The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-06
who killed cook robin ~
I. Ssid the sparrow, .
Killed cock robin
With my bow and arrow

Editors UtSDutcb: IneTe seems W NC q
lively discussion going on as to whom me
credit OF originating the "new movement 7"
in Virginia that led TO the formation OF the
so.caled Conservative party In 1859
properly belongs, and there seems to be
quite a number OF claimants for the DOUBT
fuI honor. Ii Is said that Sir Walter Scott
had prepared himself to write history, but
becoming convinced that al history was
fable turned his mind 10 the production OF
novels, or fiction ''based on history" For
a very long time Sir Isaac Newton was
credited with having first discovered the
great law OF attraction OF gravitation. And
so our Fulton was accredited with The
"invention OF steamboats," and our Morse
with the invention OF the telegraph.
II il now generally known and be-
leved that these claims were not well
founded in either case. Newton added
something to the sum OF human knowledge,
but not much. Fulton was not the first to
apply steam to the propulsion OF boats, nor
was Morse the first to discover the principle
involved In biography. These ideas were
not new. The manner OF their develop
ment, calculation, and application was the
only novelty 10 either case. But who shot
cock robin? That Is the question. The
Whiq SAYS 1t was General Malone. aided by
certain allies, both Democratic and Repub-
IIcan. The Dispatch says II was the
COMMITTEE OF Nine" Colonel Ruffin says
1t was Franklin Stearns and John Bacon
Crenshaw. and Mr.. Crenshaw says it was
Stearns, Gilmer, and Crensh1w, and the
writer is very much tempted to say ditto,
Mr.. Burke. and would If he could do so
truthfully; but be cannot tell lie." you
know, as be Is writing history, and there
fore will tell the truth as be understands it.
IL so happens in tins world that no one
man adds much to The sum OF human know
ledge. We live to learn, and learn as we
live. Evolution and development Is the
order Of creation. 1t is really strange that
our memories are so short on matters OF
such grave moment as would seem TO have
been involved ia this matter. III YOU VIII
take the trouble Of examining the files OF the
Wing during or for April and Nav, 1867
more than eighteen months before the
movement that led to the appointment OF
the " Committee OF Nine" late in December,
1SGS-you will learn that great many per-
sons, mostly Old.LiUe Wings, believe, in
different parts OF the State, had committed
themselves to even more advanced ideas
than those advocated by the COMMITTEE
of Nine" Public meetings were held in
different parts OF the State, and one notable
one at Petersburg early in May, 1867, in
which resolutions were discussed and
passed, promising full compliance with the
reconstruction acts OF Congress in letter
and spirit. and the formation OF Con-
stitution for the State fully embodying
all that is now claimed as right. by
Republicans, and certainly all that is
now demanded by the Wing and the
party at its back. The names Of
the parties engaged in getting these
meetings and in passing these resolutions
do not now remember. The Wig seems
to have been their chosen mOuthpiece, and
that paper, being less cautious than its con
.frereS, favored the movement, and, as was
afterwards informed by the then editor, so
seriously put its foot in il that il was forced
to tack about to save itself from the NAL
influence OF its untimely position. The
public mind was not yet ripe for such ac-
ton. You will discover. however, from
this reference that your maledIction thrust
at General Malone fell harmlessly at bis
feet. Your article was evidently written in
ignorance OF what had been done by more
than one VirgiDian previous to the defeat OF
Mr. Seymour for the presidency, in 1868.
The movement Of 'GS was the second wave
in the great current OF popular opinion,
much weaker than the first one, and, as
Colonel Rufiin trutbfuIly says, the "Com.
mittee OF Nine" was great failure, and
was so regarded everywhere in the State
long before the great tidal wave OF March,
1869, had its origin. And now as TO the facts
involved in the true movement, as | under
stand them. And here let one say, once for
all, that i'm its origin the whole credit OF
this movement, il credit 1t deserves, is due
to Franklin Stearns. He it was, at any
rate, who first proposed it to me, which he
did some weeks before the meeting OF the
Republican Convention at Petersburg,
early In March, 1869, and was one OF the
"guests" at his house on the night after
the meeting OF the said Convention, and
after the "sDlit" to which he refers in his
letter TO you. lie formulated the idea du-
ring the night, and in the morning, at his
request, Colonel Charles S. Lewis and
committed it TO paper. Armed with this
platform he at once went to work TO put the
machine IN motion. In day or two he had
secured enough names to his movement TO
give promise OF success. lie appointed
committee OF fifteen, composed mostly OF
Republicans, but partly OF parties who had
proposed TO accept the situation fully. |
had the honor 10 be selected as chairman
Of this committee and James W. Lew
ellen was made secretary. John Ba-
con Crenshaw was an honorable, earnest
member, whose services were invaluable 10
the cause. From this time forth no one
knows better than who deserves the credit
OF the movement. The part il became the
duty OF Mr.. Crenshaw and myself to play no
one else could have performed under the cir
cumstances- lam not going TO attempt TO re-
cite the whole story, but will say that it
was through our action that Colonel Rufio
and others were brought TO Washington
and to see the President. MFR. Stearns
acted only on our suggestions. IL was
through our labors that Congress passed
the enabling aet that gave as the right to
bold an election that year. And this, in
my Judgment, was the turning point In the
whole transactions. IL we had failed in this
we would have fsiled In everything. am
claiming for myself no credit for the part |
played. for whilst 1 was governed in all |
did by what l deemed a patriotic purpose,
am not sure that the whole movement was
not premature, and that 1t would not
have been better In The end II
reconstruction had been delayed 10
the following summer. am not sure that
the public mod was quite ripe for the move
ment, or that we would not have learned
more financial sense by one years delay, at
least.
And now word as. to General Malone.
IL surprises me that any one should dispute
bis agency In this AFFAIR. He could not have
lone what the Republicans did; but II Is
fue 10 The truth 10 say that the Republicans
,outd have done nothing without MIN. The
Committee OF Nine were not known I'm the
'ase. General Malone was the power be-
lind the throne which was greater than the
hrone and an anL nnnladead - -. -