National Republican., 1881-09-14
The virginia Political Torgcrics,

The Virginia Political Forgerics,
The introduction of forgery as politi-
cal weapon was quite damaging in the
case of the Morey letter, sent out just be-
fore the presidential election last year.
The Wilson letter, rurporting to have
been written by Mr.. Blair, the Readjuster
candidate for encouragement of Nir-
ginia, will not be as harmful, for the
reason that Mr.. Blair has been given
more time to denounce it, and has
less ground over which to travel
than General Garfield had. The ten
der-hearted Bourbons were not as fond
of the Republican candidate for the
Presidency as they were of the Presi-
dent-elect, and they coarsely discredited
his denial of the genuincness of the
Morey letter as forgery. The Barnum
National Committee circulated Jdc>simi-
les of the letter, sending plates thereof to
all leading Bourbon journals, after Cen
eral Garfield had declared it forgery.
II remains to be seen whether Mr.. Blair's
letter will be met in the same manner.
The forgeries may have been actually
believed by the Funder orator to have
bech genuine letters when he received
and read them. But Mr.. Blair has now
set him right and we doubt if they will
be again thrust forward. The Richmond
Wing says:
'The proof positive of the forgery is in the second
letter, dated earliest, howcvcron the Sd Of octo.
tober, 1850: 81 will say here that honor never
bought brodkda." Where did that come from ?
| II was the grardmen Of notorious Funder charge
against Captain Blair which he had already de-
nounced as false! Was he likely to put Il In one
of his own letters2 Was he likely to repeat in
writing what he had already declared he had not
! uttered in speech? Preposterous!
That the other letter is q forgery is
shown by the fact that Mr.. Blair could
not have been at the place from which
it purports to have been written on the
date it bears, being engaged in speaking
in far distant locality.
On Monday las stated in our dispatches
yesterday Captain Blair addressed the
people of Wytheville, and denounced the
forgeries alluded to in fitting terms. The
Richmond Wing gives more extended
report of the meeting, from which we take
the following:
Captain Blair took the stand and read the fol-
lowing statement and aflidayits
"On Saturday last, while In Richmond Ell route
| for Buckingham to speak, l was shown letter
purporting to be written by me to w, L. Wilson,
dated l1th october 1850, (Which is now read), and
on next day, at Petersburg, saw another letter, of
| date Octobcr3, 1850 purporting TO be from me to
| W. Leigh Wilson "a copy Ofwhich Is now read. l
proceeded promptly to my home here, where to.
| day have seen and examined both letters. In
order TO put these letters beyond all question, de-
clare now most solemnly and sincerely tnat did
not write or dictate line or syllable of either of
said letters; neither the style nor sentiment EN-
bodied in these letters is mine, and need but
| appeal TO any of my acquaintance who know my
| handwriting that the letters are gross and un-
| blushing forgeries need but read some volun-
tary alidavits Of persons intimate with my writing
| "WYTIEvILLE, Va, Sept, 10, 1ssl.-We the under
| signed, have examined the two letters alleged IA
| have been written by Captain +. s.. Blair 10 one
! Leigh Wilson in october, 1880, as exhibited to us
by Hon. George D. WISE and We declare that there is
not word or line of either in the handwriting Ol
| Captain Blair, We are well acquainted with Cap.
| tain Blairs handwriting, and can make this state.
| mcnt without hesitation.
| "Signed by Robert Crockett attorney at law; D.
| G. Miller, Judge of Smyth County; William c. PEN
| dleton editor Patriot and Herald; George W. Ward
| jr., Judge of Washington County; Robert SOycrs
| member House Of Delegates from Wythe; ID. A. St.
Clair, Wytheville Htpa'ch; ". g. st. Clair editor
, NytheNlIlc DisputCh' >. l.. BROWNING, cnulflnul
county committee; j. NJ. Painter NJ. D.; S. II. Say
| crs. NJ. D.; james 7. Mcreer Judge of Wythe
County G. w. Cornett, Judge of Grayson County
The foregoing was duly sworn to by
each signer before an officer authorized
to administer oaths.
Captain Blair concludes his statement
which was formally signed by him, fol
circulation, MS follows.
Now, In the sight Of Heaven, and with all o
the solemnity of an oath recorded there, repea
that at no time, TO no person, nor at any place, die
/ write either of the named letters will let
| fair and just people determine whether this mode
of warfare Is to be approved.
Forgery of II mans name to infamous
sentiments is new system of warfare.
The party which is so desperate as to re-
sort TO it has not long to live.