Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-10-18

bond taken with securities reputed to be worth
at the time double the amount, and that no
capitalist in Virginia at that date would have
considered the security insufficient for the
amount involved. 1t is also true (see House
Jour, Extra session. 1884, page 2I9) that any
excessive loss from the State deposit i'll that
bank is not due to any neglect OF mine. For
it will be found there that [ vigorously pro-
tested against, and defeated, proposition to
allow the sureties to compromise their indebt-
edness. killed that effort then. Subsequent
" a compromise was made, but not under my
administration; and | admit no responsibility.
AS to my personal connection with the bank
little need be said. Every dollar borrowed
from it was based upon collateral then worth
double the amount, and which other bankers
all oyer the State were glad to lend me money
on at much more liberal terms. | was over
checked when the bank failed. l paid the
overcheck by telegraph SO soon as notified.
Then, as to my loan account, promptly sur
rendered everything had and paid and have
continued to pay, not only my own lndebtness,
but towards that of a partner who is an alb
sconding debtor. am sure the officers OF the
bank will testify as to the legitimacy OF my
transaction herewith, and that the trustees,
Messrs. r. Gillian and w B. Mcllwaine, who
now have the matters of the institution III
charge. will certify that l have withheld no
assets proposed no compromise, interpOSed
no objection, but, being Il victim of circum-
stances, have done what l could. Gould other
people say the same with truth, the condition
of the State and other creditors of this bank
might not be so bad.
MALONE SAVING HIMSELF AT THE EXPENSE OF
THE STATE.
1t is an old saying, and worthy of all accep-
lance that people who live in glass houses
should not throw stones. General Malone
had a son who owed the bank many thou
sands of dollars without one cent of personal
or collateral security therefor, and not dol
lar 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 Virginia or any other creditor of the bank
from making reclamation of one cent Of the
many thousands of dollars involved. | have
paid all that [ had in discharge of a debt
which | acknowledged, and l am still paying,
and shall continue to hold myself bound I'M
til it IS discharged.
This paper is written with no feeling of ma
lice, nor desire to injure any one; but there is
point in the life of every man at which pa
thence under persecution ceases to be virtue,
and that point | have reached. What l have
here said is personal, and wish it to be dis
vorced, as far as possible, from any political
significance. That | am opposed to General
Malone for the governorship is we'll known,
but should not have obtruded upon the pub
lie 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 II
necessary offer it up as a sacrifice on the altar
of party duty. But he recognizes no generOsi-
ty; 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 II, 1889.