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


and last decisive ballot. he did not vote
at all and when he was questioned De-
fore the committee as to why he d'd
not vote when he was silent. was. he
cause did not choose TO vote.
As his constituent, panied and moru-
fed by the course Of my representative.
I wrote him kind. courteous, and re-
spectful letter, asking him. as / had
a right TO ask q public servant, to ex-
plain a course which seemed so strange
10 me. His reply was 10 mall me
copv of The Richmond Times. which. he
said. contained his evidence almost YER
bat,rn. as given before the investigating
committee This" said he on postal
CARD sis my explanation. and the only
one I have ever given and the only one
| have TO give" His people had q
right TO demand an account OF his stew
ardship. Has he ever given II In this
matter? Can !. or can you. my fellow
citizens. endorse man who, knowing
your wishes and tho man you loved and
wanted as senator. stood by In silence
and saw him stricken down I'm the city
which he risked his life thousand times
IN defend and save, and In the Capitol
where for four years he sat. with rare
wisdom and courage. IN bright ana giori-
Gus administration Of his great Office?
For the first time in the history OF
Virginia. the railroads, by defeating Lee
and electing Martin have controlled our
LEGISLATURE. Here lies the danger of the
future, and "a one Of the people, speak
ing for the people, I warn my country
men OF the impending dangers. Let the
railroads and other corporations furnish
candidates money for election purposes.
and they will control their votes and
81 nj tho canlf1QfCg VIII OpcY
the railroads.
Mr. DIGGs AND The RAILROADS.
Because. Mr.. Diggs by his silence. aided
the railroad candidate, and forgot his
people. say send him there no more.
Send him there, and you, his constituents,
say: 1--WE told you 10 vote for Lee. but
you would not obey us. We, therefore,
endorse and approve your course, and
send you taCkw
Thus the servant deiies his masters.
becomes an autocrat, and representative
| popular gos Crnment IL at an end. There
was much in that senatorial election 10
shock and warn the people: but in the
midst OF It all there was one
man-that superb soldier and states
man, Eppa Hunton, who remained In
/ his place I'm the U.ited States
| Seratc. and seeing what was going on
telegraphed to his son: Conduct my
| car vass on the highest plane" Greatly
as / admire and esteem John w. Daniel
| and personal friend OF his as | am. wish
he had staid there. too, and had not
come down 10 join in the struggle that
overwhelmed Fitz Lee. What the people
condemned in Malone. cannnt he approx
/ ed of In Daniel. and as a public servant
| he Is neither too great nor too high for
| his political course and public acts 10 be
respectfully discussed by one Of his con-
! sttuents.
Now have said nothing against Thorn
az :. Martin-not as much as Mr.. Diggs
/ has In his letter to Colonel Carter. |
know him WE'LL and once measured
swords with him for about ten days in
law case. He is an able man. HIS
succers shows IL; but what say is that
my people did not know him; knew and
loved Fitz Lee. and wanted Mr.. Diggs 70
vote for him every time. and be did not
| do II. and does not choose 10 tell why he
aid not do so. Mr. Diggs has said in his
letter 10 Colonel Carter that 1.-The argu-
ment used In favor of the election Of
| Martin was sufficient for not electing
! him" And i'm this case l agree with
| him, n MIR. DigKs be correct in what
he said about him This | krow. that
when Fitz Lee went down great cry
/ OF Indignation and grief went up all over
/ our TidcHa alter country, and the feeling
was that a day Of settlement would yet
come for the deep damnation OF his
! taking of" And when Grover Cleveland.
! big-hoarted friend Of the great Virginia
| cavalry leader, picked him up all bleed
| ing and bruised. from the spot where the
railroads had beaten and cast him out.
| the man who had FOR you barred his noble
! bosom 10 all the storms of war, and put
/ him in an Office that would Jet him live,
| there was q sentiment of gratitude Tor
! the noble and graceful act.
God bless the President for his kindness
10 the Confederate soldier Of Virginia
and 10 Fitz Lee. Because Mr.. Diggs did
not respect the hallowed sentiments OF
/ his people and stood by silent like Paul
cOnsentng to the death of stephen,
| say he should not be now endorsed by
| denomination. All around us in this his
| tOric county Of Hanover. great In her
! men. great I'm her battlenelds. great in hel
graves survive, as | trust, the imperish-
! able memories Of Robert +. Lee, Of w
II. +. Lee and OF Fitz Zee. their bold
troopers and soldiers fill honored and
| sacred graves, and wherever they may
steep. unknown and forgotten in fields
| forests. on the mountains. and in the
| valleys. immortaized by their deeds. thell
heroism and their sufferings. they arc
not forgotten by Nature, nor by God.
The winds Of autumn still sigh In sor'
row over II cir graves and deck ther
with the russell and golden splendor:
Of falling leaves. Winter eacn wear wrap;
them in her pure and snowy winding
sheet till spring shall come with greer
grass and lovely flowers. borne by fail
women's hands to deck the nonored anC
hat II
With these sentiments In my heart.
sry that when | forget the Confederate
folders. living or dead, l should cxpec
my God to forget me,