The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-09-20
DIR MoGett-


from Rockingham county on the side OF the
yindictiYe agitators. We confess that we
had at one time the hope that be would JOIN
the party OF the Commonwealth which Ia
Yors the debt; settlement. We did think
that he would haye the wisdom and indie
pendence to initiate The patriotic example
OF the Rockingham Register, and so for the
maintenance OF the debt settlemen5of last
winter. We were justified in hoping for
this; because his conversation lest: winter
was almost tautamount. to pledge'that ne
would oppose the repeal Of the bill. Whtle
we did so hope we never felt that he could
be trusted implicitly. We were palned T."
ho ,es..p.i.ot, 10 put So l!tCle trust IN him.
Therefore, while we have been dlsap-
pointed, we can say most sincerely that our
disappointment has not been great. =. q.
1t is plain now that MALONE had him oy
the umbilicus, and bis hold upon him was
too strong to be shaken-of.> We know him
well. He has much facility OF discourse,
and is quite fertile in expedients and ma
neuvring. With little more backbone
he would be a more useful man, and, we
are sure, happier one. We have never
.kaewn-so. clever a man. mentally speaking,
who was so much distrusted as DR.. MOI
FETT. On the question as to the public
debt he has been SO uncertain that his most
intimate friends, never knew where to put
him, and at last be has illustrated that ia
tality which almost always falls to the lot OF
such undecided men as himself. He has
"come out on the wrong, side" - We
fear that is ever to be his fate. He
is popular man, and Rockingham
is to be pitied in the oft.repeated danger
she has OF sending a Representatives IN the
Doctor, who Is so little to be trusted The
doubt that has 80 long continued about his
opinions has caused his friends to drift from
side to side in stating his views until, they
were true weather cocks OF the shifting
winds Of his mind. His extreme. indecision
is such that he has been suspected time and
again of absenting himself from the halls OF
legislation TO avoid vote. He remained
away long time one winter, it was su9-
pected, to avoid vote, and made his APP
pesrance soon after the question had been
settled. We rather suspect public opinion
did the Doctor injustice, for he was absent
under the plea Of ill.heaItb, and we would
not by any means say that it was affected.
But he has no doubt himself discovered that
his peculiarities naturally gave rise to suS-
picions OF his motives frequently. -. u.
The. feeling towards DIR. MoFFETT is uu.'
questionable kind, with all the doubts. that
attend upon him.. He has been in, the
habit Of holding with the hare and. running
with the hounds. He has coquetted with
the Agitators and ripped with the, Repu-
diators, andin the midst Of his strange ca
pers has been employing his most artful
methods to induce the Legislature to adopt
his +" Moffett puncb." or register. So ne
wenti0r "revenue" while cavertly help
ing those who desired to defeat rese-
nue., or : he assisted them WINE
coYertly pushing his :" Motfett regis $.
ter" BY which he hoped to makeia rev
thousands ,of dollars--i. e., with the MOE
FETT patent. And such was the kindness
towards the Doctor that the Legislature
adopted his patent Notwithstanding what
We WI, Till to, BE better patent-was brought
into competition WITH bis, and would have
Ireyailed but for tue personal efortsfof the
silyer-tongusdi repre- sentative Of Rocking
ham county. That same Z, ompeting register
has obtained some advantages the Doctor
Ia some of the southern States, and the con-
test between The two Is still going OH
&. DR.. MoRsETT has certainly confused his.
friends very, much. and occasioned no little
Esronble. We shesldi be much concerned
about the matter but that we have had "a
great deal Of experience, and know that
mentlike the. Doctor have their day, and
that they wind UP without influence, and
are therefore: not capable Of doing great
deal Of harm. ssisS t,.,i, s..,;st !,sl