The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-19

| hts cons,ffuent as one Of the sovereign
| peonle I have perfect right TO criti-
| else his career as politician and az
| legislator in the last General Assembly,
| representing Hanover and KING VIII
| liam, and 10 state why the people whom
represent do not desire him as a public
| servant again.
There was a man whose name fame.
| blood. ard deeds made him very near
! and dear to the homes and hearts Of our
| people. We had seen him. at the first
| cau of virginia, resign IFS commission
| iu the Federal army and tender his
| sword and great abilities as soldier TO
our dear old state in the hour OF her need
| and the extremity OF her danger. Need
| | speak of the deeds of Fiizhugh Lee
! before an audience OF Hanover and Kins
| william men, when | see so many OF
| his brave old troopers here before me;
| Whether in Stuart's raid around McClel-
| Ian. in the Seven-Days' fight. at Chan
| cellorsville Fredericksburg Cold Harbor.
| yellow Tavern, Gettysburg, Petersburg.
| everywhere. till Appcmattcx, the cannon
of F'itz. Lee doomed. his carbines rat
| tied his sabres flashed. and his bold
riders Numbered over the plain to VIC
tory. TO glory and to death, for dear
| old Virginia and her children.
All. well. 1 will say no more OF the
| bloody past. The drama CLOSED anu
the curtain fell. f1tz. Lee. the soldier
| and the hero, as soon as peace relgned
| was at once the citizen and the civilian.
Like the old Roman. he went back 10 MS
| ruined and battle-harried fields. and held
| the plow. till Virginia called him 10 the
| Evecutive chair OF this great Common
| wealth. In memorable campaign he
| cleared out Johnny Wise and Billy Ma
hone so thoroughly that they have not
| given any trouble since. Billy went into
| retirement and johnny left the state.
| What a successful and splendid admins
| tra,ion no gave us, so conservative.
able. and level-headedi The scepire
which no wrested from the enemy he
turned over 10 the gallant Phil Mckinney,
| who. in turn, passed it over 70 that fear
Iess natriot and statesman, Charles I.
O'Ferrall A glorious trio Of Governors,
an furnished By the cavalry. whose DEEDS
like the roar OF their guns and the
thunder of their charging squadrons' VIII
resound and echo forever down the cor
rldors Of time.
IEr cHfrRtp TvFRYwHrRT.
Not only was Fitz Lee great IN bat'ie
ana the Governors ONCE. but he was
a potent factor In removing sectional
feeling and animosity. Not long after
tho var as the guest Of visiting MILL
tarv organization, he rode through Bos-
ION ana was cheered from the depot 10
Hunker Hill and back. ] saw him again.
al the first Inauguration OF Grover
Cleveland. ride down Pennsylvania ave-
me cleared and applauded far beyond
the great Democratic President, whose
love and esteem he posses to-day In
degree higher than any man in the
south. In the funeral procession o.
General Grant, we saw nm ride, with
The admirine eyeys CT great nation upon
him. and stand with uncovered head AZ
the tomb OF the great American soidler
who sleeps at Riverside.
why was he thus welcomed and hon
orodp Because he was brave honest, ana
true. because he was IN peace ana war
a noble representative of virginia anu
Of her people. and because the blood OF
Robert y. Lee ran in the veins OF h's
nephew. ,
When the time came TO elect United
states Senator our eyes turned 10 Fitz
Lee. as one whom the people delighted
To honor. We knew he could BE trusted
because. honest and incorruptible. he had
remained poor The eyes Of a great ma
ton. from the North Pole 10 the Gulf,
and from the Atlantic TO the Pacific, had
been upon him and admiring plaudits had
followed wherever he went. breaking
down the barriers OF sectional prejudice
and hate. He carried with him per-
sonal magnetism which would have ac-
couplished more for us In the Senate
than any other man. We want men In
such places more for our good than their
own.
The only points made with Mr.. Digs by
our people was that he should support
Fitz Lee for United States Senator lie
| would never have reached the Leelsla-
ture. but for his cOmmittal 10 Fltz Lee
| That committal occurred as early rs
March 9Th. 1898. IN a letter from Mr.
Digs. TO Colonel Thomas II. Garter, o
King William, that playmate and school
mate of my youth. that nOble-hearted mar
and splendid soldier. whose cannon Won
fame and glory at Seven Pines and from
thence on, in every battle Of the army o
Robert l.. Lee. until they became dumt
and silent monum snts OF his and his mem
valor at the surrender at AppomattoX.
rHAr LITTER or DIGos'
Colonel Carter in furnishing me thi.
letter, on the 9th Of August. 1885. viii
that tender consideration 50 characters
tic of the brave, heightened gentleman
SAYS: "Unless he CMr. Diggs is a can
didate for denomination. now. / shoul,
prefer you should keep II without public
notice. Should he be a candidate. how
ever. you can use 1t at the nominating
convention, for ! hold that he grossly
mlsreprescnted his constituency in thei
expressed wish IN this matter and in th
event of his again seeking to represent
them, as they are my people and thu
county my home. they are entitled 4
know and TO have an account of hi
stewardship.
Now here Is hlc original letter:
| Law Office of Isaac Dfoge
West Point Mich 9th. 1898.
Colonel Thomas IL. Carter, Washington
-. c.:
Dear Sir,-On my return from Washing
ton. 1 found your letter of the 2Ld inst
In regard 10 General Fitz Lees candi
dacy for the United states Senate. Per
NIT me. first Of all 20 thank you sin
cerely for remembering King William. IL
political sense. and one rs representa-
tive Of the Democracy. am sure Their,
will be no trouble about sending dele
gate from King William. for Genera
Lee. am strongly I'm favor OF his
election myself. and my precinct, Yves
Point. has already passed resolutions en-
dorsing him, and | aprchend no troubl,
whatever from the other part Of tn,
county.
My friends here ana others places 1,
the State are urging me TO become a
candidate for the MONTH alton for IN.
| House Of Delegates from this county
which | have not decided TO do vet
rs ] hear that Colonel AyIett will sc
cept the nomination, II offered Ia him
and feel 1t Is my duty TO support hin
for the nomination, as he win reflect
great credit on the county. II elected
But whether he. or be elected nm
sure that General Lee will have a warn