Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-28

community 40 any Ia INC oteses whsso
people thanking me for having used my
influence TO sucil good purpose. Ircmem-
| Der every detail OF the occurrence thusmi'
nutely because IL IL unique IN my expe-
Renee, and have taken pleasure In de-
xcribinq its weird features on several CO.
casions. So much for my incendiarism.
As for my being . Republican the
thing is almost too ridiculous for mem
ton. am q life-long free-trader and
for years before set foot in this coun-
try [ was straight-out dyed-in-the-wool
| Jeifersonian Democrat, have never been
ANYTHING else, and never expect to be.
No power on earth coull induce me TO
affiliate with the party OF protection,
monopolIes, and Millionaire Congresses.
II such statement hurts my hepubii-
can friends cannot help it. Such are
INV principles and / mean to stand by
them. Bnt it appears that because l
supported Major Smith j. Il. White,
a Democratic Readjuster backed by MIR.
A. b. Chandler, our present Democratic
Commonwealth attorney, Captain Hud-
gin has got it into his head that / was
Republican, and perhaps that accounts
for the obstacles thrown in the way OF my
taking ont my naturalization papers at
Bowling Green. But be that as 1t may,
at the very time am accused OF being
Republican Captain Hudgin had pres
ent at the same meeting, IN his behalf,
one white and two colored men, armed
TO the teeth, and there for the purpose
of capturing the meeting. They said
they had "the dokiments." that the
colored people were to vote for Hudgin.
asked them where they got them, and
they answered, "from Fred. Douglas "
So that it appears that Captain Hudgin
had the Republican Administration at
his back at the very time he accuses me
Of making q Republican speech. IL |
had done so. its refrain must necessarily
have been, "Vote for Hudgin." But
the meeting was not under Republican
auspices and went solidly against Hud-
Gin. and for this he has never forgiven
me. As far as Readjusterism is con-
cerned we are all Readjusters now, and
Messrs. Wickham and Hudgin are
preaching as good Beadjuster doctrine
rs tUS DcSb VI
Again Captain Hudgin charges that
/ advised against the payment OF the
State debt, because it represented funds
secured by the sale OF slaves. That is
fabrication pure and simple. | have
always been an ardent and svowed friend
Of the Confederacy, and am sometimes
accused Of being more southern in my
sentiments than a southerner. Neither
can I help that, but 1t shows the utter
impossibility of any such argument ever
proceeding from my lips. L have always
said that if slavery was to be abolished
the slaves should have been paid for, ss
was done by England, and | say so
again. ] came to Virginia sixteen years
ago because | loved her, and L love her
still. regard it as my proudest honor
to be counted among her citizens, and L
have no intention Of allowing my satis-
faction to be interfered with by the
mountains Of gross abuse and personal
defamation with which the exigencies OF
municipalities are now seeking to over
whelm me
Such is my answer to Captain Hud-
gins accusations, and if he is not salts
fed am ready at any time to submit
my case to any properly conducted in
vestigation.
AS Democrats, as true as the truest,
we have this to say: II there had been
any danger at this timo of the Demo
cracy losing control of the State govern
ment we should have obeyed the party
whip with as much docility as hereto
fore, but there is no danger in that di-
rection, and we therefore regard it as q
good opportunity for the Democracy to
improve its position by giving the peo-
pie some Of the remedial legislation they
have been SO long crying for in vain, but
such legislation can never be had at the
hands of the creatures OF railroad cor
porations. G. II. PIRRsoN.
Summit. Va, October "a, 1891.