Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-09
IN ANTE-BELLUM INCIDENT.
sre- ons of the feeling Ensenaer-
tho Mem.

Few who know the Hon. John Goode, Of
Bedford, tho white haired president of the
recent Constitutional Convention, courily
gentleman OF the antc-belium type Of cul-
tured Nirginians would be inclined to the
bc!scf that hc narrowly missed fighting
e due! With the tate General Jubal A
Early. while the two were members of
the Virginia convention that framed the
ordinance Of secession I. Is a fact new
cTibciess. and il is TO the credit of both
that q saDEniuary encounter was avoided
without diScredit or d.shonor to either
She incident which came SO near ter
1ninstinE in meeting on the field of hon
or grew cut Of the excitement and The
feeling engendered by the debate on the
question Of secession. Mr.. Goode. then
. fiery. eloquent, and spirited young man.
was an ardent seccssion!sts He repre-
scented The county Of Bedford, in the con.
vention. and was active in the debates of
the convention. General Early, then an
officer OF subordinate rank. represented
his native county in the convention.
Opposed Secession.
Strange as II may seem TO those who
knew the white-bcarGed veteran in his lat.
~ Years as one of The most ardent, in
tense, and unconpromisirg followers OF
ihe Confederate cause. wearing it's his.
foric gray 10 the Gay of his death, Gene.
raj EARLY was opposed to secession. an6
sptasonized the dissolution OF the Union
uull the last deciding only TO vote for
The ordinance after President Lincoln
mad issued lbs cali for troops to coercS
the seceded States.
II seems that in the discussion of tho
question of secession Mr.. Goode in lis
zeal fo~ his cause. sought 10 make the
point that the people of General Earlys
county did not endorse MS position as ar
advocate OF the Union he even charged
that The constituents OF General EarIs
we're impatient al the delay he was caus.
Inc. This criticism called forth srir-
lted and Characteristic retort from Gene
raj Early. TO which Mr.. Goode responded
win some yigor and heat General Early
thereupon wrote q letter 10 MIR. Goods.
asking more particularly as TO his mean
Ing ALr. Goode replied with spirit and
dignity yet NTH calnness and modera-
ton, and Mr. afterwards GeneraN Early
closed the incident with frank letter
stating his satisfaction at the under-
standing reached
The Letters Exchanged.
Here are the letters exchanged. which
are taken from the History of Virginia
Constitutions, with which Mir j. N
Brenauaan supplemented his edition of
The new Constitution just issued:
Richmond. March 6, 1851.
American Hotel Is.
Sir,-After your remarks in the conven-
ton to-day, IN which you undertook 10
com. .ent on what YOU supposed 10 he
my position hereto fore. and the position
which / had taken in the remarks ha6
5rst submitted to the convention. anG
after you had referred TO- some letters
you had received from my county. ind
nf1s in he 1rlfi re Of
coastitucnts-when / obtained the floor
] made use OF the following remarks.
which l repeat almost verbatim:
The gentleman from Bedford. whose
Impotence is SO great, whose steam has
been up so high. that he has not been
content with the opportunities afforded
him on this floor TO let it off, but has
taken one or more occasions to let off
some of it in the streets; has thought
proper to step between my constituents
and myself. and informs this convention
and the country that he has received let
tiers from my home showing a great
change IN the sentiments of my constit-
uenfs, and that they are very impatient
st the delay which / have been favoring
Now. ] presume the gentleman has moi
undertaken to give this inforna ton to
the convention and the country unless he
Is willing to give up his authority for
Inc statement, anu can upon MIN lOT AZ
You asked al this point if wished an
answer tken, to which / replied that did
In a very excited manner YOU proceeded
10 comment on the remarks I had made
and said. as near az l can recollect-
When the gentleman from Franklin says
hat | have sought opportunities to lei
off steam in the streets ne makes a state
ulant which is utterly without FONDA
ION" or. which has 40 foundation in
TACT" ] do not reco1iect exactly the pre-
rise expression. but this is the substance.
You coSpled your remarks with the decia-
ration that YOU hel3 yourself responsible
20 me for what you rad said. either on
the floor or elsewhere. This renders it
necessary for me to inquire Of you wheth
.r, In what you did say. you meant to
convey the idea that ! had stated
talsehood or been guilty, of misrepre-
sentation? ] also inquire If you Intended
the expression that you held yourself re-
gponslble 10 me- on the floor or elsewhere.
liz an offensive sense?
our obendicnt servant,
]. a. EARLY
This note will be handed to you by my
friend Thomas James Deane. Esq.