Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-07-07
FOR THESE EcrAroR.

most respectfully through the medium of your pop
lar Spectator, to offer a. few remarks in reply u
no article above named the vindictive inyectlve
hurled with impunity at the character Of a few
ihzehs both native born and adopted, whom the
writer had not the manly courage to name or even
The confidence in the truth Of the assertions made
in his slanderous article to give his own. In my
opinion, Messrs Editors, it is much better to be
without a name than to be pestered with one a
person MIGHT be ashamed Of; and il is also better
sor writer to let his pch corrOde in the desk than
WELD il when what emana ed from It, woeld be so
nefarious and full of STEALTH that he cannot append
MS name to il.
think, Messrs. Editors that the time occupied
: by sin and uin,I must 50 name him as he will not
give his own in writing his iniquitous article
would have been betterspent BY studying the writ
ing of some eminent theologian that he might be-
come more ccnversant with the science Of theology
3 to enable him to understand the christian maxim
peace, unity and bretherly love- or in studying
that commandment from heaven that cautions us
not to bear false witness against ouy neighbor.
a He commences his epistulary by arraigning the
patriotic representative body Of the Old Dominion,
because one of its committees reported unhvorably
On petition for submitting to the popular vote the
= sale of intoxicating liquors. And he next speaks
with distnst of the learned Justices of Augusta
because they have deemed it expedient to grant
further license for the sale of ardent spirits in
tain localities. Here are his words, 1T really
seems MeSSrs. Editors, tina; in the fear of treSpas
sing on the rights of men to do evil, we are seri-
ousy infringing the rights of orderly citizens. -
What q de,r;ment to the rising genius cf the
country and the future morality OF the community
that q man with such enlarged views, possessing
Va Judgment superior to the Legislative Assembly
of Va. AMI the able Judges of Augusta should
keep his name concealed from the public.
\ Let me tell sin and ruin to examine the writ
ngs Of all tho authors both ancient and modern,
and he wiz somewhere find the writers name dis
played in glowing capitals, in that case thcy are
not ashamed Of their production. Not 50 with sin
I and ruin. Sin and ruin complains of the sale of
ardent spirits in certain place that he also leaves
blank, hut complains of the annoyances and griefS
OccasOncd by il, aad in support Of his assertion re-
minds their worshiplull the County Court Of Au-
i gusta, that the noighborhood is filled with many
Irish labourers The latter have no hesitation in
q pronouucing fabrication Of the blacklist kind as
\ theirs is not at present to my knowledge single
IriShmaa at work on the r Road at the place sup
posed to be referred to by sin and ruin, aud there
has not been at any time since March or April last
n more than 10 or IL, and some if not all of these
men, were 50 decorous and Of such temperate hab-
= its, that they were taken with alacrity to board
in respectable American famiiies,one of those fam
lies in particular at the head of which is Mrs W.
For all the requirements that cOnduce most to the
a accomplishment Oft Lady she not only equals,
but in.my opinion eXcelS any in the community
4 in which she lives. These are facts which can
Y be proved by indiSputable witnesses, and such be-
4 ing the case, have not RICH; to appeal to the
Intelligent readers of the Spectator to say whether
y those mea are the desparadoes sin and ruin would
q have us believe they are? or would this lady above
named suer them to sup at her table, to play with
her children and chat with herself around the fire
a side of her home. Sin and ruin must of course
y have included those, as he makes no exception.
q Oh consistency what jewel, o bigotry what a
81 monster you must be, when the garb Of religion
q wrapt closely around the bosom in which you
q dwell cannot conceal you from making your ap-
in the community TO see what neighbol
a it is might fall your victim.
4 Sin and ruin also tells us that at the place lef
s blank, persons are kept until bed time, made in
b seusiby drunk and then turned out Of doors, tina
q liquor is sold on the Sabbath, and sold to slaves
Il without the permission of their masters persons
~ having jurisdiction over them. In reply to the a
81 bove assertions, will state that have boarded
a several weeks the house supposed TO be mean
q by sin and ruin, and during the last ten months
81 have been frequent sojourner at the place SO tina
81 have had ample, opportunity Of knowing how
q much truth there is in the above statement. | car
prove on oath that instead Of encouraging person.
81 Intoxicated to drink, the Landlord would Away,
q endeavor to get rid of them as and as peacea
g bly, as he could. On one occasion I saw him re
81 fuse to sell liquor to traveller to carry off will
"a aim, on perceiving that he was intoxicated. AnC
81 at another time saw him take away liquor ate
a it was poured out to be drinked on perceiving tina
@ the person about to drink it was intoxicated. Ant
81 at another time he pointed out to me man VIII
81 then stood in the road, and remarked that he wa
# stranger that he just sold him glass of liquo
81 and that he must have beer. drinking else wher
81 out was not aware of it until he saw the effect thu
N last had on him. Had he the landlord known it
81 he would not sell him the liquor for ten dollars
~ Had sin and ruin seen this man, he would NJ
doubt naturally suppose that he got all his liquor
: at the place referred to thus it is that the mes
H scrunisng eye and honest intentions are likely t
81 be deceived.
~ will also state that have seen the gentleman
81 ly Landlord invariably refuse to sell liquor t
81 slaves without the permission of persons duly au
"a ,hor,zed TO graft such permission. have
"a seen many ask but all refused. | will furthe
81 state that have seen the supposed author of TIT
M article entitled sin and ruin together with his fam
~ y sojourn at the house he so maliciously endeav
~ ors to sauder. ] saw him also receive the hospi
~ ality of the Landlord and Landlady, and on eav
81 ng, could see both parties exchange courtes;eS
81 with each other Messrs Editors, if this is not ny
81 pocrisy am az loss to know what it is, TO wit
N extend to friend the right hand of fellowship on
"a day, and the next endeavour to strip him Of hi
~ fair name, and tarnish his hard earned reputation
81 The only case believe in which Christ sealed maj
81 with a sentence is in case of hypocrisy and h
81 plainly said that hypocrite should be damned.
- Sin and ruin next tells US in his inglorious arti
VA Gle that persons of vagrant character, probably
81 Irish abOurers have interrupted the peaceful Stun
~ bcrs of orderly families at midnight or later, &C.
81 SC. will quote but as little of his iniqutous arti
a Gle as can avoid, being fearful you would not re
81 insert it.
- Messrs. Editors, it has 50 pleased proyidenc
81 that drew my first breath in the Emerald Isle, an
81 had to bow my youthful head beneath the lash Q
III those tyrants who stroye to blight the future pros
N poets OF this country, and would in all PROBABILITY
81 have succeeded had not the sun Of its redemption
IS risen in the bosom of Washington and his fellow
Il patriots, that tyrany which shed so much bloo'
"A and caused 50 mlny prlvations IN this country
a forced me as it did thousands of my countrymen,t
a leave our native hills and valleys and seek home
81 in this the land of tho trIvo. Coming here strang
81 ers as we are, would ask any imprejudiced DO
~ som il we deserve to be branded with the odiou&
opithet of vagrant,as sin aud ruin calls us. Whoev
81 er saw an able-bodied Irshman ask for any othel
81 favor than to furnish him employment Who lei
"a me ask but the Irish that connected the waters
81 the Western Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean, and
s. shareby brought market almost to the home o
& the remotest western settlers and who but the J.
81 rish that are engagedin removing the gigantic bar
81 rier thar nature and natures God placed between
81 the people of Western Virginia, and stern com