Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1899-06-24
letters from the People.

tors" into personal attack upor
himself is somewhat of surprise tc
MS When he assumed craftsmanship
OF the meeting at Hallwood he lost
his identity and became simply the
official head of deliberative body
and as such we criticised his rulings
The scathing criticisms Of the rulings
of Speaker Reed is fresh in the m ndt
of all of us, but did any one of intel
ligence ever suppose the authors oil
those articles intended them as per
sonal reflections.
We admit this to be an extreme
illustration but it brings out the
point we wish to make.
We rather expected something OF
the rantankerous style from Mr.
Thos. Kelly, signing himself "a Vet,
eran,n il he essayed reply to our
communication being necessary
for him to keep his war-lille spirit be-
fore the people in order that he be
not forgotten-we therefore, pass his
ebullition without comment, save, to
advise that he quiet himself and keep
his emblems of war safe and secure,
as they have already served their pur-
pose and will come in handy in
another four years.
Returning to DR.. Fletcher's letter
in which he says: 81 did not intend
to take any part in the newspaper
discussions now going on'' and pro-
nounces the communication of
Spectators as untrue, we wish to
say in reply to the first part of this
statement that the very first letter in
the News signed Member of COM
mitteen that showed bitterness, and
certainly aroused resentment in
others and possibly the cause of all
the feeling that has since been en-
gendered, had for one of its signers
DR.. Frank Fletcher. To the last
charge we call attention to the fact
that after occupying column and a
third of space in the ENTERPRISE,
if he has even attempted to con-
trovert but one statement made by
us we have failed to see it and that
one is in regard to the recognition of
Mr.. J. II. Fletcher and this we think
we can make clear. We assert that
while the discussion was open to non
members of the Camp MIR. j. H.
Fletcher rose certainly twice if not
three times and failing to get recogni
ton resumed his seat, though he was
called for repeatedly by the audience.
1t was now found unless this part of
the programme was dispensed with
we would not get to vote before
train time aud this was accordingly
done, then it was that MIR. Thos.
Scott asked that Accomac G. H., be
given three minutes in which to state
what she would offer. The audience
calling again for Mr.. Fletcher, he and
Mr. A. J. Lilliston rose simultaneous
ly and Mr.. Fletcher remarked the
papers were in the hands of Mr..
Lilliston and he could make the
statement for our side If the Chair
recognized either of those gentlem en-
we did not see it and thought it an
between themselves.
We stated the Chair extended the
time of Mr. Rev and this is not de-
MED, only saying in eXtenuation that
all speakers spoke over time. Probas
bly, they did, but Mr.. Rev rs much
as any one else and he was the only
one whose time was extended. The
purport ri Mr. Broughton's motion to
allow outsiders to speak was seen as
soon as Mr.. Rev rose. Our statement
that the amendment offered by Mr..
Lilliston was ruled out of order is
acknowledged with the explanation
that this was done on the combined
advice of Mr.. Scott and Mr.. Weaver.
We asserted that ex-Confederates
were not allowed to vote who were
not members of the Camp and that is
conceded with the remark that it
was a wise provision, for at least one
man applied to vote who never could
have been q member OF the Camp.
We happen to know who this man
was and to know now it is claimed he
came home little too soon, though
while in the service. better soldier
never shouldered gun, and for the
moment felt sorry when pressed
forward with this gentle,-an near the
close of the meeting, blfore the vote
was announced, an.r when most vi
the people had left the hall and urged
that he be allowed to vote as he told
us ne had been a member OF the
Camp five years. We were met with
tie reply he was deserter, but when
we told older gentlemen about this
occurrence they were surprised that
he should have been refused
for that reason, as certainly two
others said to have the same
record had been called and their
votes recorded to sustain the conf
mittee's report. Now the vote that
has been talked about SO much: we
have never said Mr.. Wise kept a
fraudulent count and we are equally
loatb to think Mr.. J. H. Fletcher, Mr..
John w. Edmonds, Mr.. John s. Par
SONS and MIR. VIM. Fletcher would be
guilty of such thing These gentle
men were in the same room, though
occupying different locations, heard
the same names called and same re-
sponses, yet gave five majority for
the resolution TO allow eX>Confeder-
ates to vote and the count of Mr..
Wise was 25 to % against. These
gentlemen are equally reliable and
while somebody is in error we do not
charge anyone with fraud.
Now, Mr.. Editor, we retire perma-
nently from the monument discus
sion WlCQOuG eACuse w Ouer Or tpOlO-
gy to make for our interest in this
matter. We have worked in season
and out of season for the location of
the monument at the G. H., which
we think the only proper place in
Accomack county. For those who
have unsheathed their swords in the
day time and fought us in the open
we have the kindest feelings, but for
any who have selected tortuous routes
and winding ways, we have only con
tempt. We have been present at
every public gathering Of Hartman
son>West Camp and have spent our
money freely and without regret.
That our motives are now considered
sordid and mercenary, that we have
been censured for our interest shown
and abused for our activity is of little
moment to us. According to the in
scrutable workings OF Divine Prov
idence Harmanson-W West Camp will
soon be extinct and in the language
of their great Jackson they must pass
over the river and rest beneath the
shade with their comrades, then it
will be that the care and perpetual
zion of tboeo slant em h1ems of nOhla