Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-19
John Tyler and benjamin watkins
Leigh.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:

To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
Suffer a slight correction Of &c. c. w"
in your columns for last Sunday. He
gets his history somewhat mixed in tell
ing about the politics Of sixty years ago.
Some time after 1882 mot before IT," as
G. c. w. says the Senate passed resolu-
tons severely condemning Jackson for
removing the government deposits from
the United States Bank. The Virginia
Legislature then strongly JacksOnian)
instructed the two senators-B. w. Leigh
and John Tyler-to vote TO expunge the
resolution. when the matter came
up for action, Mr.. Leigh" says q. c. W,
refused 10 obey the instructions, and
resigned" "Mr. Tyler refused TO obey,
but declined TO resign" The facts are
just the reverse. Leigh held on and re-
fused 10 obey. Tyler refused to obey,
but resigned. Leigh resigned year later,
but for personal reasons This was in
1896. But this g. not all. G.. G. ". says
that the Wing convention at Harrisburg,
unanimously rendered the nomination 10
Ben amin Watkins Leigh for Nice-Pres-
dent: but, with distinguished self-abro-
CATION. he rose I'm the convention and de-
cined II. Thereupon, John Tyler was
nominated Against this statement we
have Leigh's own letter. published I'm
Nlbs's Register Volume LXI., page 232. in
which he states that far from being the
choice Of the convention. he was con-
WINGED that no one thought seriously OF
him. His name was not mentioned in
the convention. but some one whispered
II in the committee 1t seems that the
same element of northern manufacturers
and anti-Masons who had procured Clay's
defeat and Harrison's nomination did
scheme in a feeble way against Tyler;
~
proached-Tallmadge Leigh. Bell. and
William c. Preston. But so far pitched
were these movements. that TO use the
language OF the conspirators. the at
tempt failed In the case of Preston.
since not single southern delegate ap-
proved the suggestion OF his nomination
for VicePre sident." These schemers Cd
posed Tyler for the same reason as they
opposed Clay Clay had written that the
protective policy must be abandoned (see
his letter 10 Henry A. Wise, Letters
and Times Of the Tylers. l., con-: and
Tyler's well-known States rights
views were in the same line.
But 1t ia a fact that while they succeeded
in preventing the nomination OF Henry
Clay. they entirely failed in preventing
that Of John Tyler. who had already re-
ceived a nomination for the vice-presi-
dency four years before.
Mr. Leigh was a man Of extraordinary
powers. a fine lawyer. and an excellent
debater exemplary in all the relations Of
private life. But there is no doubt his
conduct in refusing TO obey the resolu-
tons of instruction passed by the Vir-
ginia Legislature in 1886 made him I'M
popular with the people at large and
rendered his nomination as Vice-Presl-
dent impossible. AS the champion OF
instructions in 1872. when his resolutions
censurlng Senators Giles and Brent for
not obeying the instructions Of the Legis-
lature at the previous session were
adopted. he was peculiarly situated at the
time OF his refusal in 1896 to obey the
command Of the Legislature TO vote for
the expunging resolutions.
This statement may be Of no practical
value. except 20 set truth right. Y.