Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-04-25
THE ID. ID. & Il. INSTITUTION

LETTERS FROM DELEGATE JOHN N. OPIE,
OF AUGUSTA, AND SENATOR It. J.
CHRISTIAN.
The following contributed letters have
appeared in the Richmond State the
first on the afternoon of April 9Th, and the
second on the afternoon of April 21st.:
LETTER FROM HON JNo. N. oPIE.
To the Board of Visitors Of the Charitable
Institutions of the State:
Gentlemen,-I address you with that
freedom which feels itself secure in the
knowledge and consciousness that, how
soever we may differ as to certain mat
tiers in contemplation, we are in full ac-
cord and sympathy as to the high politi-
cal destiny AMI moral duty which await
our party. | know that justice and honor
govern your conduct in all things, but at
the same time [ fear that some of you,
whose names it IS not necessary to men
ton, but who L know will understand me,
have been in the matter now under con-
sideration, actuated by mistaken sense
of right, and by misconception of those
duties and obligations which, as men, you
owe to our party. It seems to me, there
fore, most remarkable error on your
part to attempt to crafty the I'M
yelled selfshness Of man who it seems is
willing to sacrifice party obligations and
to violate that fealty which we all owe to
our constituents in order to continue in
office few personal friends, but political
enemies, believe. Judge Thomas Chris
tan was Influenced solely by false idea
of friendship. [ feel confident that no
mercenary motive ever even suggested it.
self to him, but do think that he shoald
have been governed by higher and no.
bier feeling than either friendship or graf
ltude a sense of duty and a recognition
of the solemn obligation he tacitly took
upon himself when he assumed the po-
sltlon given him by a Democratic constit-
uency.
He should have recalled that noble sent
iment uttered by the Irish patriot Emmett,
II love thee, dear, not so well 1 love not
honor mOre.''
do not wish to be misunderstood, for l
entertain no hostile prejudice to any man
because he differs with me politically, but
do desire it to be known of all men, that
IN politics l recognize no individual, and
regard it as my solemn and only duty TO
elevate the power, influence, and charac.
ter OF my party. But let us reason TO-
gether, let US look at the situation, and
determine what it becomes you to do I'M
I GU must remember, that during the
last campaign, we denounced the enemy
for turning out Of our charitable institu-
lions the old. tried and experienced off
GERS for no other reason than that they
were Democrats, and filling their places
with inexperienced and untried partisans.
When the bills for the removal of the
Coalition boards were under considera-
ton. the sole and prevailing idea was to
replace the officers who had been remoy-
ed, and thereby set the seal of our con-
demna ton upon the action of the Coali-
tlon Legislature. We have captured and
destroyed the citadel of political corrun-
ton and compelled the enemy to surren-
der, and shall we, in this, the hour Of the
triumph of the Anglo-Saxon, by bargain
and sale, or. what is still worse, by collu-
sion with the enemy, show to the world
that our thirst was for gain and our only
amDltlon was to acquire power and Officer
AND yet you will say contract was
made, an agreement was entered into, and
you must keep it. say, away with such
contract: 1t would have been better
had the bills been defeated than to divide
spoils, and, as party, to forfeit that high
principle which should actuate US. Go.
ye senators, to the doubling Thomas, and
appeal to him to release you from the
agreement, which must have been
made without proper thought. And 7
feel that he will reconsider his unwise
conduct, and if he will not, YOU vour-
selves can defeat this undemocratic ALI
ance by resigning positions to which IT |
hope you will pardon me for saying it'll
you, being members Of the General AS. |
sembly, ought never TO have been appoint
ed. write this in the interest of, or
against no individual, but merely utter
the protest which swells up in the indig |
nant breast of every Democrat in this, my
county. JOHN N. OPIE.
CARD TO THE HON. JNO. N. OPIE.