Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-05
THE PLEDGE,
"PATRICK COUNTY, Va, [
4. 1881

81 hereby pledge myself TO stand by
the Readjuster party and platform, aud
to 60 into caucus with the RcadjuSter
members of the Legislature, and vote
for all measures, nominees, and candl-
dates to be elected by the Legislature
that meets in Richmond, as the caucus
may agree upon.
- Given under my hand and seal this
day of September. A. ID. 1881"
This document General Malone would
have never signed if he had been mere
member Of the Legislature, possessing
no more influence than other members.
assumed the privilege not to sign it.
More did not deliver the other one
TO the county candidate. He never
knew had ii. had too much respect
for him to allow him to be tempered
with in this way. threw one in the
fire and kept the other with Fernald's
letter. Mr.. Massey has these papers
in his possession now.
confess felt from this time alarm
at the tendency of affairs.
After the election | received a
LETTER FROM GENERAL MALONE
to meet him and other leaders Of the
party in Richmond on the 2Sth Of No.
yember to consult on important po-
ltical matters" ! declined to 20 for
reasons now apparent to all. This was
the meeting alluded to in Colonel Ruff
fms letters. Then and there it was
that all the incredible schemes for
Selling The liberties of the people were
inaugurated and formulated. The Legs
lature that met in December was mere
unthinking, unmanly, and Inundated
plant machine to carry into effect these
measures.
Immediately upon our arrival il
Richmond-I think the night before the
Legislature met-we were summoned
to q caucus in the chamber Of the House
Of Delegates, and there that night wa,
read to us by General Elliott q set Of
rules by which we were to be governed
that in my opinion ought to have
shocked the self-rospect Of every man
who was there as the trusted repre-
sentative Of an honest constituency. |
could never get copy of these rules
If ! am in error in my opinion, let tho
man who has them in his possession
publish them, and let the people reaC
them and decide whether | am correct
j call for their publication. 1t shall
cost nothing. was distressed to fine
that an overwhelming majority of tn,
caucus voted their adoption. My vOt'
is recorded against them; at least re
quested it to be done. These rule
were prepared in advance, and by tn
vote that night became the second writ
ten pledge or deed Of individual opinion
and representative freedom to the cen
tral power.
Shortly after this, in a discussion il
the Senate, 1t was admitted that abou
three fourths Of the ReadjuSter mem
bers had given and signed the fata
pledge" and | suppose it was the
on file in the Office Of General Malone
do not know this. / simply iudg
from Fernald's letter to me what wa
to be done with them when signed.
thought l could then account for tn
adoption Of the caucus rules. I'll
members had lost by this pledge a
option in the matter. Too late the
learned that they were not freeme
much less free representatives of COZ
confiding constituencies.
THE COLLAR HAD BEEN LocKEl
Malone had the key. A representa-,
Legislature had ceased to exist Il
night before it was born, yet had
strange abnormal life. II existed f
over five months in half-cOnscious C!
istence, conquered and submissive,
horrible political abortion. There wei
good men there, who, as vile schem,
one after another developed themselve
would have been happy to have resiste
them, but for the pledge" the fat
written "pledge, )" the word &" Traitor,
to be printed in capitals, to be hurle
from the Wig Office against any on
who should dare to break it. Such ws
the power held by one man over tn
members Of his party in the Legislator
Of lSSl-'S2, who, by some strange fas
cinsting power, could force men VIII
had been elected to the Legislature o
the trust OF their unwritten word +
surrender to him, and he allowed t
tell them to their teeth that he, thei
master, had no faith in them, as thei
constituencies had, and that he mus
have their bonds, under signature aac
seal TO him, before they could legislats
for their people. Yet this is all hu.
initiating truth.
OF course all the reasonable schemes
and measures formulated on the 2Sth OF
November would have been made laws
Of this State had it not been for the four
straitors. Can any man in this State
sr.s cine chat xs,eu1d hsva b.ar fha "a