Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-11
NOT A BED OF ROSES,
4 PEEP AT THE DAILY LETTERS.
kPsssiss from cranks and Jail Birds--Faith.
ui W'vvs and wccthearts-Impaticnt
Visitors and Uncnding Takers.

ION and inform Governor OFerrail that
ne was tho choice OF viryinia's people
Tor the subcrnatorial chair.
~ Is safe TO say that the Gray Eagle"
was already pretty wen aware OF his
good fortune. but the appointment OF the
committee was merely an act OF parlia-
men,sry courtesy. performed In accord
ence With the traditional etiquette OF the
distinguished body
IL was several weeks after the election
when the committee visited the capital
city. and nearly everyone In the Union
Gnew that the gallant ex-cavalry Colonel
had swept tho old Dominion by an over
~htlming majority. but all the same the
ndEust legislators went forth TO do their
duty. That jolly little senatorial cherub.
Hon. William I.ovcnstcin. was perhaps the
Oily fellow in the party who saw the
"hsmor Of the expcdition-the Joke In tell
sng nan that he was elected after he
had read II in the papers weeks before
and received hundreds OF congratulatory
letters. Before the committee had for
snally announced their errand Senator
Iivcns7eln saw the Governor privately.
and said TO him. without cracking smile:
Colonel wc have come TO see II you
viii accept the position OF Governor OF
Virginia, and tomorrow my committee
VIII publicly put the question 20 you"
The Chief observation-disclosures to-be looked
into the serious face. and reading the
" mike in the Senatorial Cherub's eye. he
replied: "Wer Senator. TO relieve your
rXiety I'll tell your right now that I'll
peoept the place"
The humor Of Senator Lovenstein's ques-
7ton lay in the implied doubt az to whether
the Governor would accept the position
a place which he had worked for like
Trojan. and which is to-day the hand
soonest and most -honored Office within the
gift Of Nrginias citizens. No man IN
History has ever been known 10 refuse
The Office and without presuming TO be n
prophet. It f. safe to say that no man
ever will. provided he gets a chance at
It. But all the same the gubernatoral
chair Is not. fguratively speaking,
cushioned seat. nor does the man who
ILLS II reVcl on howery beds Of ease. The
trials OF the office are manifold. and but
seldom unbroken-in fact. never, except
ON those occasions when. once "a month";
the salaries Of State officials are paid.
To begin az the beginning. the United
States malls are the first things that
harass the Executive II would be well
nigh Impossible for the outside public to
form conception OF the contents Of the
hundreds Of letters that pour into the
office. They come from nearly all parts
of the globe and. In some instances, the
chirography and composition are marvel
1Ous In 1ve cases out OF ten the episto-
larry artist writes in a calm. self-confident
way. asking the Governor for some posi-
ton within his gift, and states as a
''clincher to his claims that he voted
for the Governor at the last election. No
man is slower 10 forget his friends than the
great Rockingham Democrat, but mas
much "a he has only two or three offices
within his gift outside of the appointment
of members Of boards he is not in a posi-
ton to satisfy all his constituents.
There Is a touch of pathos in many Of
the letters from the office-seekers, and
Rome OF them would melt the hardest
heart. They come from old men and old
women. lettering with age, and from
youths who wish TO battle with the world
in support of their families Anything
Is their appeal-anything TO put bread into
their mouths and scare away the wolf
at the door. OF course the Governor is
powerless 10 help the sufferers. who often
say that they are hungry. even as they
write. but he always responds 10 the let
tiers I'm the most pathetic way. But the
pathos of the gubernatorial mail bag is
nothing compared to the cheek Of some
of the correspondents. Frequently they
write asking for a loan of money. and
some of them IN their placid impudence,
request the sending of the check at once.
These persons are people Gnom the Gov
ernor has never heard of-peOplc who have
no claims upon him whatever. and yet
they imagine that he will Cheerfully lend
thfnn ten. fifteen. fifty, or hundred
dollars.
of the communications that come from
rural and uneducated citizens In many
cases their letters are absolutely unin-
teiligible and the Chief Executive Is ad-
dressed In all sorts OF ways. One man
went so far as TO call him Your Hig-
ness" Here is communication which
came from Kentucky "A few days ago.
Dear Sir.--Letters received here from my
brothers at w. Va, and news |
papers claim me as dead, and fearing II
NAV cause some unnecessary delay in
the payment OF the reward offered by
your State TO the proper parties, i write
to inform you IL is mistake. i am not
the dead man Respectively, ---.
The Governor replied 10 the supposed
CORPSE that the tone of the letter-in fact,
the letter itseff-pretty well convinced
him that the writer was still in the land
OF the living. but he would have to be
more explicit. az his epsstle conveyed no
idea what heiwas writing about
Nearly every mall brings a petition for |
the pardon of some poor devil in the peni- |
Tertiary or jail In fact It is safe TO say |
that half the convicts in the prison have |
asked executive clemency since their In |
generation. and there are hundreds Of pc |
titions on file in the office. They offer all |
sorts OF excuses. and In nearly every case !
they plead the proverbiai widowed mother |
and nine little children"
OF course no one ever gets a pardon |
unless the grounds furnished are most |
excellent. If the prisoners health is fail |
ing, or the papers show that there were /
peculiarly extenuating circumstances he |
may stand some chance OF regaining his /
liberty. but otherwise his chances are
slim. Now and then-that Is to say, about /
once a year or theresbouts-some particn-
larly touching fact Is brought forth In the
petition, and the executives find that they |
cannot harden their hearts against II. but
this is rare IL would never do TO free
prisoner on grounds OF sympathy. for every |
case appeals TO ones more generous emo
tons. The mothers, sisters. and wives
OF the convicts always interest themselves
In behalf of their sons, brothers. ana
sweethear,s: and nearly every pardon
granted Is brought about through their
energy and affection.
Nowhere n the fidelity OF woman better |
exemplifsed than In those unfortunate
creatures who come to plead for clemency 1
with the Governor. II you see an humble. |
moek-eyed little woman zip into the ONCE,
and quietly seat herself In secluded cor
ner 10 await her turn among the callers. |
you can generally set her down as the
wife OF convict or jail-bird. Sometimes
they will uncompiainingly walt hours for
an audience and never murmur; but when /
once In the presence Of the Executive they 4
are eloquent. IL pardons were granted
on grounds OF sympathy every one OF
these poor women would obtain clemency /
for the erring ones they represent. and
verify. ] believe the Governor would be
happy TO grant It,
The petitions for pardon which are