The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-04-30
which you write was mailed to Governor
Russell several days ago.
Very truly yours,
L IL RIISBEE.

very indefinite and NAV mean two days
or more. AS Mr.. Busbee doubtless Kept
a copy of the letter, it would have been
but fair to Judge Clark not to have lg-
nored his request for a copy, which was
the principal object of his letter, ana
which if Mr.. Busbee had furnished ii
would have been printed in full in thls
articles, Cor at least to have stated that
he did not have 4 COPY and not have
Confind himself to giving reasons why
Mayor Russ could not see the alleged
original.
With the unfairness which attends this
whole pamphlet we are thus left without
any knowledge of the nature and exact
contents of the letter, though the paper
has been in this city. 1t is impossible TO
say whether it is genuine, whether
note, reported to be in pencil has not
| been changed as can so readily be done
| Though no charge of this kind is made
| as to Mr.. Busbee). So much depends
| upon the exact wording of paper OF TINS
| kind, that l may do Judge Clark an in
| justice, if / take the letter as genuine or
assume that its purport is given correct
| ly in the Wilson article (Which is very
| mprobable), but on their own ground 1t
| can not be seen that the judge has done
| anything beyond hasty and i'll advised
act. l may add here that before leaving
| Judge Clark. he added that while he did
| not propose to be drawn into any news
paper controversy l could say for him,
| in any article | might write, that he de-
| manded the publication of this letter
| that the people of North Carolina might
| know what it is, that there was no
| official act of his of which he did not
| invite the closest scrutiny, and that
| Furthermore he desired in common JUS
| tice and fair play that the original of
| this alleged letter should be placed
| where it can be seen and examined.
But suppose Judge Clark did write the
| letter to Russell, and that a confidential
letter written by him to the Chief Exc
cutive of the State is divulged by that
| individual in breach OF all honorable
! sentiments obtaining among gentlemen
| and these men who were so intimate
with Russell as to obtain and avail them
| selves of such a breach of confidence
| have neither changed the tenor of the
paper, and have reported it correctly in
the so-called Wilson pamphlet, which is
| by no means certain, what of that?
| Suppose, to pu. it on their own showing,
| Judge Clark had advised Russell in the
proceedings against Ohio and James
Wilson and had corrected a legal paper
| (Which Russell, it is said, did not use)
! it was in a case, and as to a matter
which could not come before the court.
| A man who has formed and expressed
| an opinion on the facts is competent as
| a juror in that same case if he feels
| that he can give an impartial verdict.
| But Judge Clark if indeed he expressed
any opinion did not sit on that question,
| but in different case in which it is true
| merely that the two Wilson's were
| plaintiffs. II, in such condition Judge
| Clark conceived that that legal paper
which he had corrected for Russell, could
| be used by some designing person (as it
| is now actually sought to be done) and
| wrote a note to Governor Russell to de-
| strOy it, where is the crime? 1t shows
| great folly in Judge Clark in writing
| such note TO a man of Russells char
acter who might allow it to be misrep
resented and misused, but that is the
| full extent of the sin and no more.
Those who have been guilty of no folly
or imprudence in the course of a life
| time can throw a stone at him; but it
| does not lie in the mouth of the man
who is understood to have penned a
part of that pamphlet at least, and who
sought and held office by Russell's ap-
| pointment to belttle Judge Clark for
having written a letter whose favor
and office that writer sought.
| Having been for many years Chief
| Clerk to several successive Secretaries
of State, l happen to know that every
| Governor from the time Judge Clark went
on the Superior court bench until Gov
4 To-, la
selves freely of Judge Clarks legal
knowledge and sound judgment by con-
sulting him in matters concerning the
| State. If it should be true that Governor
Russell did the same it was but what
| his predecessors had done.
| When the two Wilson's were removed,
| it was said that Governor Russell would
appoint a Populist and a Democrat to
succeed them. He did appoint Hon. John
H. Pearson, of Burke, as a Democrat.
and l.. c. Caldwell, as the Populist.
The former was appointed upon the
| recommendation Of leading Democrats
from Burke and in other parts of the
State. l do not know whether Judge
| Clark concurred in his recommendation,
| but If he did, there was no improperly
| in it.
| L nollce tnat Df. thompson denies IN
an interview in the Argus, that Judge
| Clark asked him to recommend him to
| Governor Russell for Chief Justice, as
stated in the Wilson pamphlet, and says
| that he did not even go to Judge Fair
| cloths funeral, where it is charged that
! the crime was committed. 1t is said,
| though I have not seen the statement,
| that he has since located this conversa-
| ton at a different time and place, but
l cannot follow Cy. Thompson in his
| twistings and turnings as to alleged con-
| fidential conversations which he says
| he had with any one The fact that he
| says he violated confidence to repeat
such conversation, and that he has al
| ready told two tales about it. is enough.
| This once shining Populist light now
| holds down a Republican clerkship in the
Revenue office, and like Saul is found
| Iamong the protits.p Why is he
| anxious to save the Democrats from
nominating Judge Clark? What is their
choice of an available candidate to him
| Is he coming over to us if we nominate
a candidate to suit him? God forbid.
Major Wilson alludes to the salary
which Judge Clark has received. North