Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-31
LASHING SENATORS.
HON JOHN a0oDE ADDREssEs TIE
VOTERS OF THE SECOND CON-
OCCASIONAL DISTRICT.
Positively Declines Eomination-Hs Goes
for Malone, Edmunds, and Hoar. and
the Bell Telephone, with
Gloves OF.
WAsH1NaroN, July %, 1886.

kind friends to become q candidate to
represent the Norfolk district in the
next Congress Of the United States.
Wysle I have been deeply touched by
this manifestation Of good will on the
part of my former constituents, and am
profoundly grateful for the evidence
thus afforded that their confidence in
me remains mistaken, feel constrained
to announce that | cannot consent to
become 9 candidate for your suffrages
at the approaching election. There are
many considerations Of personal and
private character which render it i'm
possible for me TO do so; if the noni-
nation should be unanimously rendered
to me would feel obliged to decline it.
With this positive and unequivocal de-
claration Of my purpose, l might with
propriety, perhaps, close this commu-
nication; but, remembering with pride
and pleasure the relations which once
existed between us, ! feel inclined to
say something about an event in my
career which has recently attrscted, to
some extent, the public attention.
On the second day Of May, 1885, the
President appointed me Solicitor-Gen-
eral, to fill the vacancy occasioned By
the resignation Of my distinguished pre-
decessor. was appointed upon tho
recommendation of large number Of
gentlemen with whom l had served in
the House OF Representatives, the
Democratic members from Virginia, the
ex-judges of the Court Of Appeals,
nearly all the circuit judges, and many
prominent citizens whose names are as
familiar as household words in our
State. At the commencement Of the
present session Of Congress the Presi-
dent nominated me to the Senate for the
same position. That nomination has
been rejected by strictly party vote.
When the history Of the case is fully un-
derstood | think all fair-minded men
will agree that have been mads the
victim Of star chamber proceedings,
which, to say the least, are not at
all creditable to the American Senate.
In my opinion the case furnishes
strong argument in favor of open exc
cutive sessions; for certain senators
have done things which they would not
have dared to do if the light could have
been turned fully upon them. Profess
ing to act in Judicial capacity. they
have refused to inform me Of the
charges preferred against me, and
which they have been pretending to In
vestigate for several months past. They
have refused TO give me an opportunity
to confront my accusers and the wit
nesses who we're summoned to testify
against me. They have condemned ms
without accusation or proof. indictment
or trial. With the doors Of their cham
Der eifectuslly barred, the light OF
heaven carefully excluded, the news
paper reporters banished from that
wing Of the Capitol, the "lord
high executioners," with stiletto
in hand, entered upon the chiy-
alrous task Of assassinating private
character. wish that / might
have bad one hour in the Senate to
meet my accusers-eye to eye, toe to
toe, front to front. My rejection was
brought about by q combination Of
forces and a pooling of issues between
the American Bell Telephone Company
and William Malone. In the discharge
Of my duty as Acting Attorney Gene
raj / directed the institution OF suit
to test the validity Of the Bell Tele-
phone patent--a patent which, accord
ing TO the Gilidavits Of many rospects-
Die citizens, was obtained fraudulently,
surreptitiously, and upon false sugges-
tons. For this offence the Bell Tele-
phone Company-reprcsented by Mr..
uoar in the Senate and by Mr.. Rsnney
in the lIouSe--determined to crush me,
if possible and they found il the per-
son Of William Malone a willing and
active coadjutor, who leaped to the OF
portuuity OF crafty ing the private grudge
which he has cherished towards me ever
since he ascertained that | would not
wear his collar in Virginia and would not
cooperate with him in bringing disgrace
and dishcIor upon the State. As have
already stated, vas not permitted to
be present during the examination of
any of the witnesses, but have read
their testimony, and l affirm, without
the fear Of successful contradiction,
that there was nothing whatever to
Justify or excuse my rejection by fair
tribunal. The record consists of vague,
loose, indefinite statements, made upon
hearsay merely, which no respectable
constable's court in the land would dig
Nifty with the name Of evidence. No
witness has testified that at any time,
or at any place, l have had any know
ledge of or any completely with any
election fraud whatever. Some wit
nesses said there was a rumOr in Vir-
GINA that ! was not fairly and legally
elected to Congress in 1874, and
this was accepted as damning
proof against me, Notwithstanding the
unanimous decision TO the contrary OF
the State Board of CAnvassers and the
deliberate Judgment of the House Of
Representatives, which, under the Con-
sttution, is made the judge of the cleo
tons, returns, and qualifications OF its
members. 1t hiss been published
through the Associated Press dispatches
that during the debate in secret session
Mr.. Edmunds charged that had
"dickered to secure my coniirma-
ton; that had promised certain Re-
publican officials 10 retain them in
Office in the event Of my confirmation,
and that he had letters in his
possession to prove il. If Mr..
Edmunds made the statement st
tributed to him, it was UNANIMOUSLY false.
I challenge the production of the let
fers. II they are not produced, charge
the Senator, who claims to be Chris
tisn gentleman, with deliberate viola
lion Of the ninth commandment, to keep
which be prays to the Lord Sunday
after Sunday in the sanctuary to incline
his heart. If the veil of secrecy could
bave been removed what q spectacle
would have been presented to the gaze
q l.