The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-10-18
card from J. III. III. Fissat.


Editors Dispatch; / arrived in this city
last evening on my way to Yorktown, and
read IN this mornings Wing card from
II. II. Riddelberger, which double obli-
CATION requires me TO answer nj once.
The card is a vulgar and scurrilous at
tack upon me personally, and 1t is another
step IN what believe to he determined
effort to deceive the people OF Virginia in
order to influence the result OF the present
political contest.
As n the bearing upon me personally"
it Is. / presume, clear that even upon the
principles OF "the Code" j should not be
required now to challenge the writer, who,
prior TO the publication OF his card, was
smarting under at least two personal
attacks published in this city, both oil
which.under "thc Code" required notice
and action from him. II he is engaged in
meeting these he probably has his hands
full az present, and II he intends to eYade
the issue In these contests no recognizer OF
"the Code" is under any further obliga-
ton 10 notice him. But il Is perhaps in
cumbent on me TO say at once that do not
recognize "the Code" being professor
OF the Christian religion. Not that l ON a
non-combatant in the general sense in
which that word is used; for stand ready
to maintain my principles and my honor
at any hazard, and to defend them, II need
be, with my life.
As 10 the general character Of Mr.. Rid
dleberger's card, | have TO say that the
suggestion that l attempted to avoid re-
sponsibility for the late publication in the
Dispatch signed by Messrs. Mcdowell,
Goodwin, and myself, by placing my name
in the middle, Is simply puerile. These
two gentlemen and myself prepared the
statement together, signed IL together, are
ali three principals, and are all three Jointly
and severally bound for what it contains,
and are all ready to maintain 1t. Such
filings do not come with very good grace
from one who-as the people OF this Com
monwealth believe, and as believe, Mr.
Editor-was engaged In bringing out the
charges against Major Daniel and George
ID. Wise OF completely in an infamous
fraud, from place Of supposed safety be-
hind the name Of another, and who has
Just been publicly dragged from his con.
cealment by one Of the gentlemen who wa
not bafied by the sham disguise.
In general reply TO Mr.. Riddleberger
desire to say deliberately that we who
signed the communication published In tho
Dispatch received the information therein
contained, and we believe ii TO be true and
the conclusions drawn therefrom 10 be cor
rect, and upon my return home in few
DAYS ] propose to furnish TO the public
some part OF that "indisputable proof
which Mr.. Riddleberger processes to desire
A part of this proof will be the change
In the demeanor OF Thomas J. Wilson an(
Of Robert r. Mays towards Leigh Wilson,
their conduct towards him that day, the
meeting of Riddleberger with Leigh VIII
son; that Leigh Wilson went to the Office
and asked II Mr.. Riddleberger was ready
TO see him, saying that he had an engage
ment with him; that he was referred Il
his room, and apparently went there; tha
the party with Riddleberger, IL not Rid
dleberger himself, called for more private
room, and that It was furnished to them
that they were in that room some tim,
with Wilson; that Riddleberger ordered ,
quantity ofliquor 10 be sentupto them; tina
Leigh Wilson came from the hotel and tolt
Major Mcdowell, DIR. Goodwin, and mysel
what we have stated in our communication
TO Mr.. Kelley; that still later another per
son who was In the party at the hotel said
"We have got old Leigh all solid again,
and " old Leigh" demured thereto anC
said, "Damned il l have gone back OF
anything yet" Proof IL In existence
though II possibly may not be obtained fo
publication, Of other facts that Will caus,
the ears Of the Readiuster party TO tingle
II Is hardly worth while TO notice tina
Dir. Riddleberger denies, and in the denis
ccniesses the truth OF what he elegant,
terms "Lie No. l (" Of the Dispatch com
manieation. II Is certainly said that Rid
alebeger hid refused to speak to Leigl
wilson after the publication Of the Blai
leners. IL Is eertainly true that Thoma
wilson and Judge Mays had nothing 20 d.
WIN Leigh Wilson during all the time h
was IN boteionrt up to that Monday, 0cto
Der lOth, ana Dota made up with him tina
morning, and Mr.. Riddlebergcr met hin
also, aud not only spoke to him, but shool
hands with him and addressed him by hi
first name; and IL that Il not {" cordially meet
ingc q man who had been short time be
fore denounced by the whole Readjuste
party as q forger and liar, we do not uu
derstand free cordially in Virginia.
IL may not be improper, Mr.. Editor, I
!. note that Mr.. Riddleberger in his card nc
where denies thas money was paid or pre-
missed at Fineastle to Wilson for his reear
tation, nor even that he (Riddlebergel
knew Of its payment or promise, but onl
denies that be (Riddleberger) suggested 0
thought Of suggesting, &C., any such con
celebration for the Wilson letter. And
should be equally borne In mind that on
communication does not charge Dir. Rid
dlebeyger with the payment That scmI
such payment or promise to Wilson, at thi
time and under The circumstances set on
. by ne, was made, have no sort Of doubt
As Ia the insinnstlons In the card thai
I wrote or was the instrument Of VIII
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