Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-07-23

4
dent and Vice-President-Hancock and
English.
In the election of 1881 the question OF
the readjustment of the State debt was
again decided in favor of the Readjuster
Democratic party. The result of the
election of 1881 was accepted by the
Funder Democrats and the records writ
ten up, and in 1888, at the convention
in Lynchburg. Readjuster Democrats
and Funder Democrats came together,
the united Democracy of Virginia,
led by John s. Barbour, and the Re-
publican party, led by General Malone,
who had then joined that party. The
history of politics in Virginia since 1888
is we'll known to all men.
Not Ashamed of Friendship.
Therefore, / ask only that these
letters be read in connection with all
the surrounding circumstances. / have
no apology to make for my personal
friendship for General Malone In this
regard stand with disting Aished COM
pany of Virginians-among others
Goode, Kemper, Holladay and Robert
E. Lee, were his friends during these
stormy days from 1869 to 1881.
have never denied that so long as
General Malone was a Democrat
gave him my personal support. In the
election of 1879 voted against Scott
and Williams, candidates for the House
and Senate from my county. because
they were Republicans. and they oppos-
ed my reelection as judge because
was Democrat.
In this connection it is to be noted
that in 1879, when my name was con-
sidered in caucus for nomination for
judgship, every Republican and negro
in that caucus voted against me. 1t is
also TO be noted that when my election
came up on joint ballot before the
House and Senate, every Funder Demo
crat voted for me. 1t is further to be
noted that when Scott was a candidate
for reelection to the House in 1881 and
in 1888, and Williams was candidate
for reelection to the Senate in 1888,
voted against them.
Not There When Elected.
At the time l was elected judge 1
was not informed of the motion that
had been made to pass by the election
of judge of Nottoway, or the facts
stated in Mr.. Smiths letter, heretofore
published. was not in the city when
the election took place. The next day
after the election wrote General Ma
hone letter of appreciation of his
personal friendship. / said: with no
political claims to the position, / could
only rely upon your personal friendship
l shall remember that no
pledge was asked of me. 4
shall respond to the wishes of my peo-
pie, who, without regard to their posi-
tion on the debt question, have, with
gratifying unanimity, stood by me in
the contest for judge"
said also in my last letter that a
judge should not make any political
speeches or take any active part in
politics. My reference to having
supported General Malone related TO
my support of his candidacy for nomi-
nation for Governor before the Dem
ocratic convention in 1877. when Hol-
liday was nominated. My continued
support was, of course, based on the
assumption that General Malone would
continue as he then was-a Democrat
AS no one dreamed that he would
later cooperate with the Republicans
in the Senate. General Malone was
not again O candidate for any office
until 1889, when he was the Republi-
can candidate for Governor, and at
that time / had the honor to nominate
in the Democratic State convention
Phil Mckinley. who defeated him in
the general election.
l consider these all sound PROPOSE
tions, and believe the people of Virginia
will agree with me. 1t will be observ-
ed that / did not claim in my letter of
November %. 1879. to have exerted any
influence with either Dyson or Scott in
behalf of General Malone. In fact. /
had none. / lived at the courthouse.
where / saw them frequently and hav-
ing in casual conversation found, as !
said in my letter, that they were fav-
orably inclined to General Malone, !
communicated the fact to him in my
letter of November %, 1879 at least
two weeks after the election.
Il
Calls 1t Unseemly Strife.
| General Malone has been in his
grave fourteen years. When, after a
stormy career in war and in peace, he
was laid to rest on the banks of the
AppomattoX, the voice of political con
troversy ceased, the aspersions of the
past were forgotten, and the generou.
people of Virginia remembered only hi.
valiant service to them on counties:
fields of battle, and in the days o.
reconstruction, when their civilization
was imperiled.
Now, at distance of thirty years
from the event, political candidate
hard pressed for means by which t,
elevate himself to office, has seen fit t,
disturb his repose and renew above hi
grave unseemly strife over question
long since settled and forgotten.
The arguments sought to be made b,
my opponent are that was persona
friend of General Malone in 1879 80