The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-25
FAMOUS VIRGINIANS IN
"F1AMIL TOM ARE MADE
VICTIMS OF IGNORANCE.
Peyton Giles Takes Exception George Arss New Play
Which Will Be in Richmond Next acknowledgement
Stuart and Colonel McCabe Back Up
Lawyers Statements

first and second sessions of the first
congress.
Governor Giles was rot member
of congress when these acts were
passed, nor a member at all until the
third session of the first congress,
which met in Philadelphia December
6, 1890. when he was in his seat for
the first time or December 7, 1870.
months after both OF the acts men,
toned had become laws.
Again. in this very remarkable and
libelous play, Its writer's have used
scandal. that only became known in
1873, as fulcrum to expedite or re-
tard the enactment of laws that had
then been on that statue books eight
years.
There remains only to be disposed
of tho rough costumes, boorish bear
ing and vulgar manners, as well az
the iliiterate English used In the play,
which no one. however brazen. posses
sing sointilla OF real knowledge OF
the times or of these great figures
would have dared TO portray as char
acteristic of the times or of Jefferson,
Monroe and Giles, all of who are
known TO have been educated and re-
fined gentlemen. who not only made
history but who adorned the highest
society of that historic era.
AS an example. in one scene Gov
ernor Giles is made 10 say. "Jeffer-
son amt never beer no fighter" and
this is the supposed language of a
man born and bred among educated
people. a graduate OF Hampden sid
ney college and master OF arts OF
Princeton, and who after graduation
pursued a separate course IN law
under the renowned Chancellor Wythe
at William and Mary college.
To suhstantiate these facts the An
mails of the First Congress" published
by the government. "Schoulers His
tory of the United states" which deals
most infinitely with these events,
Anderson's William Branch Giles"
and ,numb her OF other thoroughly au-
thsntlc records are open to even the
most casual inquirer after the truth.
nor Ia there any mention by any au-
thortty. reputable OF otherwise, that
Governor Giles was at any time or In
any. way. however remote, connected
with the Reynolds scandal
In site of personal and write rep
resenta ton and protest TO Mr.. Arliss
and written protests to all of the au-
thors and producers OF this travesty
and huffoonery the only reply has
been two or three short notes by the
SECRETARY % Mr. Ariiss saying Ham
iton In a. historical play" and that he
rs giving the matter earnest stten'
ton"
OF course there was no necessity
that these piaymakers and producers
OF plays should declare that they in-
tended no offence In thus presenting
rnsfr -nfstorfcaf play even rsse most
casual spectator or reader could not
fail to see that intention OF all kind
was absent and that Grass ignorance
OF subject. characters and dates WAS
the predominant feature Of the play
and alone II TO blame for this viiiffca-
ton of these great Tirginfans-
Now. however, they cannot plead
their incidentally strong point-utter
Ia ok OF knowledge OF the subject as
they have been repeatedly, respect
fully and courteously asked TO make
corrections OF their scandalous and
probably acttonahle libel on two presi-
dents ana senator OF the United
States and it In not believabie that the
sense OF fair play OF our American
people VIII longer consent TO see and
listen to so scsudsIous a perversion ~
the history OF their country
Yours very respectfully
r PEYToN GILES
There can be no fear that the play
referred TO by Mr. Giles will influence
any Intelligent reader or history. The
pts cea o. Jefferson, Monroe and Giles
SIS scholars. statesmen ard patriots are
too well established throughout our
own country and the world to be dis
turbed by an idle and irresponsible
representation OF them as "louts, bar
room rufians and rowdies." My own
view ss that any such attempt In un-
worthy OF serious notice or attention.
HENRY. C. STUART.
Governor of Virginia
j fully concur In all that Mr.. Giles.
has written as to the facts stated
above. His indignation IL natural,
but my own advice TO him has been
not to dignity by any notice what
ever this wrctehet fustian entitled
| Hamilton"
II. as Button says, the style Is the
man ali men and women OF gentle
birth and refined tastes may we'll pity
the authors OF this putrid perform
ance. w. GORDON MtARE.
President of tho Virginia Historical
society.