Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-03-19
The Richmond ImbrOgliO.
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE.
RICHMOND, March Is, 1879.

ample set me by two gentlemen 80 olstlnRulsneo
as Judge James Keith, ofthe Warrenton circuit
and Mr.. W. W. Henry, of Richmond city, tor
whom entertain feelings of the highest respect
and consideration. saw and read their state
| nents in the Dispatch of yesterday. Judge
| Keith declares his is written at the request OF
the Governor Mr.. Henry. his, from sponta-
ueous apd generous impulse to Vlndlcate the
Governor from what he esteemed an lOJu;tce.
| admire the friendship of the first, as we'll as
the cbiIValrous impulse OF the last.
| OfJu3ge Keith's statement, have not one
word to saw except that, coming from one of the
ourest of men az we'll as one of the ablest Judges
ut the State, it is worthy of all scceptatioo.'
| Hil not claim that it corroborates every state
1,ent Of ny recollection. lest il should be sap
Gosed that did so 10 spirit of controversy.
[ leave the public to draw the proper COO
| cusion.
or Mr.. Henry's statement. a,d especially of
bis references I should MOI bavs one word to
soy tu for the fact that be undertakes to sd-
Judge hist great irjuslics has been done the
Governor. and then 60 framing his statement
doubtless 20. designedly) as to lead the public
10 he conclusion that l vas tho author OF the
Injustice
| do not propose 10 b. Condemned by one dis
charging the functions oil both ju1ge aud witness.
Such Is 60: according to.the principles OF the
common law.
Tie statement OF my first Interview with MIR.
Henry, Us made by himself. is substantially cor
rect. When he remarked that he "had jus,
heard that Judge Robertson had been associated
With NE 10 the Rives cases" prompted ny noth
lug 10 the world but spirit of frieDd.hip.) ir
, stead Of replying yes, and no more, replied.
land Geo. Johnson" Upon the authority OF
this response Mr. Henry tells u that "Whep be
catered the Governors house he remarked to
/ the Governor that be bad just heard from the
Attorney General that be (the Governor) had
: appointed Judge Robertson snd Gsn. Johnson
10 ss:i.t IN the Rlves matter. This Confessed
lapse OF memory, on the p ,rt OF MIR. Henry 10
walk inc from the Capitol steps to the GGv-
errors house. period OF not more than two nlo'
o., will render It extremely unsafe 10 rely upon
, the accuracy Of that memory 10 recalling much
moro detailed statement OF facts. after the lapse
Of two We: ks ipstead of two mioutes. OF the
conversation bad with Mr. Henry 10 tae House
of Delegates he hes not been able 10 recall one
=. itou, save, ooly, that ted bin that
: he was mistaken in stating to the Gov
/ ernor that had told him that he, the Governor,
r had appointed Judge Robertson and Gen.
johnson 10 aid me in the Rives cases. then
! said that l waited him to understand dis
,inotly tho circumstances under which Gen.
johnson was Invited into the case, and repeated
to him, as we'll as could, the statement made 10
, others, ard which substantially is that cootooed
10 my article to tho Wing Of tho llth March.
, 1t is but lust to Mr.. Henry to say that while |
vas making tho statement to bin ho seemed
oppressed by the responsibilities OF State legls
, lstion, ard while be gave me his time. be gave
what was going on in the House his attention..
During my conversation he was upon the fJor
: more than once. OF this l do not complain,
fur what was my loss was the State gaill-
, When LEFT Mr. Henry, 1 felt conscious that
, though had made the effort had utterly
failed to make him understand what had pass
,, cd hctwepn tho Governor and myself about
bringing Gen. Johusoo into the cssss. Mr..
Il eDry refers TO the fact That since the publ.
c4ton Of my letter be bad talked with me as
10 what passed between US in the House" &c.
Duricg the argument Of the suit of the State
"a. Jcbnson. Poo & Poe, 10 the Circuit Court
cf Richmond, which commenced on the 18th
Instant, and only closed this evening at six
G CLOCK, and 10 which [ have been engaged and
almost entirely absorbed from 10 o. N. to or
court room, think on Thursday last, and ask
cd mo whom I would be at my Office. 1 replied
that | expected to be here during recess. He
said that be would call at 81 o'clock; that the
| Governor bad called upon him to make state
ment and that he wanted to read it to me be
; foro be handed it 10. told him very we'll. -
he cid Dot call at my Office as promised. About
~ o'clock ho again came to tbs court room aud
called ME cut. He read over bis statement
) told him that so far as it referred to our in
tervicw in the House, il was wholly incorrect,
aud did not reproduce single fact that tran
spired. He replied that bis memory did not
ensb!o him to recall them, as l then stated. |
told him that was not surprised that he could
ing TO him in tho House that did not have
bis attention. He rerliad that he wOs very
sorry. told him it was not matter of much
Consequence, and that be had better make his
statement according to bis own recollection and
1ithout any reference to the interview re were
then having. [ understood him to say be
would do 30. Thi. ends my review Of Mr.
Hsury's statement. [ however append the
statement ct several gentlemen to whom com
uuuicatcd what understood the Governor as
saying and wishing. l shall not questioo tho
right of any one. nor Of every one, TO speak of
matters of mere memory. But when the juds'
ment is pronounced, aod tho memory 10 Vouch-
cd for ils justice, l beg to say that. like tue
Ghost OF Hamlet, lit comes 10 such question
aba shape, that must speak to ii.
ID clcslOR t0lS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Hulcu suaii
DC my last, must again protest that there is
oot ard there will not be-, any question of vera
city between Governor Holiday ADD myself
GU memories may often bs at fault; our inteD:s
;lons never Neither do thick MIR. Henry
has dono ME Intentional wroDg. l therefore
eurreat my friends. and respectfully request all
Others, not 20 do anything that seemingly 40
tss onz ne With either of tho above usued
go9t!emcD. JAMES II. FIELD.
p. ST. will be obliged to the papers pub
lishiog Mr.. Henry's statement to publish tnis
! also.
RICHMOND. March IS, 1879.
Attorney General James g. Field:
| Dear Tir-Your uote of this morning is ct
hand. Your statement 10 your letter OF tho
l.h of March f The interview between US 10
regard to the retention of Gen. B. I. johnson
as associate counsel 10 the matter Of the Rives