucus
and the gentlemen referred TO re-
fused 10 20 into or be bound by il
or its action, because it had bee
"parked" by Govern Vance =
Governor Vance told mo in plai
terms, and did not deny it after
wards, that lie had majority Of tn
caucus pledged TO vote for his non
D ination tor Senator before the canc,
assembled. He stated in term
4 that he had for months "electioneer
ed as hard as he could" to secnl
ID such pledge. | complained the
thar | had been grossly misrepre