The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-15
Reconciliation of Repudlation.

AS piOuS and decorouSiy CIVIL TeJectlon
OF all suspicion Of reputation, the follow
ing passage in MAHoNE's -" Defence" adj
dressed to the "bondhoIders OF the Allan
tic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad Compa-
n.y." is particularly pertinent at this juno
ture. It is dated Goth January, 1877. Gen.
eral MALONE was at that time endeavoring
with all his art and statistics to induce the
"bondhoIders" to lend him some more
money or give him the benefit Of an extern
sion OF time. His situation grew so neces-
sitous that he made trip TO Europe, and
there exploited himself PERSONAL---VERY.
gerry, hat, and also that he became very
much observed individual on 'Change.
But, though the capitalists were curious as
to his "personal pulchritude," they were
not induced to lend him more money, and
indeed were reported to have remarked that
such solicitor for loan in Thread-Needle
street would hardly succeed In effectipg it.
The reader will admire the earnest and
deprecatory letter at such time. 1t reads
thus:
"Any charge that I have ever given en-
"couragement to the policy OF State repu-
(" diation is utterly and unqualitiedly false.
"There lives no man who can truthfully say
"that he ever heard me give utterance to
single word which could de tortured into
"the reputation OF Virginia's just obliga-
"tions.
HThe people OF Virginia have been di'
stvided in opinion as to the rightfulness OF
"the funding bill; but this question did not
..inyolve reputation any more than il
"would be involved in any question as to
s.shc propriety OF funding past-due obi.
"gation. Ny friends both in and out of the
ale sislature have been upon both sides OF
Hthis question, as has been that portion oil
"the press which has seen fit to endorse the
"policy OF our company. Certainly 1 am
"not to be held responsible for every opin.
"ion which may be entertained by those
"who agree with me merely as to the policy
rwhich should govern railroad between
"Norfolk and Bristol"
Unquestionably it might be fairly inferred
that one who so completely repudiated al
suspicion OF any inclination towards repu-
diation would be decidedly opposed to thai
thing. Not man In London would have
been warranted in supposing, after such Q
disclaimer, that General MAHONE inclined
to such a reSdjustment OF the claims against
Virginia as would have denied the right OF
the bondholders to become party to the
settlement CT their claims. at that time
General MALONE was hard-run; so much so
that he took run over to Europe to see
what help be could get from the bondhold-
ers. 1t would be an interesting matter to
see what the trip cost the company and how
little it made for them.
The General got nothing, and returned
disgruntled, out OF temper, and quite in
dignant that some Journalists had said that
his mission was failure. He convened the
directors Of his company and had talk
with them, but was rather reticent as to the
results OF the mission. He said, in sub.
stance, that he might, after he got rested
and things were better settled, say some
thing more In detail about the matter, and
adjourned for future discussion.
Now, then, In about six months after
this he felt that he merited the honor Of
!. Governor for bis successful administration
40 president o. arailroad at $685. 900 salary,
and Issued Is pronnnciamentot to the public,
inashich bis chief claim TO public 3approba.
tioa was bis opinion about tho public debt
and the Justice sof repeating the funding
blu and cutting down the debt under a
theory which be put forth styled Y enforced
eaalty, which Esyeryb body sonstrued 10
neaR ths settlement OK the debt without tue