The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-07-29
THE nro roUR ONCE MORE.


We the undersigned, members OF the
v,rginia senate. and OF what was once
the ReNdiuster party, claim that we
discbarged our whole duty, so Tar as we
were per1nitted so to do, in the settlement
~ the public debt, In compliance with our
Wedges 10 our respective constituencies.
Having done this, the main op'eo' Vi ""
trust was accomplished.
Rnt I'VE soon learned from the acts OF the
caucus and the leaders Of the party that an
honest settlement OF the State debt upon
the terms and according to our repeated
PROMISES TO the people was not the real OBJ
iect ~ the seli-constituted leaders OF the
marty. But that the result OF the Novem-
ber election was to be used to establish a
disbonorable spOils system unknown In the
nolitical history OF this State; that every
right of the people was TO be prostit1ted 10
the success OF dangerous centralized
mower in the hands Of one man and his
Chosen friends; that to accomplish this
nurpose the courts were to be deprived OF
their coordinate authority and made sub
seryient to central executive and partisan
legislature: the common schools were 10
be converted into political agencies; the
right OF the people to elect their own
officers was in measure to be taken
from them, and other heretofore I'M
known and dangerous measures were TO be
jnaucurated. To accomplish these pur-
noses q degrading and tyrannical caucus
system was enforced by rules degrading
TO those who were forced by the party lash
TO adopt it--insulting to their manhood
and betrayal Of the public trust conflded
TO them by the people. The ultimate OBJ
iect of all this was to get control OF the
whole political power OF the State and
hand it over to the daring leader OF the
party to be utilized by him to advance his
ambitious personal schemes; and it was all
to be done quickly and before the people
could be warned Of the danger. They,
through their faithless representatives.
were to be converted into new
political party, with new principles
and doctrines, all for the special benefit
Of the leader and his friends. We, fore
seeing the tendency OF these measures,
alarmed at the impending danger-refusing
all offers OF place or profit As the price OF
BETRAYAL OF the trust confided in us-con-
scious of the rectitude Of our motives-de-
termined to use every effort TO thwart these
measures. What we did is part OF the
political history OF the last Legislature. Our
deliberate purpose was, and is still, to pro-
tect. as far rs we can, the liberties OF the
people against the dangerous aggression OF a
growing and irresponsible one-nan power
known in this State as "Mahoneism." For
this we are denounced by what once
,cas the Readjuster Legislature as "tra-
tors" We appeal to all good people OF all
parties whether our efforts are entitled TO
respectful consideration. III so, we earn
l. -IoIo to Tor 10
present all past political difierences-to
bury I'LL party hostility-to subordinate all
existing principles and preiudices to the
living issue OF the day and unite in one
supreme effort to throttle in its infancy this
incipient despotism. There is no time to
lose. This intended outrage against every
thing dear to these people must not sue
coed. Should it do so this fall, through our
folly and Indifference, this man will so en-
trench himself in power within this state
by the assistance OF the Federal Govern
ment that no future effort can avail TO evict
him, and no honorable man now living will
cease to regret ii he fails to use every ef-
fort to prevent such catastrophe.
One OF the first, and certainly the most
daring measure because it was done
against the known will OF the united Re-
adjuster party OF the whole State), was the
election OF John +. Massey from the Audi
tors Office. Mr.. Massey had filed this Oh
flee with credit both TO himself and the
State. He had created the party in mea-
sure, and had mainly formulated its princi-
pies, and had il not been for his great eli
forts the party would never have made n
successful campaign. This was undoubt-
edly true as to the last fall election. But
he must lie sacrificed. The state is de-
prived OF valuable officer, and
against the express will OF a major
lty OF the people OF the State, simply
because it was feared he might become
dangerous rival TO the present self
constituted leader Of party he is manipu-
lating for his own purposes, because Mr..
Massey refused to subscribe to his new re-
evolutionary measures and declined TO de-
grade himself TO the position OF a Suhordi-
nate instrument to be used ut the will OF
this leader. This was his only offence.
His previous political and official action
had won the affection of his party as few
men ever did. TO crush out this affection
for him the desperate and reckless strategy
of charging him with crime had to be re-
sorted to. This crime to-day, TO the shame
Of his prosecutors, remains unprOvcn. Is
it possible that here in Virginia such power
can be exercised! Have we come TO this
Can free people tolerate such deeds
as these and retain the perpetrators
in power? Do they think they can long be
free and still entrust their liberties in the
keeping OF such men: Every honorable
instinct of our nature calls for Il rebuke OF
this unmanly assault upon Mr.. Massey, and
to Use him as the instrument to put down
the men who were forced to single him out
a. personal sacrifice in order that they
might the more effectually crush out the
liberties Of the people and promote their
schemes Of personal ambition.
We humbly ask that all good men oil all
political parties who arc true friends OF
constitutional government will forget for
the present all political differences and
unite upon Mr.. Massey rs the congressional
candidate at large. In our humble opinion,
it would be appropriate in the present
crisis, and the result would be success
not only success, but a triumph. II
would not only be q defeat to bossism, but
crushing humiliation. Reconciliation OF
past differences upon the debt question
that we all may unite to prevent an i'm
pending political catastrophe-should be
the object Of every patriot in the State.
A. NJ. LYBEOoK,
" WnIIInc