The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-10-21
Gen. Wickham Speaks.
CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO R. W. Co., J
OFFICE OF SECOND VICE PRIEST,
RICHMOND, VA, October 4,

/
| RICHMOND, VA, October 4, }
To the Editor Of the WHIG
Sir,-It is with regret that find myself compelled
again to ask you to statement made by you
| bearing personally myself.
In your paper OF the I'd after printing certain
constitutional clauses that were passed by the
called underwood Convention, and invoking theat-
tention of your readers to ''ther wde salIembrac-
ing, savage and malignant scope" you say 'sSucn
was the policy favored and advocated by Gen. Wick
ham in 1862
In this you are mistaken.
When this Constitution was passed by the con-
venton and was about to be voted upon, / went ID
Washington and obtained interview with Gen.
Grant and placed before him my views OF the in
justice and unwisdom of those provisions and sug-
gested as the only mode OF getting rid them
submission to a vote separate and apart from tho
rest OF the Constitution. Gen, Grant, who was ap-
parentiy entirely posted upon the whole condition.
OF the subject concurred fully with the views
pressed by me. He afterwards ordered the separate
election, and the Objectionable clauses de-
feated.
SO much for that.
u here are other points In your paper Of the I'd
inst. in regard TO myself, in which you mista-
ten, they are OF merely political character
let them pass but beg leave make brief allusioIt
to the subject OF my letter of 1865 Franklin
Stearns, Esq, to which you have called public at
tention.
Had you have printed the whole letter so that
your readers could have drawn their own deduc-
lions from the whole text of IL, should have said
nothing in this communication in regard to it, bus
with your comments upon 1t, 1t is due to myself
that L should say that no letter wr1ttelL
with more honest purpose of benefting the people
OF Virginia than was that;-fts object being in
uuco tHeln 10 Throw OH gloom that was crushing
them down, to take more hopeful view OF their
condition, to accept the situation. them
selves for the eXertionS necessary to recuperate
from the shock and losses resulting from the war,
and to develop the material interests State,
and to urge them resume their proper affection
FOR their country.
There is word in that letter inconsistent with
The position which took in my address to my con-
5t1uents before the election members of the con-
vent1on OF 1851 inconsistent with my declaration
when taking leave OF the convention take the
airy company Of which had the honor to De cap
tain, Into the army OF Virginia: .'that went with
the full conviction that Mr.. Lincoln would be n
t1rely Justified In ordering to be hanged for
treason should be captured, but that L should
share the risks and dangers OF the along with
the people amongst whom was reared
Now, having done this, do see that anyone
has any ground to censure me because did not
crush out from my very mind and soul the political
convictions and principles for which had from my
earliest manhood commended.
In short, sir, the object of that letter was my
purpose has ever since been, endeavor to bring
about that state of feeling between the whole people
OF th1s our common country, SO eloquently and pa
expressed by Gen. Garfield, when i'll
speech in the House of Representatives delivered In
January, 1876, he said 'gfowards those men who
CALAMITY fought in the field, cherish the kindest
feeling. feel sincere reverence for the soldier
qualities they displayed on many well-fought battle
Held. hope the day will come when their swords
and ours will be crossed many doorway of
ancestors with pride, The high qualities display
cd in that conflict now belong to the whole nation
Let them be consecrated to the Union and its future
peace and glory. l shall hail that conservation as
pledge and symbol of our perpetufty.''
nope sincerely, sir that shall not again during
The present canvass have to ask you to allow to
defend myself against errors in your paper affect
Ing me personally which am sure arise solely
from misrepresentation of facts.
Very respectfully,
WINS. G. WIcKHAM.