e on Virginia and state rights. I had
promised to do this some time before but could not find an opportunity,
and availed myself of the quiet of the cruise to fulfill my promise.
The history of Virginia has always had for me a peculiar interest,
mainly because of the leading part taken by that state in the
American Revolution. The great natural resources of the state had
been neglected, the fertility of the soil on the eastern shore had
been exhausted, and no efforts had been made to develop the vast
mineral wealth in the mountains along its western border. The
destruction of slavery and the breaking up of the large farms and
plantations had discouraged its people, and I thought, by an
impartial statement of its undeveloped resources, I might excite
their attention and that of citizens of other states to the wealth
under its soil. This article, written in a friendly spirit, excited
the attention and approval of many citizens of the state, and
brought me many letters of thanks.

In time I became thoroughly advised of what occurred at the Chicago
convention and had become entirely reconciled to the result, though
frequently afterwards I heard incidents and details which occasioned
me great pain and which seemed to establish the want of sincerity
on the part of some of the delegates, and tended to show that for
some time before the meeting of the convention the nomination of
General Garfield had been agreed upon. After its close I had
numerous letters from delegates of other states, complaining bitterly
of the conduct of the Ohio delegation and giving this as a reason
why they had not voted for me. I was assured that large portions
of the Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and other delegations,
had notified General Foster that they were ready to vote for me
whenever their vote was required, but no such request came from
him. The matter had been made the subject of public discussion in
the newspapers. I was content with the result, but was deeply
wounded by what I could not but regard as a breach of faith on the
part of some of the Ohio delegation, and especially of Governor
Foster, who had been fully advised of my feelings in regard to his
course. I received a letter from him, on the 23rd of June, answering
the allegations that had been publicly made in regard to him, and
explaining his action. In reply I wrote him the following letter:

"Washington, D. C., June 30, 1880.
"Dear Sir:--Your letter of the