Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-01-25
The Readjusfer Row In virgi
mia

IlOl. JOIln ~. massey, hIst dudl
tor of Virginia, has written letter
to the Charlottesville Chronicle in
regard TO the attack made upon him
in tie Richmond Wing, and defend
ing his present firm attitude and the
cause for it before King Caucus.
He says:
Upon the organization of the
read USER caucus series o. res,lu
tions, which had been previousl,
prepared at headquarters, was adop
ted. One Of these resolutions, |
understand, required each person
desiring nomination FOR any off e to
sign written pied e taat he would
submit TO the ruI ) OF the caucus
before his name could be considered
or placed before it for nomination.
! asked for a copy pf these rules,
but was refused it by the secretary.
| was once allowed 10 glance over
them. They allowed tine head OF
each department 10 appoint one clerk
and conferred The appointment! OF all
others upon the caucus. This rule
did not interfere at all with the
Governor, the attorney general, tie
secretary OF the commonwealth, the
superintendent OF publit printing,
the railroad commissioner, the CON-
missioner OF agriculture, or the reg
later of the land Office. One clerk
is all that either one Of these has.
Hence the rule was dead letter.
They could therefore submit 10 it
without detrlment.
There are ten clerAs and a mess
cnger in this office. Every dollar
OF the states revenue, no matter
from what source it comes, passes
through the hands of my clerks but
through the hands of the clerks OF
no other officer. | and my suret es
arc responsible Tor the official acts
OF my clerks. Hence with Inc it
was practical question, as well as
beng radically wrong IN prunciple.
| therefore declined giving the pledg
| subsequently wroie a letter to tie
caucus, explaining my position and
the reason Tor II, | asked the lib
erty Of being heard by the caucus.
This being denied me, | again
wrote, giving a more extended stale
ment OF the duties aud responsible
ties OF my. Office and clerks. The
caucus was asked TO rescind or
modify it's rule so as to make the
auditors Office an exception to it.
1t, however. refused to dc so, and
nominated Mr. 5. Brown Allen As
its candidate. My present object
being to give my trends a simple
statement Of facts, | shall reserve
my review OF the Wings remarka
bic editorial for future occasion.
Speaking Of a compromise pro-
posed. allowing him to choose one
halt the clerks and the caucus The
other, Dir. Massey says:
This is anentlre mistake. | have
Just learned IRON Hon. w. II. Tur
ner. a MEMBER OF the caucus and q
warm lrieud OF mine, that he made
such proposition in the caucus,
wholly and entirely upon his own
responsibility. IhIs was without
any authority from me. Ny letter
to the caucus sla'es my views upon
the subject clearly, and I've never
changed them. The public shall
see them, and they eau then Judge
Tor themselves. Tho Wing seems
to have fallen into the same error,
and without waiting to hear the
truth OF the case INDUCES in COM
ments and Inuuendoes rs unkInd
and maniicsts spirit as unlove.y |
az they are unwarranied by the
facts | will not deny that tins
state OF things surp Uses aud grieve.
me but | am sustained by the
consciousness that | am dong right,
and that wili.c, az | believe, a vast
majority of the Jest people OF all
parties and IN all portions OF tue
Stale desire my c nI'huaice IN
,ffice, they will approve my refusing
o sacrifice self-respect and princi-'