Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-08
a Card from Mr.. james I. Lewis.
e Editor Of the DIspatch:

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
ask the use Of the columns of your
paper to repel an attack on my character
which appeared I'm the Times OF February
>. 1871. The article would have been no.
tfced ere this. but for the fact that the
matter was in the hands Of my lawyer,
and by their advice l have waited until
The Legislature has finally determined the
personnel Of the Electoral Board OF Hen
rico county.
I now pronounce az untrue every state
Inent made in that article in
regard to myself Shielding them
selves under communication adj
dressed TO legislative committee
which under the law is a privilege mat
ter, they have seen III To pour poison into
the public ear. attempting to AFFECT my
character. These charges. l am con-
strained 10 believe, not one of them would
have been made, nor would the paper
have publish ID II without the protection
that this cloak of the Legislative Com
mittee afforded. And being an officer OF
the law no redress H. left TO me except 10
make such of those parties who can De
reached by process Of law TO answer Tor
their attack In the courts OF TINS COM
monwealth.
Owing 10 the manner in which the aru-
Gle or statement was made, am de-
privcd OF the right Of obtaining redress
against either the Times or the parties
whose names appear as the retailers OF
this SANDER with the exception OF Mr.
q Gorge T.. Anderson, and against him
my lawyers have instituted suit. Now,
as to the charges against me:
!. ! deny emphatcaly that | ever voted
any ticket except the straight Demo-
cratic ticket. and have never in my life
scratched any ticket nominated at
primary or recognized as n Democratic
ticket. And in this faithful adherence
to the principles Of my party challenge
each and every one OF my accusers to
make the same statement.
2. As 70 the charge of dismissal from
the post-ofice for cause. pronounce this
statement false. In my dismissal there
was nothing that could in any way affect
my character. but the sole and only
cause was that n Republican postmaster
dismssec me because l happen 10 be
(what all my accusers are noD straight
out Democrat. refer TO the present
postmaster Of Richmond as to my ability
and standing az a carrier. and as TO the
efficiency OF my service whilst serving
under him.
n representative man: That depends upon
what standpoint and what criterion you
take properly TO estimate mans stand
ing II my accusers mean that I have
not the wealth nor the afiluence that some
OF them are so fortunate as TO possess,
such "a DR.. Patterson. and the like. then
I must plead guilty 10 the charge: but
II they refer to the fact that | do not
stand well In my community. as far as
my character and position are concerned,
deny II most emphatically, and would
refer them 20 the large majorities l have
always received in running for Office
within the gift of the people.
4. Now. as 10 Keeping open the store
on Sunday, the facts are as follows: Ny
sistcr-in-law Is the owner Of the store. and
] have no interest whatever In IT. 1t Is
'--~-o-"rocerv handling pershable goods,
fresh meats, etc; and II II Is a violation
q. tne Jaw 10 deliver such articles to Gus
toners on Sunday do not know il. Some
of the judges have held, so l am informed.
that IT is not n violation. BE this as Il
is. IL any of my accusers had reason to
believe that I was a transgressor of the
law. or knowingly permitted a violation
OF the same, the courts OF this land were
open to them, and II any one OF them
had appeared before any of the proper
officers of the county the matter would
probably have been inquired into. But
In this covert way, under the shield OF a
committee OF the Legislature, they en-
deavor to iniure me and my character
without rendering themselves liable 10
suit for SANDER or libel
Respectfully. JAMES T. LEWIS.