Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-12

following address from Ex-Governor Gamer
on will be published in the Ladeg-AppeG
tomorrow:
To the People Of Virginia:
Elected in the year 1851 by majority sp
preaching IA 600 votes and that majority com
posed of all classes and elements of our popu
lation. to the highest Office in your gift, l as
sumed that trust with the sincere desire to dea
honestly with every interest, individual and
general, committed to my charge as Governor
For my guidance there was:
First. the Constitution, which was sworn tC
observe and obey.
Second, The laws passed by the General As
sembly in consonance with that instrument,
which was sworn to execute.
Third, and subordinate to these, but not less
sacred within proper limitation, the fulfllment
of pledges made to the party which nominated
and elected me.
Reviewing those four years, 1 claim to have
made continuous and conscientious effort to
reconcile and discharge those obligations. even
when sometimes apparently conflicting Per.
haps in some respects l failed should have
been more or less than mortal had such not
been the case. If so, the failure was not due
to any lack of an earnest sense of duty, or for
the want of controlling wish to be faithful in
the execution of all these trusts.
RESENTED AND REPELLED.
Retiring from that high position, had
hoped to have land believe 1 have) the in.
dorsement of a large majority of my fellow
citizens to the fact that 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 attack which is cowardly and i'm
proper and needs to be met with a force of
language which under ordinary circumstances,
would not be unsuitable. A reluctance to enter
the arena of personal controversy has kept me
silent, though restive. for several years; but
now a sense of self-respectand of duty which
I owe to TIE people of whom 1 have been
the chosen chief magistrate, demands that
should resent and repeal assaults upon my per-
sonal and official character, whether open or
insidious, and from whatever source ema-
mating.
In July, 1884, General William Malone was
United States Senator from Virginia, chairman
of the Republican party of the State, also chief
owner of the Richmond Wing, then the recog-
nized organ of the Republican party of Vir-
ginia. was Governor. And General Mahone
then and there, committed the most dastardly
attempt to assassinate the political and per-
sonal character of an associate that can be
found in history. He sat like
A SPIDER IN HIS WEB
at Washington, intent only upon using his bar
gain with the administration for the appoint
ment Of Federal officers in Virginia, while was
in Richmond confronting a two-thirds Demo-
cratic majority in the Legislature and writing
vetoes daily against the acts of which he now
complains The regular session of the Legisla-
ture expired, and the objects of our political
opponents had not been perfected. 1 had de-
stroyed the Mccormick electoral bill and other
legislation upon which the Democratic heart
was set. The Democrats wished an extra
session to complete the gap in their political
work, and Immediately set about to take law.
full steps to secure them.
The Constitution of Virginia provides (see
article W., sec. 81, That the Governor shall
convene the General Assembly on application
of two-thirds of the members of both houses
thereof" l knew this provision and had re-
gard for my oath. But in anticipation of any
act Of mine in regard to an extra session.
occurred the attempt at ASSASSINATION to which
aluslon has been made.
On July p, 1854, appeared in the Richmond
wing, an article, signed Xxx, and dated at
Rockbridge, Alum Springs, Va. which alleged
IN substance that !, William E, Cameron
Governor, was about to call an extra session of
the General Assembly (then Democratic nv
two-thirds majority, under the threat of i'm
peachment and military coercion if 1 did
not yield to that demand. That state
ment was as false then as it is now
NOT TO BE BRIBED OR BRowBEATEN.
There is no man in Virginia who could have
come to me, or who can come to me with anv
threat or with any brIbe as to any action that
1 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 man ever will, dare to ap-
proach me with such proposition. / was Wis
lied at OLD Point by Senator Hurt President
of the Senate of Virginia, and by JUDGE
Charles Z. Stuart, then Speaker of the House
of Delegates, bearing a document CONTAINING
the signatures of two-thirds of the members OF
both houses, TO demand Tor an extra session
of the Legislature. Judge Stuart is now dead
but am sure that Senator Hurt will testify
that all the communication between us eS-
cepting social courtesy, was to the effect that
1 would take the papers they presented and
hold them under Amusement And SO did,
And / consulted the best lawyers in the
state of Virginia land their names shall be
forthcoming if necessary to see If l could find
a CONSCIENTIOUS escape, under the law from the
QlsaEreeaDle duty, WHICH the Constitution i'm
posed on the Governor, of calling an extra ses-
sion of the General Assembly whenever called
on SO to 10 by 'two-thirds of the members of
both houses thereof" was not anxious then
to meet again a hostile Legislature with which
had been hopelessly struggling through a
weary winter, while General Malone was bask-
ing in the smiles of his friends at Washington
But was not then, as am not now disposed
to shirk any duty because it might be disagree
able or for fear of the consequences to result
from a discharge thereof obeyed my oath.
bowed to the law. called the extra session.
During its continuance l again iuterposed
vetoes TO every political act and gave my rea-
sons frankly and fearlessIy. These writings
are all of record in the journals of the two
houses. and abide the verdict.
THE FINE ROMAN HAND SHOWS.
But what did General Malone do? 1t has al
ready been stated that a presumptive attack
was made on me in the Richmond WHO July
d 1854 1t was signed Xxx; it was dated from
Alum Springs Itwas so published
in General Mahone's own paper, the Richmond
IV6f0 That is, he not only attacked me out
and anonymously in his own paper
hnt ne misdated the letter in order TO make
NV susniciou of the authorship fall on some
one else And have the admission, under his
own signature, that he was the author Of that
letter.
/ was not deceived from the beginning. de- |
tected his fine Roman hand in the proceedings |
a nj aoo,, uncovered IL And vet while ] have 1