The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-06-26
MORE OLD CHESTNUTS
A warning 20 Office seekers-senator BHek-
burn Proven so be 3. +. N'-Nirg'niaa
Foolish Generosity.

occurred which I now propose 70 relate thht
the story may prove useful lesson and a
salutary warning 20 some who are ambitious
20 serve the country in public Office. IN 1880
met in fredericksburg at the house Of
mutual friend member Of Congress who
Lad been % comrade IN arms. lie kindly sug-
ce>ted 90 me that / could ameliorato the res
aueustp domi, which I candialy confessed,
by coming on 20 the capital and obtaining
remuneratiye office. then at the disposal of
the Virginia delegation. who were oil, with
one exception Democrats and my personal
.nends Acting upon this advice, ana gath
eriug the sineWa OF war frofn hOOp-poles and
railroad ties. grown on ground consecrated
alike Oy the blood Of the brave VINO wore
the blue and the gray fastened 20 pay my
respects 10 the dispensers Of Federal patron
age. Called first upon my lifelong friend.
Mr Tucker. Tie expressed regret that
he was already committed 70 an
immediate constituent who he sad
would not get the appointments 9nd
he would go for mo on second oallot-
He also kindly introduced me O. sunset g.
OF New York the author Of tho law Which l
hoped % administer gave me letter 70
President Hayes. who received mo most
graciously. and gave me note 70 tue chieI
Of bureau. saying 10 would give nm pleasure
i'll should receive tho appointment MT
Cox called with me upon the chief who told
me in this case 10 would give him pleasure %
ratify tho action Of the Virginia delegation.
Thus oil went merry as marriage
bell. and relying upon the prom
iscs OF friends ] had no doubt
as 90 tina vote Of the delegation.
Judge of my surprise and wrath when in
formed by ms friends that ] was defeated 10y
the vote and luiuence oil the friend and COM
rad0 by whose advice had applied for the
Office. ] returned % the weird woods OF the
wilderness o saddor, wiser. but o wrathtul
man. And alta mente repostum" lives the
increasing desire 10 intlict Just retriDution
upon the false friend into whose keeping be-
fore this treachery j would have trusted my
lfe or honor. lie may yet be- the mark for
bolts. forged In dark cyclopUan caves and
red with uncommon wrath.
Air. Tucker sympethized deeply with NY
disappointment. and j suppose % alleviate 10,
invited me 10 meet several gentlemen
a3m mitt0e-rO0m the then celebrities of the
House. sunset Cox whose first words were
lSe the eteryescent pop ol a champagne bot
fIe j was sorry not to meet Colonel Bob
fngersou OF whom Mr. Tucker thought
highly as "a genial gentleman of chlvairOus
honor whose rhetoric was as perfect and
splendid as bis logic was weak and false.
PRESIDENT Garfield was then the Republican
leader of the House. Mr.. Tucker said of
L.m He is the brightest If not the ablest
nan here, and as thoroughly good
fellow as such @ bitter Republican can
level best o. go O. heaven, but fear he has
already found ont that when he quit preach
iuE and went into politics and come here 20
Washington. be had got TAR out OF the direct
route TO the pearly gates. Why, said L, Is he
NOT on tho cheap transportation water line,
where they give "a through ticket by baptism,
Oh yes. be replied; his folks, Garfield said,
were first called Christians az Antioch. but 1
replied Campbeltes in these latter days.
Hon. Joe Blackburn, now senator from
kentucky. was also present. hr. Tucker told
me before they came in Don't be afraid of
these big bugs they are generally humbugs,
shake of the hay seeds rise o. the blue en-
pvrean. battle your plumage IN the tbuuders
home. and dlsport as You would before the
average Virginia alligator legislator and
you viii astonish and delight them. ] have
led them e. expect something extra. Some
what mihed, ] replied: Ina that case you must
do your Owl talking. 1 ann neither an Adml-
liable CrChtOn or conversational mOnteDank
ready tO make an exhibition for your amuse-
meut or that OF your distinguished friends.
Here No were interrupted by the entrance
of the gentlemen above named. and j Will
only say that Mr. Garfield made upon me
mOst favorable impression az "a thorough gen
teman. discriminating hterateur and accom-
pllsDed statesman.
SENATOR BLACEBURN AN ,. J.. ".
After pleasant but desultory conversation.
Tucker and Blackburn Joined issue upon the
old old controversy between the last and
the Nest The latter stated his case with Wit
and pungency. Rldlcuhng the absurdlty OF
the exclusive pretensons and generally base
less arist0Cratlc claims of the r. +. VS., who
lived ou behring's and past recollecu0ns and
the bones of their dcfuuct ancestors, Tucker
having 60 bear the weight ~ long and Illus
triOus lineage j thought did not fully come
up 70 time. So i yentured t0 hls and. Mr..
Blackburn, f said. .ei mo begin by saying /
WINS born ON the sunset side of the Father of
II
West think and feel On this subject.
have long bad "a RlroWd suspicion that
unless under exceptionally favorable clrcuIn-
stances no man can reasonably nope to get
% the Legislature .r Congress who is known
% have an hon IraOle and distinguished au-
cestry. II lbs father barely escaped convc-
ton for am Infamous crime and his mother
had the reputation # being no better than
che ought TO Doe tie aspIrant for
popular favor was fairly eligible and
could pose before the rude DemOc-
racy as sof-made man and empha-
sizo effectively tle popular delusion
that iu this Tree country w0 recognize no dis
tiucuous ~ blood and breeding, but thank
heaven that one man ls as good as another
and maybe sight better. Pardon me.
sir this was more OBJ less the case in my youth
and far west of kentucky Now J am told
the horse has been az oD| ect lesson 20 your
people who now are inclined 10 believe
chat tho same eternal laws OF
Incredibly which obtain with pigs, pOul- /
try sheep. swine and horses may possibly
apply 90 folks Therefore / hope, Mr. Black
burn % VIII not greatly distress you TO know
t.at you arc long descended h. +. " of the
registered herd-bOok type. With emotion he
said now without any more TESTING If you
can te. $3.50 who 10y people were IN Virginia
F VIII esteem 10 O great favor. Sir, replied,
would YOU dare 90 wear the coat of arms to
which j can prove YOU are entitled on your
next canvass ia Kentucky No in this couu-
trg % SIS not 20 be worn. but should he /
cherished and reverenced as your own
l.l4r OF your wifes virtue, with proud |
humility q deep but silent regard. We only
haow Ho came from Virginia soon after the
leuutou. but have lost all trace of our
original family. Tradition says they were gen
te..ls and gave tue name to Blackburns
lord ou Bull Run near Manassas. replied: /
lol ro The nearest relative of my wife on the
f-l-er side For that reason and another j /
H explain 4 felt much Interested ~ /
la kentucky Blackburns. My friend |
--i .assmate. General John w lmboden, /
i.d me thai when his brigade was pickeung /
le Occ0quau he rode tOa commanding hiu, |
N.lie lis couriers were ordered % report 20 /
ll Tying bis horse 90 q bush near what /
seemed % bo the ruins Of on old mansion he /
vas startled by the hollow ring beneath the |
ll.s of his horse. Upon examination re /
.4a le was paving upon marble SLAB; |
d.