Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-02
THE EASTERN SHORE.
xoRE ARour LEES SPEECH.
An Ipscsysnw with 0suerai Lee--BiaIr's
Fssns Time-A Pedier and BsmjePlay-

iCofretpondence ofthe Richmond DispAtch.l
AccoMAcR COURTHOUSE, VA
September /. 1888.
The Democrats Of Accomack had q
rousing meeting yesterday, and very
large assemblage OF the citizens Of the
Peninsula gathered together to greet
General Fitzhugh Lee, the Democratic
candidate for Governor. General Lee
arrived at the Courthouse shortly be-
fore noon. When the arrangements for
speaking had been contaminated, the
crowd assembled around the platform
and Hon. George I. Garrison introduced
General Lee in neat little speech of
commentator.
General Lees speech was entirely
satisfactory, and was logical and tell
ing effort. The Democrats, as soon as
the announcement was made ten days
ago that General Lee would speak,
erected capacious platform on the
court-green. The Republicans, not to
be outdone, raised platform for their
speakers about twenty yards distant.
Their intention was evidently to bring
their crowd so close 10 the Democratic
audience that II would appear that they
would have very large attendance.
The Democrats were not to be outwit-
ted, however. Realizing the design Of
the Republicans, they removed their
platform from its original position in
the centre Of the court-grecn to point
forty yards distant. This had the de-
sired effect. The two opposing politi-
cal bodies did not mingle, and Attor-
ney-General Blair had to address a
scant audience composed Of negroes
and whites--about one hundred. all
told.
General Lee and Mr.. Blair spoke at
the same time. Mr.. Blair seemed to
be irritated, and frequently raised his
voice to its highest pitch, turning
around and facing the Democratic meet
ing, and referring to General Lee as "thst
man over yonder." The Democratic
committee peremptorily refused to give
Mr.. Blair joint discussion, and Blair
made up for this by damning the Demo-
cratic party to his hearts content.
Blair did not, however, seem to have
much heart in his work. and his per-
Torrance was a perfunctory affair. The
sight of the large and eminently re-
spectacle Democratic gathering and his
own motley audience must have been
dispiriting in the extreme. Blair
finished his speech first.
General Lee made only one allusion
to the Attorney-General. He then re-
marked with great earnestness and con-
siderable effect that although he would
not charge Mr.. Blair with criminal in
tent, nevertheless the Attorney-Gene-
raj. in drawing eli, 900 Of the peoples
money from the State Treasury when
the law allowed him only $4,000 and
necessary expenses per annum, had
been guilty of gross carelessness, which
Rufus A. Ayers, the next Attorney
General of Virginia, and a sterling
Democrat, would never repeat. Mr..
Blair's action in this matter had been
of such a character that the people of
Virginia cannot and will not endorse
him again for the high Office which he
seeks.
THE STAFFORD BRIDGE.
In an interview General Lee gave
your correspondent an insight into the
true inwardness Of his alleged opposi-
ton to the building of free bridge in
Stafford county, the home Of the late
lamented Duff Green. 1t appears that
bill was introduced in the Legislature
providing that on the application Of fifty
citizens Of Stafford county, twenty-five
of whom should be freeholders, the
county of Stafford should be required,
the Legislature enaHting, to issue its
bonds for the construction Of free
bridge. Duff Green and his friends in
his immediate neighborhood wanted
this bridge built. The majority of the
citizens of the county did not desire the
improvement. General Lee, at the re-
quest of his fellow-countymen. went
10 Richmond and appeared before the
committee to which the bill had been !
referred. lie offered as substitute,
and insisted that the bill should be so |
amended, that the issuance of the bonds |
should be left to the voters of the coun-
ty, who should decide, at special cleo
ton, whether the bridge should be
built at the county's expense. This |
was his entire connection with the mat
ter. His action was endorsed by the
people Of his county (small-beer politi-
clans and negroes not included), and |
this is the size Of the offence for which
Republican organs have been berating
General Lee.
THE EFFECT OF THE SPEECH.
General Lee told the people Of Acco-
mack that he was not a politician, or
professional stumper, but that he was
only plain farmer, who had given the
best years of his life to tilling the soil.
The audience, which was almost en-
tirely composed Of farmers, cheered
this declaration with marked emphasis.
He spoke of his love for Virginia and
his love for the nation. lie was as
much an American as Virginian. lie
loved his State no more than his coun-
try. But he would say that he ought
10 be thrice hated and thrice accursed
should he ever forget the men
with whom he had fought in days now
happily past. As long as life remained
with him he would ever think with love
and veneraiion of the men who bad fol-
lowed the standard of the Confederacy.
He bonored himself when he connected
himself with heroes who had shown
such valor and devotion. General Lee
here commented With fine effect upon
the action of General Malone in voting
to exclude from the army and navy Of
the United States all persons who had
fought under the Confederate flag. and
quoted an emphatic remark Of Jubal
Early which characterized General Ma
homes action in this particular.
COLONEL AYLETT's OPINION.
When General Lee had concluded his
effort, Mr.. Garrison introduced Colonel
W. Il. Aylett, whose comments on the
character Of the Republican meeting
were very pointed and amusing. Re-
ferring TO the irritation which was de-
picied on Blsir's countenance, Colonel