Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-09-29

Slk.-tu yOuT papRr ~ NINA the ctu
of April last is published a letter from
the county of Hampshire; charging
me with having sale in deba te in the
house of dele gates, on proposition 10
appoint chaplain to the peniten tary,
THAT should prefer negro to proach
to the cenyicts, TO Methodist" A few
days after seeing the publication, | met
with Mr. John kerns tits reputed au-
thor, and having denied the charge, OBJ
served that thought it rather inconsist-
ent with bis charac ter as professor Of
religion. to make a charge of that sort.
calculated to iniure the character of an
other, with oct certainty of its truth.
lie then informed me that John Cragan,
esq. of Hardy, was bis authority for
that charge, who had frequently repeat
ed the same statement to him. and had
even protested his willingness to testify
TO its truth OH oath. Although willing at
the time to have testified in the most So
Tenn manner to its falsity, did not
choose to appear before tbepphlic rest
ingupon my simple negatlon OF a charge
supported by authority so spectacle as
| had been in the habit oil considering
Mr. Crasan's, and therefore have re-
manned silent, until | had an opporinni-
ty of communicating with other gentle
men who were members OF the leglsla-
ture at the time the expressions were
said to have been used. ! have since
communicated, either personally or O.
therwise, with more than twenty. OF diff
ferent sects anu parties, in different parts
of the commonwealth; all OF whom un
equivocaIly declare, that they pow for
the first time hear of such sentiment
having been uttered by me, although
they think it ne xt to impossible that 1t
could have been uttered without its at
tracing their attention at the time, and
calling forth such retort upon me, as
would have fixed the recollection OF it
indelibly upon their minds.
Robert Sianard, esq. of Richmond,
then speaker of the house, says, i am
under very strong conviction, that had
any such sentiment been uttered, |
should have retained some recollection
oft. Itwould have been iudecorus and
disorderly, and it would have been my
duty as speaker, to have called any
member no might have uttered 1t to or
der The existence and the perform
snce of such duty, would, am sure,
have so impressed the incident which
g aused its exercise on my recollection.
that it weud not noy be oblterased."
The late respected clerk too of that
house, retained no reccllection4oi any
.ing of the sort, although he thought it
impossible that such thing could have
escaped his observation, or recollection.
| he Public will observe, thai the duty
OF these two officers compels them to be
almost always present, that there is
n arefore butIittle probability of such ex-
nrc> sions having been made, without
heir !, caring them, and that each re-
.on,ed perfect recollection OF the pro-
,os;t;on T., debating which the express
sions are sa;,.' to have been used. but
which each Of benz has now beard for
the first time.
Hnt + il unosce.. ssry TO quote from
rart;cular individuals: the ext act OF a
letter from r. Doddfids'e' esq. - nua
and conclusive on the sutD eGt oui1ce
il to say, that ! have comm l'n'ca'eu a
mcngst others; with the pres.n NJ a''or :,
ney general of Virginia, Mr.. .Ia.zeNeh
our senator in congress, Mr.. Chapman
johnson, Mr.. Alfred III, Powell, toL
Mercer, and Gen. Blackburn, by The
two last of whom the motion TO appoint
the chaplain was supported as well as
myself, besides more than twenty other
members of that Legislature, not one OF
whom had the slightest recollection of
any such thing, and all of whom think
it could not have escaped their memo
ries had it ever occurred. With this
testimony, which is all that in the ma
ture OF things | can adduce, hope the
public will acquit me of sentiment,
which would have been foolish, unchar-
liable aud unchrstian, more particular
lIy towards class of christians whom |
highly respect, and with whom have
always lived on terms of gooewili.friend-
,y intercourse and christian fellowship.
It's remarkable, however. that if Mr..
Craaan understood me at the time as
making use of such expressions, he
should never have given vent to the feel
lngs of Indignation they were so well
calculated to excite, even to his coli
league. between whom and himself
there existed at the time, and | believe
lhas ever since existed, considerable
intimacy; and yet Jacob Miller, esq.
who was his colleague, assures me he
never heard until sine the late election