Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-16
A Card from Hon. George ID. Wise.
RICHMOND, Va. July IS. 1890.

To he Editor Of he Dispatch:
was absent from the city on yesterday
or | should in this mornings journals have
taken notice of a card Of Edmund Wad-
dill. which appeared in the Dispatch of
SUNDAY last That card purports 70 be
reply to a speech recently delivered by me
nj a barbecue of the Powhatan Club.
Your report of that speech is. of course.
not full. but contains in substance what
said in the connections TO which this man
Wsddill refers. repeat, and. if possible
with more emphasis, that the man who
would vote as Waddill did for the force
bill-the most infamous measure which
has ever emapated from either house OF
Congress-and bv this means would help
torob for his own and for partisan advantage
his already over-burdened people OF their
rights and their immemoral liberties, Is a
DISGRACE TO the representative character
and his community, and unworthy the
recognition of decent and orderly peo-
Pile.
/ repeat that he stole my seat IN Congress
and acquired it only by the partisan action
of his present Republican colleagues. who
for this purpose not only ignored every
precedent of law. but every suggestion OF
common decency. The record OF his con-
test is black. as | showed in Congress, and
as | shall hereafter be prepared to show,
with perjury.
In the language OF the minority report OF
the committee of Congress 1t will De found
stated that large numbers Of his witnesses
"swore most recklessly and in answer to
leading and suggestive questions, which
seem to have been stereotyped by the con-
testant, absolutely peTJtu'ed Themselves"
| do not need TO argue these positions
among a people who have already passed
Judgment in their hearts upon the robber
of a congressional seat. But II additional
testimony to the baseness of their So
called representative were needed, II IL TO
be found in the two deliberate falsehoods
which his card of Sunday contains.
1st. THAT not single member OF Con-
press of either political party could be
foupd who would intimate that he Cd had
any claim TO the seat ms man was was
present when the proceedings which de
nriyed me of my seat were had, and
when the speech OF Mr.. O'Ferrall Demo
craft. who actually drew the minor
itv report of the Elections Committee, was
delivered. The position OF the Democrats
of the House WAS substantially stated by
Mr.. O'Ferrall, who distinctly averred IN
that speech that my claim 10 dhe seat ,rds taty
sustained by the eruience. Mine was the only
case where it was urged that, no matter
whether the testimony sustained the he
,eas NOT entitled 10 be sedfed. Ii my ayerment5
of fact were sustained | was rightfully
holding INV seat, whilst If the Republican
claim of delay and obstruction was
thought TO be proven ttere ,cds a rdcd'"Y.
Under these circumstances the Democrats
offered as q ompromIse-knoWlng tnat
they could not seat me-to refer the mat
ter back to the people.
Cd. When he affects to believe and states
IN oil 1.H hp
his party to apply equally everywhere-at
the North and South alike-no one knows
better than he the absolute villainy OF a
statement like this. Mr.. Lehlback., OF
New jersey, Republican member Of Con
gress. said in this regard: The law Is
not general and 1t does not provide the
same system for conducting congressional
elections IN every congressional district OF
the United States. question the right to
enact law which shall be made applica-
BILE in some districts and ignored IN others
IL a law is enacted at all for the purpose
of regulating elections let II be so framed
that L will apply uniformly throRehou. all
parts of the country and not depend upon
the petition of any number of citizens"
Mr.. Lehlback, therefore, offered an amend
ment making tbs operation OF the law
co,np,,lsov-y in every congressional district
of the country. Wddku roted AGAINST his
amendment.
Mr.. Ewart. Republican member from
North Carolina, said OF the force bill: III
is a sectional measure designed almost en-
tirely for the South" He added address
ing members from the North; foa rerv
,ceA kr.o,c that you rouId not ddre 70 dppty mts
la,c as IL triH hare 10 De dppaed IN me SCUM "'
,Ss S,s,,.icts ,rhich yorf represent today"
have only to add. Mr.. Editor, that when
nan aun,lements stealing and general