The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-04-03
Letter from Capt. j. III. Rives.
LYNcHBURa, March "a, 1884.
Editors Vir0inian


& also send you enclosed q copy of the call of
the National Republican Committee for the Ma
tional Republican Convention at Chicago on
June 3rd, sent to me by the Secretary Of the
Committee for distribution. cg
ef f.reFrer3 as Respectfully,
JAS, d. BRADY.
Chairman Repub. State Elk. Com.
Chairman Repub. State Cen. Com,
Lynchburg. Va.
Col Brady also enclosed the following letter,
In the same handwriting as his own letter:
9. .sea PETERSBURG. Feb. 18th, 1884.
SIR: at called meeting Of the Republican
State Executive Committee held in the civ Of
Richmond on Thursday, Feb. 7th, 1884 the fol-
lowing resolution was unanimously adopted,
RESOLVED. That meeting of the State Central
Committee OF the Republican party of Virginia
ing, on saturday February 18th. ISL at O'CLOCK
p. M, and that the chairman of this commits
and Of state S e
tee copy of this resolution.
Respectfully,
To Capt. ]. n. Rives,
Chairman Repub State Cen. Com,
Lynchburg, Va.
On receipt of the above letter sent the fol-
lowing circular to each member of the commit
REPUBLICAN, STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE. !
LYNCHBURG, VA, Feb. Sth, 1884 +
Dear STR The call issued by Col. ]. d, Brady
for meeting of the Republican State Central
Va, on February 10Th, Is asnauthortzed. will
call meeting OF the committee soon. shall be
glad to have your views.
5sg9 9E K Respectfully. 4
ri 80 J. H. HIVES. Chairman.
naturally did not desire to attend O meeting
Of the committee called In such q despotic
and irregular method, when felt sure that my
presence was neither needed nor desired. + |
therefore sent the following letter to the Hon.
qresting him to send it to the Committed as NV
reason for not attending:
LYNcHBURe, Feb. 18th, 1881,
e Dear Sir: Yours of the 10th instant is inst re-
ceived and hasten to reply. 1t is true that q |
majority OF the COMMITTEES have O right to cali a
meeting Of the state Central committee If they |
ing. and he declines or fails to do 1t, but they
must make this request properly drawn and |
refusal of the chairman, the ground of their |
action. Now no such request has been made of |
me. lido not think any member of the commit |
tee has written me suggesting even that the |
committee should be called together and have |
been patiently waiting for such letters that |
might time the call SO as to suit the business |
engagements, inclinati0ns and views of the |
members, and have held myself ready to call |
ceived such assurances from the members as |
would lead me to think they would attend, for |
we can transact no business without major |
did not secure this would be futile. The State |
executive COMMITTEES Is composed of the fol- |
Bland, Jos. Gregory, Hon. B. s. Hooper, e. |
Thompson, who are members of our Committee |
Col. Brady is not member of our COMMITTEES:
this is only S and we have q members. hold /
myself ready at any and all times to carry the
wishes OF the committee, whether they accord |
with my views or not, when made known to me |
with proper courtesy. but decline firmly to at
tend the meeting OF the committee called by |
Col. Brady for February 10Th, at the Wing build /
ing, Richmond. because regard It as illegal and |
and discourtesy to me without |
cause, OF which had no notice from Col. Brady /
or from any member OF the Executive Commit (
tee. If we desire success we need careful and |
considerate treatment of all Republicans, and |
In fact Of every one likely to cooperate or vote
with u.s.. Any other course will only result in
defeat, and advise strongly |
Involve us In further disputes, wen calculated I
to induce breaches Instead OF harmonizing and |
uniting our party,which alone can bring us sue
cess. y
II have been informed by friend that |
the Hon. B. 8. Hooper offered the resolution
under the impression that had been consulted |
and that the call was agreeable to me. Please /
do me the favor to read this letter to the COM
send to some friend who will read it to such |
members as may be present, fear that my I
position and views have been misrepresented !
to members OF the committee
q Yours respectfully,
chairman Of Rem S 3 T.; E KY Son 4
Member OF Rep. State Cen. Com,
Harrisonburg Va.
