Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-10-18
EZ-GoV. Cameron On VIM. Malone.

REPLY TO MAHONE'S ATTEMPT TO AS
sAssINATE HIS CIARACTER-A vIGoR-
Gus Description OF THE SPIDER IN
HIS WEB-TIIE MAN A LIAR ANDA cow
ARD WHO CHARGES THAT THE CALL FOR
AN EXTRA SESSION OF THE LEGIsLA-
TURE IN 1891 WAS CORRUPTLY OBTAIN
ED FROM GOV. CAMERON BY DEMO-
Gratis.
&C.. &C, sc.
The Petersburg Inden-Appeal of last
Friday contains the following address of
ex-Gov. Cameron to the people of Virginia:
To the People Of Vjrgip5a:
Elected in the year 1881 by majority APP
preaching IA, 600 votes, and that majority COM
posed of all classes and elements of our pop
ulation to the highest office in your gift, l as
sumed that trust with the sincere desire to
deal honestly with every interest, individual
and general, committed to my charge as Gov
ernOr
For my guidance there was:
First, the Constitution which [ was sworn
to observe and obey.
Second, the laws passed by the General AS
sembly in conSonance with that instrument
which l was sworn to execute.
Third, and subordinate to these, but not less
sacred within proper limitation, the fulfil
mated and elected me-
Reviewing those four years, I claim to have
made continuous and conscientious effort to
reconcile and discharge those obligations,
even when sometimes apparently conflicting.
Perhaps in some respects [ 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 OF
for the want of controlling wish to be faith
full in the execution of all these trusts.
Retiring from that high position, had
hoped to have (and believe 1 have) the ell
dorsement of a large majority OF my fellow
citizens to the fact that my endeayor was
right, no matter what my accomplishment
may have been. Still 1 admit that my ad-
ministration must be judged by its results,
and hold it open to all fair and honorable
criticism. But there is kind OF attack which
is cowardly and improper, and needs to be
met with force of language which, under
ordinary circumstances would not be justifia-
Bile. A reluctance to enter the arena of per-
sOnal controversy has kept me silent, though
FESTIVE, for several years. but now a sense of
self respect and of duty which owe to the
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 emanatlng.
In July, 1884, General William Malone was
United States Senator from Virginia, chair
man of the Republican party of the State,
also chief owner of the Richmond Wh&g then
of Virginia. [ was Governor. And General
Malone then and there, committed the most
daStardly attempt to aSSaSSlnate the political
and personal character of an associate that
can be found in history.
SPIDER IN HIS WEB
He sat like spider in his web at Washing
ton, intent only upon using his bargain with
the Administration for the appointment of
Federal officers i'll 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 Legis-
lature expired, and the objects of our political
opponents had not been perfected. [ 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., section - that the Governor
shnW convene the General Assembly on the
application of two thirds of the members of
both houses thereof" l knew this provision
and had regard for my oath. But in anticipa
ton of any act of mine in regard to an extra
session, occurred the attempt at assassination
to which allusion has been made.
SUGGESTION OF CORRUPT INFLUENCE.
On July %, 1884, appeared in the Richmond
| Wing an article signed Xxx, and dated at
Rockbridge Alum Springs Va, which alleg-
ed in substance that l, William E. Cameron,
| Governor, was about to call an extra session
by two-thirds majority under the threat of
impeachment and military coercion IT did
not yield to that demand. That statement
was as false then as it is now. There is no
man in Virginia who could have come to me,
OF who can come to me, With any threat, or
| with any bride, as to any action that | should
take, personally OF 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
approach me with such proposition.
! | was visited at Old Point by Senator Hurt
President of the Senate of Virginia, and by
Judge Charles E. Stuart, then Speaker of the
| House af Delegates, bearing document con-
members of both houses to a demand for an
extra session of the Legislature Judge Stuart
is now dead, but | am sure that Senator Hurt
will testify that all the communication be-
tween us, excepting social courtesy, was to the
effect that would take the papers they pres
ented and hold them under advisement And
so did. And | consulted the best lawyers in
the State OF Virginia (and their names shall
be forthcoming if necessary to see if | could
find conscientious escape, under the law,
from the disagreeable duty which the Consti-
tuition imposed on the Governor of calling an
extra session of the General Assembly when
ever called on so TODD by 1.-TWO thirds of the
members of both houses"
BAsKING AT WASHINGTON.
was not anxious then to meet again hos
tile Legislature with which had been hope
lessly struggling through weary winter,
while General Malone was basking in the
smiles of his friends at Washington, But l
was not then, as | am not now, disposed to
shirk any duty because it might be disagree
able OF for fear of the consequences to result
from the discharge thereof. l obeyed my
oath. bowed to the law: called the extra
session. During its continuance | again in
| ternOSpu nd
gave my reasons frankly and fearlessly
These writings are all of record in the journals
of the two houses, and abide the verdict.
AssASsIN-LIKE ASSAULT.
But what did General Malone do? 1t has
already been stated that a presumptive attack
was made on me in the Richmond Wig July
%, 1891. 1t was signed XN; it was dated from
Rockbridge Alum Springs. 1t was so pub
| lished in General Mahone's own paper, the
Richmond Whig-that is, he not only attack
ed me outrageously and anonymously in his
own paper but he misdated the letter in order
! to make my suspicion of the authorship fall
on some one else. And | have the admission
under his own signature, that he was the
author of that letter.
FOLLOWED By A DISCLAIMER.
| was not deceived from the beginning. |
detected his fine Roman hand in the proceed
! ings and soon uncovered it, And yet, while
have his letter acknowledging such author
ship under circumstances OF Which any other
| man would De aSllaned ana Wnen he says III
| that letter that it never occurred to him 'that
anything said could be construed into reflec
| ton upon you personally and politically and
that nothing was more remote from my inten-
tion,' yet he has once, twice, thrice, renewed
the charge, each time more extensively and
each time, as his nature is, under cover.
LIAR AND COWARD.
But whether if was filtered through Mr.. Og-
den of the Philadelphia Press or a later cor
respondent of the New York Press, or the
anonymous circular issued from General Ma
homes headquarters the other day, the real
authorship is apparent, and is deserving of
| the denuEciatiom which can best express by