Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-06-27

10 the circle OF those who participated. but
were paraded under the sanction Of the largf
meeting in the Sentinel OF the Valley. II
say that was mortified and irritated is tell
| ING but the truth, yet some discretion .belno
left smohered my feelings in profound 81
lence, believing that public opinion would
still do me justice. The celebration had there
tofore, We're warmly denounced as being com
posed of the rag tag and bobtaiP' ''of mere
jackasses" but still could not be provoked to
a reply. An effort was made to stigmatize all
who opposed that celebration as ''drunkards. y
as fond of the ''crtter" All this called forth
no reply from me- The effort now made to
revive to some extent this eXclusiyeness, and
the use of my name demands the notice have
| taken. will add for speak only for myself.
that 10 one has heard me oppose the '.tcmper-
Gnce societies" as societies, but have condem-
ed what | consider their ''nteanperalce. .
Humble as am and as much denounced as
have been, my estimation OF the services rem
dered by me, in the cause Of temperance is We
ry considerable, whatever others may think to
the contrary. | may say too that several indi-
yiduals can testify that used my exertions to
induce them to connect themselves with tenn
perance societies. | have publicly denounced
intemperance-bu must be branded a drunk
ard-be it so-denuncation has no terror for
me, and cannot induce me to acquiese in what
my conscience condemns
When called upon to unite in tie celebra-
ton gave my consent provided it was a eel
ebration as citizens in the capacity of citizens,
and had consented to become the reader of the
Declaration OF independence upon the assur-
ance that such would be the character of the
proceedings. This belief was strengthened by
the resolutions which the meeting Of the 25th
OF May last adopted, one of which is in these
words 'Resolved that the citizens of Wood
stock and vicinity unite and celebrate the 4th
day Of July next. =, ,Sundry committees were
appointed and hos far they transcribed their
authority it is unnecessary for me to say. furth-
elr, than that any invitation made by them was
without authority, Judging solely from the res
olntlons. 1t seems that on Saturday evening
last, the first effort to introduce temperance so
cleties into the celebration was made and | am
informed twice voted down by the committee,
it was renewed on monday and the effort sue
ceeded, and on Monday night the order of pro
cession was approved BY public meetinr-
The "reminiscences Of the celebration has been
approved by a portion of our citizens. NV
A4hi4H iiuS bOOAl IUlSCu W IllG conclusion. DIV
certain occurrences. that these proceedings are
aimed at me. yet | would not charge ali with
being actuated by such motives. The intro
ductlon of my name, the taunts thrown out
that those who opposed the plan were govern
ed by me, and the qualified or conditional OBJ
lection to my reading the declaration of indie
pendence are all strong circumstances to corrob-
crate the conclusion have drawn. NV deter
mlnation is therefore not to unite in the cele-
bration, because | conceive myself occupying
the same ground taken last year. | assured
several of the committee and others that if the
celebration was carried on in the capacity of
citizens and citizens only would cordially
unite and forget all that occurred last year
The meeting has decided othe rwise. and have
procured another reader of the declaration of
Independence; of course can have no partici-
patton in the proceedings, and if no other meet
ing is gotten up, which will unflrl no other
banner to the breeze save the STARS and
Stripes" under which all may unite | must
remain at home to be again abused by the Tenn
pcrate members oj,the Temperance societies.
SAMUEL c. WILLIAMS.
June 25. 1874