Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-09-19
BombshelI In the Camp Of
Malone.

A profound sensation was created in
the Old Dominion a few days ago and
CONSERVATION in the Readjusters' camp
by the production of the following letter
from Frank S. Blair, Mahone's candl-
date for Attorney General 1t was writ
ten by Blair during the last Presidential
fight, and as an expose of manufactured
zeal for a "free ballot and fair count" is
rich beyond measure. This damaging
document is as follows;
WyTHEvILLE, VA, October II, 1880.
" LeigH Wilson, Esq;
OEAR SIR You ask me what think
Of the chances of success In the coming
election. If we can carry the negro
votes with us we are all right; but they
are up for the highest bidder. You can't
trust them in politics any further than
YOU can with your pOcketbOOk after you
are out of sight. 1t would be better for
Virginia if we could get rid OF such
class, but as long as We can use them
in voting. all is well. | was never
in favor of the clause IN the
Constitution which let them in as cltl-
zens, but, since things have turned out
as thew now are, we must do all we can
to control the negro in the election. Try
to hold on to them by telling them that
the administration at Washington wishes
them to vote with the Readjusters.
Now. my friend, don't be uneasy about
The Republican ticket. They will have
votes enough without Virginia. Let the
-- Democracy go to hell and carry
Hancock with them. All we want is to
carry our ticket. Then we will be mas
tiers of the ground. Work night and day
with the negro, for he is very tricky.
Let me hear from you soon. Your
friend, FRANK BLAIR.
This patriotic production was read at
Democratic mass meeting in Wytheville
by Captain George D. Wise in the course
of speech. 1t appeared in the Rich
mond State, and is going the rounds of
the press of the commonwealth. The
Readjusters, recognizing the tremendous
effect it must have upon the negroes,
are labOring might and main to prove it
forgery. They have procured positive
assurances from prominent gentlemen
that they were satisfied that Blair did
not write the letter, and they are endeav-
Oring to have it appear second mo
rey" forgery. They had, in measure,
overcome the damaging force of the
document when fresh panic was created
by the action of Wilson, the party to
whom it was addressed.
Wilson, who is Readjuster Republi-
can, was, probably, relied upon to keep
dark and let Blair's vindicatiOn proceed,
or, perhaps, assist in it. Unfortunately,
some of Blair's friends went so far as to
charge that it was put up job, to which
Wilson was a party. This reused Will
son, and he has proceeded to demolish
the defense set up for Blair in the fol-
lowing trenchant card, dated Wytheville,
september IA:
''On Monday evening last learned
for the first time that Captain K. ). Blair
had publicly stated that the letters writ
ten by him TO me, and dated respectively
On the III anu I1Ln VI OCtODtIS 4OOOI were
fOrgeries. l also see it stated that | have
been paid money to produce the letters.
As soon as 1 heard of this denial took
the first train for Wytheville and arrived
here on Tuesday evening at $50 o'clock.
Immediately wrote to Captain Blair the
following communication:
'WYTHEvILLR, September IS, 1851
Can't r. s. BAR. / am here to prove that
you are the author of the letters read by
Capt George D. Wise yesterday, and
will be pleased to meet you in the morn
ing and give you the benefit of a public
denial in the face of the people Of your
own town. hear you propose to leave
Wytheville tonight, and write to ask
you not to leave before you see me. -
Very respectfully.