Weekly commercial herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1884-18??, 1885-11-13

Editor Commercial hefllai
win you kindly give space 30 your
valuable columns for the following let.
ter received by me to-day;
WEST POINT, MISS Nov. Q, 1895.
T. A. Marshall, Esq. Vicksburg, Miss.i
Dear Sir; / returned home last
night. l regret exceedingly that the
committee appointed to obtain consent
of employers and members failed to
meet with the success we so much
hoped for. The merchants absolutely
refused to let the men o~ff-stating
that they would have to employ other
men and would have no further use
for those men whose time they would
lose until after the Vicksburg drill. 1t
would be asking too much to have
those men give up their positions, and
we will, therefore. very reluctantly, l
assure you, be compelled to abandon
all idea of entering your drill. / re-
greet very much indeed that you did not
defer your meeting until May or June.
l see no alternative now but to quietly
submit to the inevitable, and be con-
tent to patiently abide our time to
repel and resent the many unjust i'm
putati0ns heretofore and which may
be hereafter made against my COM
mand. Remember us kindly to our
many friends. Your friend,
n. NJ. LEVY, g. @.
l desire to say in this connection
that | was present at the meeting of
the West Point Rifles last Monday
night when the resolution was adopt.
ed by that company to enter the drill
at Vicksb2rg if the members could get
leave of absence from their buliness
to go. A committee Vas appointed,
consisting of the congressman from
that district, Mr.. Barry, and four o.
the leading merchants of West Point,
to intercede with the employ
ers for the leave Of absence
Of the members. / know
that the committee, as well as the
members of the company, did every.
thing in their power to accomplish
that object, with the result stated in
Capt.. Levy's letter. The merchant:
said that they had given their employe;
so much time this summer in prepar.
ing for former drills, that they did moi
think they could reasonably be asked
to do any more at this time, the bust
est season of the year. In the dis
cussion of this matter the Yves
Point Rifles stated that they did no
care for the S $1,000 prize or even TO.
the question of their title to thu
championship Of Mississippi, but tina
their sole object in attending our drill
would be to repel the unjust insinua
tons that had been made in regard tt
their action leading up to the drill a
Aberdeen. They said that they con
sidered that the honor of the compan,
and of West Point was inyoly
ed and they were Willing
to make any sacrifice t
maintain it. l know that the compan.
will be deeply disappointed at thei
|, failure to make arrangements to atten
! our drill, and, l believe, the publ
: will be equally disappointed. l max
this statement in consequence Of tn
rumors originated by evil,minded c
tboughtless persons in regard to til
motives of the West Point Rifles !
this matter, and although Capt. Levy
statement needs no corrobor.
ton to fair minded peoplt
l may add that the Fair Association i
entirely satisfied with the action 6
the West Point Rifles in the premise
although regretting the necessity TO
it. Very respectfully,
t. A. MARSHALL JR.