The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-03-17
A STATEMENT FROM JUDGE R. w.
HUGHES
A Chapter Of Personal and Political
History-An Appeal from the Sec
tional to the National Wings
NORFOLK, 10 March, 1881

Editors of the Vauey Vayiaian.'
My DEAR SIR:-The Democratic press of
Virginia have been exceedingly kind and in
dulgent to me for several years past, and
hold the fact in most grateful appreciation
There has been single exception, however,
to the general rule. One of the Democratic
papers of the State, edited by an old line
Wing, in commenting, several weeks ago, upon
some report it saw OF conversation / had
with General Cameron, INDUCED In the follow
ing strain of remark:
1.-THE time was when Judge Hughes was one
of the straightest sect of the State Rights
Democrats. He was so straight that he
leaned over and became what we called in
1861, a secessionist, per &c. AS one OF
the editors of that extreme organ of the
Calhoun stripe, the Richmond Er0naa1aer,
he was the antipodes in politics of this writer,
and it not unfrequently happened that we diff
fered IN toto ce0lo, with that fiery organ of
State Rights, State Sovereignty and secession,
with which we hardly entertained any politi-
cal sentiment in common. And So, it seems
very strange to us, that we, a conservative
Old Line Wing of that day, who resisted the
Interpretation put upon the Virginia and Ken
lucky resolutions of '9S and '99, and the right
of secession alike, should find ourselves to-day
classed with political Bourbons, and this same
Robert w. Hughes, a high light in the pro-
gressive Republican party-the party of cen
tralization and the advocates of a strong Fed
eral Government. But wonders, it has been
well said, will never cease. Judge Hughes
speaks of the present Democratic party as a
"national nuisance" &c. So and so says this
old Democratic secessionist, who went out of
the Union before breakfast and made haste to
get back before dinner and has fei at the pub
Tic crib ever since"
If the tastes and ideas ofeditors inspire and if
their readers permit it, l have no objection to
this sort of writing about myself, except that
it is essentially untrue. If it were true how
ever; if had indeed been flaming secession
ist in hot haste to rush out of the Union "be-
fore breakfast in the morning." | should have
no contrition now over such a fact of the past.
Even editors act in general on their convic-
tions at the time; and If they subsequently
find that their course has been mistaken, the
discovery may bring regret, but can bring
no self reproach. If their course has
been wrong they best appease sound con-
science by changing and reforming. Wheth-
er a man is right n0ao, that is the true
question, and discussions of what and how
wrong, he was twenty years ago, may be
subject for banter, but is rarely a subject of
profitable controversy. And SO l have never
been at much pains to correct such statements
as those above That am not sensitive on
the subject is shown by the fact that although
they have been repeated in the State thOus-
and times or more, in the last fifteen years, l
have contented myself with making but an
occasional and unobtrusive denial Every one
feels averse to recounting his own history to
the public, and will submit to a great deal of
misrepresentation rather than do it. Certain
editors and orators have been in the habit Of
riding as hobby this idea of my having been
a fiery secessionist but have had no DISPOSE
ton to interfere with their amusement. He
would be churl indeed that could disturb the
play of those who can find enjoyment in the
riding of hobby horses. | am approaching
however, an age at which one naturally de-
sires, if he is written of at ALL to be written of
correctly and in the interest of historic truth
but not in self defense or apology, desire to
state what [ really did, and did not do, in the
deplorable business Of secession. Being out
of active politics forever the time would seem
to have come for such statement to be made.
That report of my conversation with Gen.
Cameron at Richmond, was written at Savan-
nah, Ca, week afterwards and published in
Philadelphia. 1t is hardly just to hold me to
either the letter or the temper oflanguage thus
indited, which I had not seen either in the
manuscript or the proof Sheets
In the beginning, let me assure you that l
never said the Democratice party was ma
tional nuisance" No such expression is to be
lOuuu LII GuO pTluGcu vi iuy COuy Clod-
ton with Gen. Cameron. l never entertained
such thought, or uttured such sentiment.
The two great parties of this country are great
patriotic Institutions the two main pillars of
the constitutions the two best conseryators OF
our free system of government. But one and
the other is partially wrong in some particu-
lars; they could not differ and both be right !;
but where wrong they are in result usefully
wrong and where right they are embodiments
of the principles of free government. am not
one of those who believe that great parties are
necessary evils. They are the reverse OF evils ;
I they are essentials to popular government:
| They stand sentinels upon each other; and
though apparently hostile, are real coadJutors
emulating each other in patriotic public ser
vice. The national democratic party is one OF
these noble institutions, whose career useful and
! honorable in the extreme, has been illustrated
| by some of the greatest names that American
history can boast That it made great mis-
take of policy twenty years ago cannot be de-
MED and it has paid the penalty for it, in
exclusion from power. In its long inexper
fence of power thus lost, it has also lost the
art of governing the country, the. genius O
practical craftsmanship, the talent OF command
ing success. But these will come back again
with its accession to power, which may not bt
a remote event. / have no complaint excep
against a branch of this party; that branch
which after secession was inaugurated, ruined
the South, and is continuing upon our section
a policy of isolation, impoverishment, decrepl
tude and decay The national party is any
thing but national nuisance; it is nationa
benefaction. especially in keeping the Repuh
GOD ho4,o