Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-09-03
CIRCULAR LETTER
TO HIS CONSTITUENCY,
HON. II. II. RlDDLEBERGER

Having been deprived OF the privilege /
OF meeting the people Of Virginia in the
important campaign Of year ago, when
State and National questions were 50
fully and ably discussed by speakers and
writers. and in view of the near approach
60 an election for members Of the House
Of Representatives in which | shall in
some measure participate, with or with
out the sanction OF an Executive Com
mittcc," deem il but just to myself and
a duty owe 10 yOutO present In advance
all that can rely upon to meet the rs
PERSONS put upon my public record by
some designing men, which, in cOnse-
Qucncc Of three years Of fOrbearancc,
have become to be accepted by many per
sons, whose good opinion | esteem and
desire to have, as truthful.
When | was elected to the United
States Senate, It was by a political or
ganization known as Rcadiusters. The
remarks made by the good friends who
presented my name IN the two branches
Of the General Assembly 50 announced.
and as a member Of that organization |
was chosen. la a subsequent division
and alignment Of parties some OF those
who had voted for me became Demo
crats. and others Republicans, while still
others who had been Republicans re-
manned with the party Of their original
choice, with possibly two exceptions.
Elected a above stated, and believing
| understood my duty-believing that
those who selected me desired that |
should be guided in my action by con-
scicntiousness and the best Judgment |
could form, abstancd from all caucus
alliances and party affiliations until by
public declarations Of conventions two
parties were formed in Virginia ont Of
all the factions Of the conservative"
the "Funder.n the "Debt payer" the
"Repudiator." the "Free School, the
"Anti-Frcc SCHOOL, the "Republican,
the "Rcadiustcr.n the Gree Trade
the "Reycnue Reform the "Protec-
tiOnist.n the "Grcenbackcrs' and the
legion Of fragments that made up the
conglomcrated mass OF Virginia politics.
These two parties identified themselves
I'm name with the national organizations.
In rcspccttO State matters their platforms
were so similar in phrase and structure
that either could be read from the hust-
ings for the other il only the usual ar
raignmcnts for past derclictiOns andm
versations Of both, and a few transparent
promises OF the one. were omitted.
On national questions there was
marked distinction. Asa representative,
desiring for their general welfare and
my own personal good the promotion OF
the material interests OF the people OF
Virginia, voted with the Republicans
on the prominent measures introduced
i'm Congress. to which reference Will be
made in this paper; and, as citizen l
contributed all the service could rendcr
for the success Of the Republican party
in the presidential campaigwhich came
50 soon after the newparty organizations
in our State.
Notwithstanding this, | was madc the
subject Of very much ill-tcmpcrcd critl-
ci,m, and narrowly escaped drum-head
court-martial and di-hOnOrablc dismissal
for declining All honor which under or
binary circumstances / should have been
proud to rcceive-that Of delegate to the
National Convention. Agreeing, Is |
knew did, with the Republicans on
principles. and disagrceing with the ma
jority Of them in Virginia A. to the man
for the nomination, thought it proper
to saw so, abide the will Of the MAORI
~. and not make myself a disturbing ele-
ment by proclaiming opposition 10 the
man Of their choice.
The year following, according to mis-
representations. | refused 10 participate
in the canvass for the Republican ticket.
TO this have also submitted with about
as much patience as is allotted 10 the
average mortal.
II is well known that canvasscrs are
selected, appointed and commissioned by
the state Executive Committee. The
parchment which thcyput forth might be
framed 10 ornament the walls OF Libra
nv. This committee chose and commits
stoned such gentlemen a they thought
they wanted, and so far "a ! could
see or hear they worked faithfully and
well. could not complain and did not.
In fact. having opposed the nomination
Of "a portion Of the ticket in convention
on grounds Of availability. In my own
mind. conceded the wisdom OF the COM
mtice's selection Of canvas-crs. Allthe
service could render through editorial
columns and communications 10 the
press. by local campaigning and organi-
zaton was chccriully given without So
licitatiOn or even recognition. Two Of
the nominees. and other gentlemen from
different portions Of the State. kindlyin
yited and urged me to assist in their local
itics. and some accompanied their sOlicita-
tiOns with mild rcbukcs. To have answer
edthese aflrmativcly would have put me
in a very unpleasant position. had can
vasscd the greater portion OF the State
twice and q large part Of it the third
time. This had been done by request
of the Executive Committee. Other and
far ADLER speakers had done the samc.-
The Committee knew the value Of each,
and il would have been incXcusablc pre-
umption-efIrontry TO have intrudcd
myself into Il campaign conducted by
gentlemen who had accepted the entire
responsibility OF its management. The
statement which have frequently heard.
that was written TO personally. &c, may
be true. II il certainly true that ! new
or received letter or message, Or any
thing else from any member Of the Com
mttce from the adjournment OF the con-
vcntion TO the day Of election. know
incurred the di,plcasurc OF some friends
who wrote me by not replying this much
at least; but preferred to let the re-
spOnsibilty OF apparent Indifference, in
gratitude and neglect rest upon me, and
/ have done so til silence is working an
Injustice which feel thatnO reasonable
man would expect me tOinilict upon my
self.
For what purpose such pronulgations
are contriyed against me is beyond my
ken. II designed to humiliate, they are
failure. II to goad to excess in speech
or action that may cast reproach upon
professions Of fidelity to party principles
or political record in maintaining them.
they are far from 4 success. Not the
false presentation Of the latter by a few
Republicans, nor it, perycrsiOn by as few
Democrats, can cflcctuatc the object OF
either. To the animadvcrsions upon my
votes I'm the Senate made chiefly by in
nucndo. with occasional exceptions cred
itably direct, | shall advert rs briefly as
consistent with pcrspicuity. ! shall deny
no allegation as to my votes recorded,
unrccOrded, in open or executive scs-
sOns. For nearly sixteen years | have
been an onlcc-hOldcr, In that time have
not denied anything | did, have never
been enrolled as absent when present or
asked to be excused from voting; and
have always found those cndeavored to
serve willing and anxious to hear the
reasons for representative action and
opinions OF probable and possible re-
suits therefrOm.
did vote against the Oleomargarinc
bill. was the only Republican who so
voted. 1t is also true, as is being stated,
that / voted with the Democratic majori-
", and that the Democratic minority
voted with the Republicans. voted, "a
| think for the best interests OF Virginia,
whose people will be among the first
to feel the Injurious effects Of such a law.
1t was approved in the same spirit in
which it was conceived, and became
law regardless Of the plighted faith OF
parties and the congressional 'prerogatiye
given bv the constitution. Let him who
has doubts read the debates. eliminate