Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1838-11-08
LYNCnRUEG, NOVEMBER -, Is3s.
MESsRS. WITCuER Il COLES.

MESSRS. WITCHER q COLES.
The last Danyille Reporter states that these gen
ilemen, who are NOW cauvassins this Congressional
District, met in conflict at last Halifax cour-and we
learn that it is TO be continued, Monday next, at
Campbell court house. The Reporter says:
Capt Wncher, we learn, charged upon the
Honorable gentleman the mutIlatiOn OF public
Document printed by order Of Congress, aud which
the gentleman had taken on himself to circulate a
mong his constituents by virtue OF his trdHhlng Prir-
acpc. The facts OF the case. We understand them,
are these. The House of Representatives had CIR
defed the majority aud minority report OF al inpof-
tant committee Of their body 10 be printed for the
information of the people Of the United States
The reports we're PaJshc2 together and formed parts
Of Tie same document. Mr.. Coles, surprising that a
portion OF the document calculated to work the
rum OF his party and peradyenure to injure his own
prospect Of e-eecuOn, took upon himself the re-
sP6nslbllity OF putting asunder that winch had been
joined together by authority Of law and very nnccr-
/ enormously cut out every such part and parcel OF
the said document, appeared 10 his vision, beoloud-
ed by the mists OF party, To be OF dangerous ten
deney. On being charged with having thus mntila-
ted public record the Hon gentleman honestly
acknowledged the fact, aud plead as his justification
his conviction that the suppressed portion contained
such rank tederal doctrine ought not 10 be crcuta-
tel among he peopic. Verify, the heemcn Of
this District must be degraded in the eyes OF
tie public servant, who thus openly AID I'M
slushlngly tells them that they have not sense
10 discriminate between truth and error, and that lie
has thought il To hcir interest that lie should take
upon himself to determine what they can cannot
understand, aud what COMFORTS with their well be
4 ING, to be circulated among them. We say that the
/ people must be sunk low IN the eyes Of the public
servant, who could thus act towards them, and we
are confident that every freeman who would submit
10 such lndgnliy, could not feel otherwise than de-
]
be disgraccd III the view OF the intelligent oil all par
ties. By what authority, we would like to know,
does Mr.. Coles take upon himself this magistcrIal
pfetension Has he received from the great head
Of the political Church, the appointment of chief
Cardinal Of the Commonwealth Of Virginia Is lac
commissioned TO judge of what is is not heresy
and TO determine what shall or shall not be read by
! tie subjects Of his Reverence in this portion Of his
domlnlOns -
We have heretofore understood that Capt Coles
attributes the opposition to tic Sub Treasury scheme
in his District to tho fact that the people do not under
stand it If this be rue-and we do not vorch for it,
although ii is a common rumor,-Capt Coles should
endeavor to instruct" his constituents Oher Demo
cratic principles arc reversed and we do why
the Righ Of Instruction may be: that the PEG
pie shall receive light fron instead giving 10 hei,
Representatives
But if our Representatives intend to take upor
themselves the task Of enghtening Our ignorance
we object to this one sided way of doing it. which
Capt Coles has adopted. Let tho, people bear boil
sides, and decide FOR themselves. We protest az gains
the introduction Of the Roman Catholic creed il
politics, That the President Is the Pope and h
friends IN Congress Cardinals to decide what the
people shall read, aud what they shall not. Th,
Pope permits the Bible to be read, only with sucl
commentaries as he approves, and are calculated
to fory his authority, and bind his disciples {,
him by blind and unenqulrng allegiance. 1t seems
that Capt Coles is equally afraid Of political here's,
getting among his constituents, and so he lops OF
from Report of Congress that portion which Ii,
thinks might poison their minds, and gives them on
ly the doctrines which the President approves. Capt
Coles was doubtless ac,uated by good motives, blu
we question whether the people i'll thank him for thi
compliment to their intelligence