Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-05-19

A correspondent OF the Winchester Repub-
lican, has done US the honor Of noticing a few
observations which we made some time since,
upon the uncandid and Liberal srthce TO which
the opponents Of Mr.. Colston had resorted to,
to defeat his election. We had little expecta.
ton of provoking controversy; our opinions,
however, are public property, and at the same
time that we weigh with proper caution and
reflection the sentiments We express, we are
always ready to vindicate and support then.-
But does the "Hanpshire Freeholder'' ~serious-
ly affect the belief that no illiberslity of con.
duct has been practised by the opponents Of
Mr.. ColstonI Does he affect the conviction that
the utmost purity Of feeling and honor has dis.
tinguished the department of those, who with
himself, have been so jealous in the cause
of MIR. Armstrong; Ii so, his observation mus:
be limited. his sagacity obiuse, or his %afiecta.
ton. not to say hypocrisy, extreme. We are
reluctant, at present, TO indulge in any refee-
ton but that ola general character. But. is
not The publication of letters, filled with the
vilest distortions of fact, and the bssest misre.
presentation of opinion, an iIllberal artifce to
influence the popular selectionl Is not the cir
~culation of sentiments without foundation, and
the fabrication of votes against the means of
truth and consistency, difused with the most
indsfatigable industry, an ungenerous means of
injuring an opponent These are matters of
such general and prbIic notoriety, that we
deem ourselves perfectly secure in noticing
them. But the "Freetolder" would have US
go farther; he would have us deyelope charges
of more delicate nature; to specify names,
time and places. To this VI oppose two OBJ
jections, First-However friendly disposedto
Dir. Colston, our friendship does not carry Us
to the point of conducting for him, what in our
situation must be a very disagreeable contro-
yersy. Our exertions, besides, would be pre-
mature and imperfect, not being particularly
concerned, we have little inducement to rake
up the accrimony and bitterness of a personal
alteration, or to drag into public light. cha
Factors who would no doubt prefer remaining
N obscurity. Besides the collection of test
mony and the evisceration Of truth from unwil.
ling and reluctant witnesses, would be pro-
ductive of an expenditure of time and labour
utterly inconsistent with our professional ,ayo-
cations. Secondly-we feel no inclination to
anticipate the triumph of Mr.. Colston himself
1t is his not ours. He has gwen US the public
H. g. zHx.- 49, -.
ra:ter from the aspersions thrown upon il, and
exposing to public view the Vaccinations of
those who have been unfairly Instrumental in
his defeat. His activity, energy and interest
in the affair have no doubt supplied him with
more sources OF intelligence to which se have
no possibility of access. The pledge, we have
every reason to expect, he viii redeem, at
which time we presume, the "Ffeeholder" will
have a sufficiently satisfactory opportunity, (f
his confidence does not forsake him) of de-
monstrating the purity of the motives of those
who were so Jealous in the late election.
We cannot conclude these remarks without
noticing ore more observation Of the "Freehol-
DER" viz: "Mr. Coiston and his printer" If
by this, he means to insinuate that our columns
were exclusively devoted to the interest of Mr..
Colston. or that we would, in his cause, have
made them the vehicle of those pure and liberal
e%xertions of ardent zeal, we beg leave to in
form him that he INDUCES in unjrst and erro-
neous conclusions. 1t was not so much the
cause Of Mr.. C%olston, rs of injured and caium-
mated innocence that we espoused. And if
the same course OF conduct had been p~raetised
claimed in the same language "that they were
forgstful of the obligation that they owe to
God and their country"