The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-11-18
.YaIR.CoUNTv FRAUDS.
Address from Mr.. Massey Ciaim'nH inc Se"'
IN Congress. and Proposing Pinn TO secure
a.. ex;a.uce Of Frauds Praeticed By the

the Evidence OF Fr""os
CoaIifionists. -
To the Conservative Democratic FoferS o.
Virginia:
Fellow iIizens,- political cam
paign which closed on the .til Oh No'en,,
her. 1882, will be lsng remembered as one
% he most important, both a TO it, char
oc,cr and its consequences, which was
ever made In this Commonwealth, ana L
congratulate you upon the gallant nght
vol, made. and the great benefits when
must result from your patriotic devotion
IN those principles upon which free repre-
sentative government must rest.
You may be denied the privilege OF reap
inc the lust reward OF your labors Tor
hricf period. The State 'canyassers, or
Returning Board" will, suppose, give
Contoin John s. Wise certificate OF
election rs congressman at large from
virginia. II l could believe him fsirly
and honestly entitled to it-that he was
elected by a majority OF those who were
LEGALLY entitled to yote-I should bow TO
the popular will without murmlr. This,
however, no intelligent man can believe
after calmly and impartially examining the
evidences OF fraud and illegality which are
being furnished from almost every county
and city in the state.
These frauds were not the results OF
thoughtlcssness, ndiscretion, or haSty, I'M
pulsive action, but OF mature thought and
determined purpose.
Shall VIC tamcly submit to them and
allow their perpetrators to enjoy the bene-
| fits OF their own wrongs!
answer. emphatically, NO.-anu
I believe y0u win endorse the answer.
There is beroism in submitting quietly
and meckly to Affections, and even wrongs,
which we are unable to avoid OF redress,
Int we forfeit all claim TO sympathy or re-
sDcct when we tamely surrender TO them
without using legitimate means 10 relieve
ourselves of them when those means are
readily available. Ii submission under
such circumstances might be eXcuSabc
when its consequences only affected lis in-
diridud{lu, il cannot be so when it dam
ages Others as well as ourselves and i'm
pcris liberty itself. The frauds which had
been planned before and were consun-
mated on the day OF election were wrongs
not only against each OF us individually,
but against the whole State. 1t therefore
becomes our imperative duty to ourselves.
| TO our families, and to the whole State, 10
EXPOSE these frauds and to save ourselves
and our country from their evil conse-
quences; and appeal to every good ciii-
zen OF Virginia 10 aid in this patriotic
work.
Not having the shadow OF a doubt that
have been elected congressman at large by
a large majority OF the legal votes east on
the eth instant shall certainly contest the
right of Captain John :. Wise TO seat in
the next Congress of the United states if
he receives a certificate OF election as such.
1t will be impossible for any one man to
perform the labor which Il contest in the
whole State imposes in the limited time
allowed for conducting it. | must there
fore rely largely upon the voluntary assist
ancc of friends throughout the State. |
have ample assurances that this will be
cheerfuly rendered. This assistance, to
be valuable, must be intelligent. active,
systematic, and prompt. | therefore suS-
gest that
/. The Democratic chairman OF each
county and city secure the appointment Of
judicious committee in his county or
city, one OF which committee shall be 4
competent lawyer.
.. That this committee appoint some nc
tive and competent person in each town
ship OF it, county or ward OF It's city to Oh
tam ana luIlllNU 10 IL tUii iHlOl HidtlOI Va
every case Of fraud or illegality committed
in The election.
8. That this committee put the inforna-
ton thus obtained in proper form, con-
densing it aS far as practicable, and for
ward il and the name OF some competent
lawyer who will assist in taking deposit
tions in his county or city to Hon. a. VI.
Kelley, Richmond, Va.
BY the adoption OF this or some similar
plan we shall be able to act syst matically.
And by thus dividing the labor it will be
comparatively light upon all, and can be
quickly performed.
Other States have set us noble examples.
Their eyes are now upon Us. Shall we
dsappoint their just expectations, or show
ourselves worthy descendants Of our illus
triOus sircS?
Your obedicnt servant,
JOHN +. MASSEY.
| Ash LdUn, November j., 1882.
The papers throughout the country are
requested TO copy the above.