Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-09-02
A Scathing Reply.
EX-GOv. CHAMBERLAIN ON JOHN. g. WISE
NOW LET MR.. WISE TOE THE MARX.

To the Editor of the Ne,o York Times:
Mr.. John S. Wise, of Virginia. publishes
in the New York Tribune of the Goth in
slant what possibly he fancies a reply to
my letter in the Times of the 7th instant.
AS the result of two weeks reflection l
cannot congratulate Mr.. Wise on his effort.
Its perfect irrelevancy Is the least of its
faults. MIR. Wise, in his interview which
appeared in the Times of July 31st stated
that "it was on the legislation of this
Democratic Legislature that the Supreme
Court of the United States made its recent
decision declaring the coupons of our bonds
receivable for taxes" My statement, on
the other hand, was that ''the decision to
which he (Mr. Wise) refers is the case of
Poindexter against Greenhow," and that
this decision turns, and turns only, on
Readluster egislation-namely the act of
the Virginia Readjuster Legislature Of
very bold and hardy, but not sufficiently so
to deny my. statement, as one will see by
reading his reply. But it is of no conse-
quence whatever in settling this controver-
sy what Mr.. Wise now SAYS or omits to
say. The decision in question is in clear
print and accessible to all, in the one hun
dredth and fourteenth volume of the Unit
ed States Supreme Court Reports, DID. 270-
3O6. There is not one word of discussion
OF any legislation, except the Readjuster
act of January 49, 1882, from the first line
to the last line of this decision. 1t is true.
as have before said, that "this decision
turns, and turns only, on tho act of Jan
uary 26, 1862" And all statements or
intimations to the contrary are not true.
Mr.. Wise invites me to 'smeet him on
the stump on this debt question - I reply
that he could hardly have invited me to
an easier task, but now send him this
challenge, namely, that if he will disprove
my statement by reference to any word or
line to be found in the decision of Poindex-
ter against Greenhow 1 will come to Vir-
ginia and make public retraction of my
statement, and if l did not think it would
be immoral-contrd bonos mores-I would
agree to support him for Governor of Vir-
ginia as penalty for my wrong. The
Tribune will be willing to act as Mr.. Wise's
second in delivering me his answer to this
challenge.
But Mr.. John S. Wise is not wise
Caught in palpable and wholly inexcusa-
BILE misstatement of fact will use no
harsher term-a fact, too, which interests
the public, he attempts to meet the issue
by most peurile fanfaronade of abuse of
me. Cobbett said he did not realize how
good gentleman he was till Addington
abused him. Mr.. Wise will pursue his
congenial and characteristic methods with
out complaint or notice from me, unless he
again misstates facts; but as he draws
from the poets to express his discontinue,
let me draw from the same storehouse a
parting word for Mr.. Wise:
"a modest. sensible, and well bred man
Will not insult me, and no other CAM
Meanwhile invite such of the public as
have any sort of interest in this matter to
examine the question of fact in issue be-
tween Mr.. Wise and myself in the volume
which l have named.
D. Fl. CHAMBERLAIN.
Neac York City, Saturday, August %,
1885.