The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-02-03
PUTTING HIMSELF RIGHT.
Some Extracts from u Letter Written
by Auditor Massey and Addressed to
the Rcadjustcrs Of Virginia.

form an address "To the Readjusters OF
Virginia" stating his case. A large por-
ton of il is devoted to replies to the Whig'S
articles. With most OF the facts the read
ers OF this paper are already well acquaint-
ed, but the following paragraphs show
with what ability he defends himself, and
in what style he writes:
When il was determined TO nominate
candidate for Auditor was informed that
my name could not be placed before the
caucus unless would sign written pledge
to submit 10 its rules.
These "rules" allowed me to appoint
but one OF my clerks. There are ten clerks
and messenger in the Auditors office.
| Every dollar Of State revenue, no matter
from what source it comes, passes through
their hands. land my strGtieS are reSpOn-
Si6le for all their official acts. The law de-
clares expressly that the Auditor shall ap-
point the clerks in his office. The rules oi
the caucus allowed him 10 appoint but one
OF these clerks his agents-and allowed
him no voice or choice in the selection OF
the other ten. The caucus, which was i'm
no way responsible for their official acts.
was to appoint whOmsOeyer il pleased, and
the Auditor was TO be pledged 10 take
them.
This rule was 50 unreasonable, so arbi-
trary, 80 subversive OF business principles,
and contrary 10 the opposition 10 " ring
rule" "caucus dictatiOn,' - and bossism,"
which we had proclaimed through our pub
licationS, and in all our discussions during
our canyasSes, that l could not believe the
caucus would insist upon il il its charac-
/ ter and consequences We're fully under
stood. therefore asked the privilege of
| going before il and explaining the business
OF my office and the respective duties OF NY
clerks, and showing the damage that might
result to the party and the state by the
policy which this rule inaugllrated. This
/ privilege was denied me-
! \ resolution was adopted which gave
/ GENERAL MALONE AND COLONEL BRADY
the privilege Of attending the meetings Of
/ the caucus at their pleasure; 6W l lcdS
HeUer permitted to enter is doors!
/ 1 then wrote the letters, which | give
/ below, to the caucus. In them ! explained,
/ aS best | could in brief letters, the peculiar
! duties and responsibilities OF my office, and
/ the qualifications neccS,arY for its clerks,
and appealed to it to so modify It's rules as
| to except the Auditors office from it, /
assured it that would have none but Re-
adjusters in my office, (Here lcere no Others
| there hep,) and that they should be selected
! from different portions Of the State-dis-
/ tributcd as widely "a they could be con-
sistently with public interest.
/ The caucus refused 10 modify it, rule or
| TO nominate me unless would p!edge M
! conditional submission 10 L.
/ This | could not do without abandoning
/ principle, sacrificing my self-rcspect. dis
regarding the law, and endangering my
reputation and the public interest. No
man who knows me expects me 10 do these
| things. III | were to do them 1 should for
| felt all claim TO their respect and conf
dence. This | IriH ReueT dO, much as
may wish the office, or need il, ii its honOrs
and emOluments were tcnlold greater than
they are.
[These letters we have already published ]
| When General
MALONE REFUSED TO SUBMIT 10 CAUCUS DC
TATION
/ i'm the United States Senate applauded his
/ independence. believe | wrote the first
resolutions and made the first speech en-
/ dorsng him for il. did not then suppose
/ he would so soon assume the r6!e OF dlcta-
/ tor-dictating both TO the CdUc0S and 10 me
and others through the caucus.
/ But it is charged that | submitted my
claims TO the caucus and then refused 10 be
governed by its action.
4 proper understanding Of the rules Of
the caucus will show the ahsuTdity OF this
statement. Under these rules no mans
name could be placed before the caucus Tor
nomination until he signed written
pledge to submit to ifs rules, which took
the appointment Of his clerks ont OF his
hands and placed it in the hands Of the
caucus. | refused to sign such pledge.
Ii / had signed il no one outside Of my
congressional district had the right, under
1.-THE rules TO plac my name before the
caucus. Some OF my friends voted for me
IN defiance of these most remarkable and
arbitrary rules; but that in nOwise COM
mitted me to it, action, or made il proper
that | or they should yield TO its dictations.
No well-mformed man who has proper
respect for truth will deny that the Read
iuster party, with but few exceptions,
wished and expected me 10 continue 10 be
| Auditor for tie next two years. Such,
also, was The wish OF nearly al their sonG-
/ tors and representatives,. Why, then, did
| theynOt nominate mei
Because rules had been framed for the
/ government OF the caucus 6eTOTe the tegiS-
/ idtire session commenced. Most OF the
members committed themselves to these
rules without understanding their true im-
port or design. They were ingeniOusly
framed, craftily and pleasantly presented,
and artfully and smoothly explained. 4
large number Of the members were new
ones, and, without slSpectng that they
were lettering themselves with CALLING
claims, or, like the silkwom,
WEAVING THEIR OWN wINDING-sHEET.
they consented TO their adoption. Many
OF these members now bitterly regret that
they ever consented 10 such rules, and
would not have done It ii they had fully
understood them.
But back behind all this there l. page
OF history which was kept secret from me
and many others until it was too late TO AZ
rest it and save its perpetrators from con-
tempt and it, unSuSpecting subjects from
humiliation.
The lVhiq OF the Both instant came we'll
nigh diyulging lis own secret. When
speaking OF the Readiuster caucus IL said:
"Two thirds OF them II not all OF them,
came here pledged 10 abide by the action Of
/ this CAUCUS"
wish TO assure you. my fellow-citizens,
[ that while this statement is painfully true
! Of manu. il i not true Of al the ReadiuStcr
members OF the Legislature. There are
many OF them who would have scorned TO
come here under the pretence Of represent
ing their honest constituents ~ free and
Independent representatives while they had
placed one end Of halter around their
own necks and the other end Of Il in the
hands Of a boss" There were many who
Indignantly refused 20 sign the pledge"
and others whose manly iudeUendence was
too well known for any one to dare ask
them to do il. These men viii assert and
maintain their independence, and reflect