This letter was presented and read to the |
but no mention OF 1t Is made in the /
published proceedings OF the committee. which |
I respectfully submit was my due.
Another instance of the unfairness of Gen.
Malone, acting through Col. Brady, ever ready |
to suppress whatever he does not wish to be |
Some good Repuplicans differ with me as to |
the number OF members that may call a meet |
ing of the Committee In the event of the chair I
mans refusal to dol SO, and In that may be right
should never have raised any question upon |
that point. Whenever was satisfied that the |
desired a meeting of the committee |
and would attend. at least enough to transact |
business, 1t was my purpose to issue the call
Ihave known for a long time that could not |
secure the attendance of majority OF the COM
mittee unless Gen. Malone desired us to hold |
90 hnn holA
since February LIST. 1882. How Gen. Malone ac- |
quired such unlimited control OF a majority Of |
ing turn of mind and who Is acquainted with |
Gen. Mahone's methods, may easily conjecture |
after little research.
To prove that this control is unlimited, I have |
only to point the public to the letter signed by |
twenty members of this committee in reply to |
my letter OF Nov. 18th, 1893. published in Bal |
Does anybody believe that anyone OF those |
to which their names were signed? No. 1t was |
and sent around for their signatures.
What promises s.a and appeals were made to Sc
know, but can guess Who prepared or dictated |
IT.. lam sure 1t was dictated wholly by Gen. |
Malone, though he chooses to appear under the |
thin veil of other persons names. ask the |
public to re-read carefully the letter which cost
Judge by the interval between these two publ |
cations. and see If they do not recognize many |
phrases and turns Of sentences peculiar to Gen. |
markable for Its fulsome eulogy OF himself, the |
audacity Of which Is only equalled by 'sHis |
Life, published some years ago in the Chimney |
Corner. II any person doubts the correctness of
my conclusions let him read the letter carefully
and the internal evidence will convince him, |
II he s able to detect one author by his STYLE
he will recognize Gen. MOhone In almost every !
line. truly honorable course for Senator OF |
the United states. adduce one more proof of
the unlimited control which. Gen. Malone |
seems to possess over the majority Of the COM
mittee. Mr.. K. 8. Mitchell, who was elected
secretary at the meeting on Feb. 18th, 1884, has
sent me certified copy of the proceedings of
that meeting. make from this record the fol-
lowing extract
I'M. r De Mortie moved the adoption of the
following resolution:
"Resolued That we. the members OF the Re-
publican State Central Committee, agree to at
tend the meeting that Is contemplated will be
called by the chairman of this committee when
ever such meeting shall be called. Those vot-
Ing in the affirmative on this resolution were
81. Peasants. ]. B. Stovall, b. w. Bocock, D. s.
Lewis. ]. L. Harris, w. A. Pattie, w. s. Wood,
and H. A. JamesOn-ll. Negative-P. j. Carter
Geo. Hughes, HI. Libbey, Jos. Gregory, E. D.
Bland, j.. A. southward. E: Thompson. B. s. |
Hooper, j. H. Van Auken. Thos. j. Howell, R.
r. Alexander, Abel Hunter, A. b. Parker, Il. L.
Mitchell, and J. q. Kegley-l5."
After reading that VOTE knew that could
not secure the attendance of majority of the
Committee and therefore issued no call. j re-
garded this action as practical disbanding of
our organization as Republicans, and 1t was un.
necessary to keep the form OF O Committee
when the organization was abandoned.
fheTe might be another reason for the precip-
ltate action OF Gen1. Malone. do not con-
slider That the Executive Committee had any
yoilt1on IN the matter, nor the majority of the
Committee which met on the 18th twas sirnniv
q 1crx zs1