The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-03-17

tnOrltY from General johnson. lt waS
liberty took with him as n warm per-
sonal friend, feeling we'll assured that be
would sanction my act. L wish merely TO
add that ii by my assistance General john
sons services could have been secured to
the State it would have afforded me the
greatest satisiaction-a satisfaction height
ened by the qualification felt and expressed
by his friends and mine in Warrenton when
they thought such was the fact.
Respectfully, JAMES KEITH.
The foregoing statement, so fer as it re-
lates to facts within my own knowledge, is
correct, and in go far as 1t relates to facts
not within my own knowledge is in strict
accordance with the cortcmporaneous &C.
count given me Of them By Judge Keith.
WILLIAM l.. ROYAL.
Richmond, March Is, 1879.
LETTER FROM W. WRIT HENRY, ESQ.
RICHMOND, VA, March Il, 1879.
10 The Public:
In view of late publications in the city
papers, deem It but sheer Justice to the
Governor OF the State that I should make
public what passed between him, the At
torney- General, and myself IN relation to
the employment of General B. r. johnson
rs counsel for the State in the matters grow
ing out OF The late action Of Judge Rvcs.
have no desire to be connected with this
unfortunate discussions; but having be-
come accidentally possessed OF the Cover
nor's construction Of his own action before
any controversy had arisen in respect to 1t,
and approaching the deIicacy OF his posi-
ton, simply perform Il duty in writing
this letter.
On the last day OF the last session, as
remember, | WIS told i'm the House
Of Delegates that Judge Robertson
had been selected by the Governor
to assist the Attorney-Genera under
our joint resolution. Seeing him on
the floor [ expressed to him my gratitica-
ton at the selection. and passing out start
ed to the Governors mansion, in consc-
quence Of message I had just received
from him. In going down the Capitol steps
l overlook General Field, and remarked to
him that had just heard that Judge Rob-
crtson was to lie associated with him in the
Rives case. He replied, land General
johnson also" asked him whether their
personal relations would not render their
association disagrceable thinking, OF course,
OF the suit OF the State against General
Johnson, which had been advised by Gene
raj FiclAD. He replied that there was moth
Srccahi1, and lie wps not aware OF anything
on the part vi General johnson. Our paths
diyerging, we separated, after short con-
versation; and when | entered the Cover
nor's house l remarked to him that l had
Just heard from the Acknowledgement that
he had appointed Judge Robertson and
General johnson to assist him in the liveS
matter. The Governor expressed surprise,
and said ut nhce it was mistake; that he
had only appointed Judge Robertson, and
considered in doing so that he had fully
performed the duty required OF him by the
resolution, and that he had left everything
else to the Acknowledgement and Judge
Robertson. The conversation soon turned
to the matter he had desired to sec me about,
and in short time l returned to my seat
in the House. During the day General
Field came III and took seat by me, saying
that he feared that what he had said to me
had produced wrong impression. He
went on to say that the Governor had only
appointed Judge Robertson; that having
been informed by senator that General
Johnson desired to appear in the case, and
was willing to do so without charge, he and
Judge Robertson had talked the matter over
when they met for consultation, and had de-
termined to invite General Johnson into their
conference. that lie had met with them, and
had sLown great familiarity with the deci-
sions bearing on the questions involved, and
that both lie and Judge Robertson were
satisfied he would be OF great value rs an
associate. Hc said General johnson would
bring no charge against the State for his
services, and mentioned Judge Keith rs we'll
as the senator as authority for the state
mcnt; but he did not desire that fact to be
mentioned unless General johnson himself
desired it 10 lie made public. My imprcs,
sion from these conversations was that The
Governor had left General Field free to act
rs he deemed best, and that lie and judge
Robertson, upon consultation, had deter
mined to invite General johnson TO take
part with them. When saw the Governor
afterwards he asked me if had seen Gene
raj Field again, and l told him | had, ana
that they were agreed in their statements.
Several days afterwards l met gentleman
who told me that after had left the Govern
or's house on Monday he had been requested
by the Governor to see General Field and say
to him that he had made wrong impress
sion on me, and he desired him to see me
and correct il. This message, am sais-
fed, caused General Field to seek the in
teryiew with me in the House.
1t is proper thai should say that since
the publication OF General Fields letter in
the IFhig OF the 10Th l have talked with
him as to what passed between lls, and his
recollection is that he mentioned to me IN
the House that the Governor desired that
General johnson should be asso ciatcd with
him. / have no recollection of the fact, but
OF course General Fields memory may be
correct and mine at fault. OF this, how
ever, | am very sure, that the impression L
had from that interview was that it was not
any act Of rbe Governor which determined
General Field TO invite General johnson
INTO conference, but it was the result OF the
consultation between himself and Judge
Robertson, and with that impression l then
told General Field that | thought he bad
done right in giving General johnson the
invitation.
Certain it is that when I told Governor
Holiday that he and General Field were
agreed ! thought that they were agreed that
he had in no way brought about the asSocIis-
ton OF General johnson with the case by
any act or suggestion on his part.
To prevent any possible misapprchcnsloh
Of nv position in this matter it Is proper for
me to say that had nothing to do with the
selection OF counsel under the resolution
never having mentioned the matter to the
Governor or Attorney-Gencral until allef
had heard the selection had been made, anu
then only accidentally. Respectfully,
". w. HENRY.
Roll OF Honor AT THE RICHMOND HIGH
ScuoOL.-The following is list Of the pu
nils on the rolf OF honor at the Rlchmont
High School for the past week:
Senior Glass: Ada Anderson, Farnl'
D.ll, I,,bp SnIlio f,nlpm1n lmODff