Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-28

Colonel j. i. Fitzgerald, Attorney AZ Law
Farmville, Va.
Dear sir,-I have been appointed coun-
sci for the sound-Money League OF Rich
mond and for the Committee on state
Organization.
I would be glad TO know whether your
sympathies are with us in this fight and
II so, whether l can have your ective
professional cooperation in your district
from now until after the election. II so,
/ would be glad to receive some sugges-
ton from you as 20 the retainer. which.
under the circumstances. you would be
willing 20 accept.
have reason 10 believe that wd will
be In position TO pay proper fees for
professional services in insuring a fair
election, but In that connection l would
express the hope that you win be willing
TO name much smaller fee than you
would expect in a matter more Of a bust
ness nature.
II your sympathles are not with us in
this matter, l beg that you VIII consider
this letter strictly confidential.
Awaiting your valued fav0rs. which
trust TO receive at an early date, L am,
Yours very truly. a. b. GUIGON.
Farmvlre. Va. August &c. 1896
Mr.. A. y. Guigon. Attorney at Law, Rich
mond Va:
Dear Sir.-I have received your letter
in which you were pleased TO inform me
that you have been appointed counsel for
the Sound Money League Of Richmond.
and for the Committee on State Organi-
cation.
You express desire 10 know if my
sympathies are with you I'm what you
term this fight" and IL they are. you
then desire 10 know whether you can
have my active professional cooperation
ia my district from now until after the
election, and II you can, then you desire
TO receive from me some suggestion as 10
the amount Of the retainer. which. under
the circumstances. viii be willing to ac-
cept
You failed TO inform me Of the nature
OF the business which the Sound Money
League Of Richmond proposes 10 trans
act. and OF the purposes for which the
league has been formed. and of the me-
thods which have been or are 10 be
adopted to accomplish those purposes.
You likewise failed TO inform me for
what purpose and how the State is TO be
organized by the committee.
Until j am fully informed Of the nature
and methods 1t will be impossible for me
TO say whether my "sympathies" are
with you or with those whom you pro-
pose to eight"
II has not been my custom as a lawyer
to accept a retainer or to name the
amount Of the retainer to be accepted
land II is only as a lawyer. and in mat
tiers Of a purely business nature. that
receive retainers), except and until have
been I'm fffff Tncearufop If oote
in the case of the proposed client, nor
until after applying 10 those facts the law
as understand il, both my judgment and
my conscience are satisfied that the case
has at least a show Of right, and that in
maintaining II before the tribunal by
which 1t is 20 be decided, 1 shall be re-
CURED to do nothing contrary to the
moral law.
Being In Ignorance of the purposes and
objects had In view by the Sound Money
League Of Richmond and Of the methods
OF organization 70 be adopted and pre-
scented by the Committee on State Organ
ization. / am al a loss TO conceive what
legal rights the league has, or how those
legal rights. II any Il has. are TO he
erected by the Potion of the people
on any one or more OF them upon
the political issues now before them.
or why the league should be will
ing 10 pay me, as a lawyer fee
10 protect those rights. or by what legal
process, and before what court /. after
receiving retainer would endeavor so
20 do. The silence Of so eminent a prac-
utioner OF the law as the general counsel
OF the league. when he seeks to asso-
ciate my professional services with his
own. and his failure 70 send me a copy
of the charter Of Incorporation Of the
league. adds 10 my perplexity.
ii may be that my perceptions are OBJ
fuse, ana that when 1 have been fully
Informed Of the purposes and objects of
the Sound-Money League Of Richmond.
and OF the methods II proposes TO pursue
for the accomplishment OF those pur-
poses. that ! will be satisfied that some
one. or all OF the people Of my district
are about TO perpetrate a grievous wrong.
and TO infringe upon the legal rights of
the Sound-Money League OF Richmond by
the manner in which the right OF suffrage
VIII be exercised at the next election.
IL from the further information which
you no doubt will furnish me. I shall
thus become satisfied in judgment and
In conscience, l shall then feel myself
at liberty 10 advise with you. the lead
ing counsel Of the league, and to give
you my active professional cooperation.
in order correctly 10 determine the best
and surest way TO prevent the perpetra-
tion Of the wrong and the injury to the
legal rights OF the Sound Money League
or Richmond. and what legal remedy
shall be used-whether "mandamus." TO
compel the people 10 vote as the league
directs or prohibition" TO inhibit them
from voting in a way contrary 10 the
wishes of the league or "Quo warranto. "
20 test the constitutional right OF the
people to vote at all. or Injunction" TO
restrain them, not only from voting, but
from desiring 10 vote upon pending poll
tical issues. At the risk Of being accused
OF advising In case in which | have not
yet accepted q retainer. I will say that
possibly 1t has already occurred TO you
that the last. injunction" is the most
appropriate remedy. and that a prece-
dent can be found wherein this remedy
was efficiently used against refractory
people, not, II Is true, I'm behalf Of q
sound-money league. but OF a railroad
syndicate. and Il may not be very diff
cult TO convince some court that they
are kindred organizations. II under the
conditions named. j shall conclude
that you can have my active profess
sional cooperation. the retainer which.
under those circumstances will require
viii depend upon the enormlty OF the
wrong l shall undertake 10 prevent the
magnitude Of the legal rights of the
Sound-Money League Of Richmond which
] shall undertake to protect, but more es-
pecially upon the extent Of the profess
sional services 1 shall be called upon to
render
You further say I'm your letter. 81
have reason 10 believe that we VIII be in
position 20 pay proper fees for profess
slonal services in insuring a fair election,
but In that connection would express the
hope that you will be WILLING IN nopno