The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-10-17
10 the People Of Virginia.
ADDRESS FROM Ex-Gov. cAMERoN.-HE DEEMS IT
HIS DUTY 10 REBEL ASSAULTS UPON HIS PER-

10 tHf ftoptt % luUtHtd.
Elected in the year 1881, by a majority APP
preaching l4OOO votes and that majority com
posed of all classes and elements of our popula-
ton, to the highest office in your gift assumed
that trust with the sincere desire to deal honest
~ with every interest individual ana general,
committed to my charge as governor.
For my guidance there was:
First, rhe constitution which was sworn to
observe and obey.
Second, The laws passed by the general as
Sembly i'll cOnSonance with that instrument,
which was sworn to execute.
Third, and subordinate to these, but not less
sacred within proper limitation. the fultilment
OF pledges mate to the party which nominated
and elected me-
Reviewing those four years, | claim to have
made a continuous and conscientious effort to
reconcile and discharge those oblig atoms, even
when sometimes apparently connicting. Per
hapS, in some respects, failed. | should have
been more OF less THAN mortal had sucn not been
the case. III 50, the failure was not due to any
lack of an earnest sense Ct duty, or for the want
OF controlling wish TO be faithful in the execu-
ton OF all these trusts.
Retiring from tnat high position, had hoped
to have (dnd believe have the endorsement of
a large majority OF my fellow citizens to the
f.cj taat my endeavor was right, no matter
what my accomplishment may have been. still
| admit that my administration must be judged
by its results and hold it open to all fair and
honorable criticism But there is a Kind of at
tack which is cowardly and improper and needs
to BE- met With force OF language which, under
ordinary circumstances, would not be lustih-
able. i reluctance To enter the arena OF per-
sonat controversy has kept me silent, though
FESTIVE, for several years; but now SENSE Of
u 1
people of whom | have been the chosen chief
magistrate, demands that should resent and
repel assaults upon my personal and official
character. whether open or insidious, and from
whatever source emanating.
In July. 1854, General William Malone was
United States senator from Virginia, chairman
o. the republican party OF the State, also, chief
owner of the Richmond Wing, IT, ell the recog-
nj organ OF the republican party of Virginia
| was governor. And Gen. Malone, then and
there committed the most dastardy attempt to
aSSaSsinate the political and personal charac-
tnr. Apnn rtnfn hot ~ hn n1Ind in I, lie
tory
He sat like spider in his web at Washington
intent only upon using his bargain with the adj
ministration for the appointment of federal Of
ticerS in Virginia, While was in Richmond CON
fronting two-thirds democratic majority in
the legislature, and writing vetoeS daily against
the acts of which he now complains. rhe reg
ular session of the legislature expired, and the
objects of our political opponents had not been
perfected. / had destroyed the Mccormick
electoral bill and other legislation upon which
tho democratic heart was set The democrats
wished extra session to complete the gap in
their political work, and Immediately set about
to take lawful steps to SECURE it.
article ~ Sec. y that the governor shall con
vene the general assembly on application of
two-thilds OF the members of both houses there
or knew this provision and had regard for
my oath. But in anticipation OF any act of mine
i'll regard to an extra session occurred the at
tempt at assassination to which alluson has
been made,
On July p, 1884, appeared in the Richmond
Wig an article signed Xxx, and dated at Rock
bridge Alum Springs, Va, which alleged in sub
stance that l. William e. Cameron, governor,
was about to cali an extra session OF the general
assembly (then democratic by tWO-thlfdS major
ity) under the threat of impeachment and mil
itary coercion if l did not yield to that demand.
That statement was false then as it is now.
There is no man in Virginia who could have
come to me, or who can come to me, with any
threat, or with any bride, as to any action thai
I should take personally or officially, in regard
to any trust committed to my CHARGE and both
of us be alive at the end of that interview No
man ever did, and no iiian ever iii, dare to APP
prOach me with such d proposition. was visit
ed at Old Point by Senator Hurt president of
the senate of Virginia, and by Judge Charles Il.
Stuart, then speaker OF the house of delegates,
bearing document containing the signatures
of two-thirds OF the members Of both houses, to
a demand for all extra session of the legislature.
Judge Stuart is now dead, but am sure that
Senator Hurt win testify that all the colnInuni-
was to the effect that | would take the papers
they presented and hold them under advise
mont. And so did. And consulted the best
lawyers in the State of Virginia land their names
shall be forthcoming. if necessary to see if /
could ma CONSCIENTIOUS escape under the
law, from the disagreeable duty, which the con-
stitution imposed on the governor, of calling an
extra session OF the general assembly whenever
called on so to do by 'two-thirdS OF the mem
berS of both houses thereof" ! was not anX
ious then to meet again hostile legislature
with which | had been hopelessly. struggling
through weary winter, while Gen. Malone was
baSki4g in the smiles OF his friends at Washing
ton at Was not them as am 4 not N, now dis
agreeable OF for fear of tho consequences to re
suit from discharge thereof. ] obeyed my
session During its continuance | again inter
posed vetoes to every political act and gave my
reasons frankly and fearlessly. These writings
are all of record in the journals of the two
houses, and abide the verdict.
