Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-08-30
Col. Ruff in'sLetter. TO General
Malone.
[Copy.I
RICHMOND, August &c, 1891.

Gen. Wm. Malone, PeterSburg:
DEAR SIR.-On visit to my son
William Roane Ruflin last Saturday
he told me of a conversation he had
lately bad with YOU on the subject OF
| late circular issued by you as chairman
of The Readjuster State Committee. IN
which you require every one OF our
candidates Tor the Legislature TO sign
pledge to ABIDE the action Of the Re-
adiuster caucus of the Legislature. In
that conversation, and speaking OF my
protest against such a pledge, be un-
derstood you TO express some little sur
prise that 1 had not coupled my re-
monstrance with some saving clause as
to your good intentions; and l address
myself mainly TO that point 10 this let
ter. In the relations OF mutual good
viii !, which am happy to think esiao-
llshed between US, certainly would do
nothing voluntarily winch, properly un-
derslood. could at all intact them. In
this particular case thought of writing
TO YOU: and declined to do 80 upon de-
liberate reflection; because-lst. As
an humble and uuobtrusive member OF
the party, l did not wish, by writing a
strong protest-and 1 could write no
olher-against your action, 10 appear
TO dictate 10 you, our main leader. ac-
knowledged and preferred as such by
rne. ID. Such a letter might have
proyokcd discussion, which could do no
good, because l could not hope to
change your views, and my own were
fixed as to the impolicy of such a
measure, whether viewed from the
standpoint of abstract right or sound
and wholesome policy. Sd. doubted
| it. with your heavy correspondence,
YOU would have time to read even the
suoerscription Of my letter.
Nor would / write now, except to
assure you that my previous silence
has been in no sense sulen or the re-
suit of hostile feeling, and though it is
due to candor to say that | deny your
right 10 interpolate in the platform
what the party did not see BIT 10 put
there. and that l consider your require
ment a grave mistake in various ways,
indelensible on any ground whatever,
and inconsistent with your proper re-
fusal 10 90 into caucus OF the senators
of the United States on either side, yet
I do not propose to discuss these ques-
tions. as no good can come OF it; but
merely to say that as | did not care 10
obstruct. so did not choose to conceal
nv views; on the contrary, preferred
that YOU should know them, and that
therefore | took occasion to mention
Them in the presence OF two friends OF
vours-Mr. Thomas II. Cross aud Mr..
r. F. Walker-lrom one or the other
of whom | expected-jusily, it seems
that you would nave report OF what l
SAID.
As Il expected that report TO be iull'
I look care 10 express myself IN TIC
strongest way | could, that you might
know what other people would say.
The next heard Of the matter was
in a letter from my son, telling me oi
YOUR letter 10 Judge Gregory. Where
upon l wrote and gave him the argu'
ments as they presented themselves to
me. an TO be sure that gave them TO
him correctly, l showed my letter to
Mr.. REYNOLDS, Mr.. Massey, DR.. Wing,
Mr.. Ward, and Que or two oIhers-by
all OF whom every line OF it was APP
nroyed. That letter authorized my
son 10 show you, If he thought proper
Be, ond these gentlemen mentioned
the matter to no one, because did not
want tue Fuuders to get hint or hold OF
as GOOD a campaign document as l
tbonch and still think-lhat circular
would be for them, both against The
parry a0d yourself.
Aud this is about all | have 10 say
on the subject, except to warn you, as
a friend. OF course, not to attempt 10
elect men under this pledge. II The
caucus influence Is attempted 10 be
nsed next winter 10 any other than the
customary way, it will be resisted; and
particularly will it be resisted If 1t shall
be used TO compel the Bureau officers
of the Capitol to accept as clerks the
nominees of caucus. And the discon-
tent thus excited may create a schism
which we eau Ill afford, and which, in
, view of other complications certain to
I occur, 1 fear the party cannot survive.
And now another thing, aud l will
! have made clean breast. allude to
several attempts that have been made
by your especial friends, and which are,
therefore. correctly accredited to you,
TO levy contributions on the various
heads of the Capitol officers and or
their clerks. One of these was made
, by Mr.. Asa Rogers, as L understood a
o the time-a proposition that each Off
Ger and clerk should sign a pledge o
lCs per cent. Of his salary 10 the party
That was stopped in the Treasury
office by Mr. Reynolds. At another
time a young man iu the Treasury
:. office was advised by an emplo1ee a
the Wing office 10 subscribe literally 10
the party--the sun Of 500 vas speci-
fjed--aud admonishcd in friendly
- way that failure to do 1t might cos'
him lis place; which, TO say the least
\ was iniudicious.
There have been other intimaiion
OF like character at various Ilmes. II