Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1905-06-10
Attack on rlartin by VIM. L. Royail

Attack on rlartin by VIM. L. Royal
Hon. VIM. L. Royal, the well-knownt
attorney, of Richmond, in an address
N that city last week, ideals with the
records and with facts" in regard TO
the defeat of the late Gen. f1tz Lee.
Mr.. Royal said: "In the fall OF 1898
the people of Virginia met with the
most astounding surprise that ever be-
fell them. General Fitzhugh Lee, the
noDular idol, whom 80 per cent of the
people of Virginia expected to be sent
TO the United States senate was de-
feated for that office by Thomas 5.
Martin, a man whose name had never
been heard of by 5000 people OF vr-
ginia. Everyone commenced asklngl
how this thing could have happened.
Soon there were whisperings OF Did
cry and corruption and soon thereat-
ter the thing took definite shape In
the form of charges in the press that
the railroad companies of the state
had raised a corruption fund of $40, oOO,
which had been sent into all the ne
GRO counties, where everybody knows
the elections were farce and Wnat
the ballot box suffers pleased toI
make them, to have representatives
sent to the legislature who would elect
a man to the United States senate to
he tool of the railroads in that body.
The whole atmosphere was soon
filled with these charges and IL De-
came so definite and so hot that on
the 10th day of December, 1898, the
legislature passed the following joint
resolution: Resolved by the house OF
delegates, the senate concmring, tlrst
that a committee of four on the part
of the house and three on the part OF
the senate be appointed to investigate
all matters relating to the election
held in Virginia on Nov. Z, 1873, so
far as the same relates to the election
of members of the house of delegates
and senate of Virginia in favor OF or
against any candidate or candidates
for the United States senate and
whether or not any improper methods
or means were used in electlng SAD
delegates or senators in the interest,"
of any candidate or Candidates for une
United States senate. Second, salu
committee shall also enquire and re-
port whether any improper means or
methods were used in the interest OF
anv candidate or candidates for the
nomination of United States senator
at the caucus of the Democratic men,
hers of the house and senate held in
| the hall of the house of delegates on
Dec. 7. 1898. Third, the said commit
| tee shall have power to send for per-
| sonal favors, to employ a stenogra-
pher. to reduce all evidence to writ
| ING, to sit during the sessions OF their
RESPECTIVE bodies, to make report
of their proceedings in writing, with
the result of their Investigations and
their recommendations in the premises.
You will perceive that this resoluti-
on called for the widest possible III
yestigation of everything that per-
tanned to the integrity of the election
of the legislature. But what happened
/ when the committee commenced Its
session? Mr.. Downing, the leading
friend of Mr.. Martin on the commit
tee, promptly offered the following
resolution, which the committee adop-
ted:
"Resolved. That in the prosecution
of this investigation inquiry shall be
confined strictly to the question OF
1.-THE conduct of the senatorial candl-
ldate both before the election on Nov
7. 1898, and the caucus held on Dec
18th, 1898"
/ You will perceive that this resolu'
ton was at war with and defeated the
purposes of the legislatures dlrec'
tions. The legislature wanted every
thing improper investigated that re
lated to the election. Mr.. Downing
resolution confined the investigation
to the conduct of senatorial candl
dates. The resolution being thus e
; masculated, the investigation became
farce. Whenever witness wa
about to tell something about the
election that the people wanted u
; learn objection was promptly made
=, 1.-THE objection was sustained and INT
witnesses mouth was closed, and the
investigation was held down str1ctl!
= to the lines of Mr.. Downing's resolu
} | ton. Nevertheless some matters came
, | out of the most startling importance
THAT covered the whole case with
cloud of suspicion. For instance, Mr.
Joseph Bryan produced the following
letter from one Of the most reputapl'
citizens of Abingdon, Va:
Abingdon, Va, Dec. 9, 1898.
Editor The Times
Allow me to thank you for thu
7 stand taken for reform, and l SCI
> that you call for investigation of tn
bride offered Delegate Withrow.
would say that the report is curren
= and undoubted to my mind tina
Thomas S. Martin Furnished
, money for the campaign in Wash
ington county, for which he was t.
receive the votes of Hendrick ant
= Tomney. 1 believe the money wa
] furnished and the delegates did vot
3 for Martin. If this is Democracy, tn
less of it the better. You can stat
the facts and give me as authority
An investigation with Judge W. r
Rhea, Judge G. w. Ward , Mr.. Mccoy
banker of Bristol; Mr.. Pitzer, D.. Z
r Cummings, clerk of court of Washing
4 n y