But what did Gen. Malone do? lthaS already
been stated that presumptive attack was
made on me in the Richmond iThig, July "a 1884
1t was Signed x; it was dated FROM Rackbrdge
Alum Springs. 1t was so published in Gen. Ma
homes own paper the Richmond Wing: That's,
he not only attacked me outrageously and an
ANONYMOUSLY in his own paper, but he msdated
the LETTER in order TO make my suspicion of the
anth0rship fall en- some one else. And | have
adn}issi9n, under his own signature, that he was
the author OF that letter.
! was not deceived from the beginning. |
detected his fine Roman hand in the proceedings
and soon uncovered it. And yet, while | have
his letter acknowledging such authorship under
circumstances of which any other man would
that it never occurred to him that anything
said could be construed into reflection upon
you personally and politically and that nothing
was more remote from my intention yet he
has once. twice, thrice, renewed the charge, each
pine more extensively ana each Eme, as his
filtered through MI. Ogden. OF the Philadelphia
Press, or a later correspondent of the New York
Press, or the anonymous circular issued from
Gen. Mahone's headquarters the other day, the
real authorship is apparent, and is deserving of
the denunciation which | can best express hy
Silence, IN canclnsion of this branch OF the sub
dect dezire 10 say that any man who states, OF
lnflmates, thaf was lnf1aenesa N my ga eau OF
any other consideration than that of obedience
to my oath under the constitution, is liar, and
fectly to me and over his own name.
The pretext upon which these assaults have
sonal With the Planters L Mechanics bank of
the city OF Petersburg. | assert without fear of
contradiction. that for all the public money de-
posted in that bank, there was bond taken
with securities reppted to be worth, at the time,
double the amount, and that no capitalist in
the security insufficient for the amount inv0lv-
ed. It is also true tsee House Journal, extra ses
sion 1884, page a.!N that any excessive loss from
deposit that
neglect of mine. For it will be found there that
l vigorously protested against ana defeated.
proposition to allow the suretes to compromise
their Indebtedness. | killed that effort then.
subsequently compromise was made, but not
under my administration; and admit no feSp0n-
sibility. AS to my personal connection with the
bank little need be said Every dollar borrow
ed froia it was based upon collateral then worth
doubl the amount and which other bankers all
over the state were gla to lend me money on at
much more liberal terms W. Mas "a
telegraph so soon as notified. Then az to my
loan account, ! promptly surrendered every
thing | had, and paid, and have continued to
pay. not only my own Indebtedness, but towards
that of partner who is an absconding debtor.
Tam sure the officers of the bank will testify as
to the legitimacy of my transactions herewith,
and that the trustees, MeSSls. X. Gillian and
W B. McIlWaine who row have the matters att
have withheld no assets, proposed no cOmpro-
mise, interposed no objection, but, being vic
tim Of circumstances, have done what | could.
Could other people say the same with truth, the
condition of the state and other creditors Of this
bank nl1SnG not re so DAD IL ls all Oiu SttylllS,
and worthy Of all acceptance, that people who
live in glass houses should not throw stones.
Gen. Malone had son who owed the bank
many thousands of dollars without one cent of
personal OF collateral security therefor, and not
a dollar of that debt has ever been paid. On the
contrary, in time to prevent legal seizure of his
sons assets General Malone obtained from him
deed, which forever excludes the state of Viz
ginia or any other creditor of the bank from
making reclamation of one cent OF the many
thousands of dollars involved I have paid all
that had in discharge of a debt which l &C
knowledged, and | am still paying, and shall
continue to hold myself bound until it is dis
charged.
nor desire to inJure any one but there is point
in the life of every man at which patience under
persecution ceases to be a virtue. and that point
/ have reached. What have here said is per-
sonal. and | wish it to be divorced, as far as pos
sible from any political significance. That am
opposed to Gen. Malone for the gOvernorship is
upon the public my personal complaint against
him in order to accomplish his political defeat.
could have continued, for that matter, to sus-
pend my personal resentment, and even, If nee
essary, offer it up as sacrifice on the altar OF
party duty. But he recognizes no generosity;
he mistakes discretion for cowardice and he
has at last forced me to the occasion when the
issue must be made, man to man.
WILLIAM E. CAMERON.
Petersburg, Va, October, 1889.
Catherine Lewis tainted one night in
"Olivett, but it didn't cause ripple in
the play Twas only a cough, and they
had bottle of Dir. Bulls Cough Syrup
ON hand, Of course.