Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-05-24
Eor The .Spectator.
TOT IHE 'JPr|I''tV
TO the People Of Augusta.

| Spectator oy correspondent who signs hlInsel
Justice, renders it necessary that should agalr
trouble lhe Justlce-oving people OF this good Ole
county with vindicaton of myself, which, ] lee
assured, VIII satisfy them that have performed
the delicate and responsible trust conlded 10 me
honestly, and trust, to their entire satisfaction;
VIII premise by stating, that up 10 the la
Of 1858, the Sheriff, was, cr-ofcio, Treasurer o.
the county, and as such, required to hold all mon
les of the county in hshands subject to It's orders
This will account for the balances against me iol
the years '48 and '49, 80, '5l and '52. In the
year 1858, the County Coart appointed under Inc
Law as it now is, H. M. Bell, Treasurer or OF. lie,
ceiver OF the county, and las the oheslh ana
former Treasurer, was required to make seule-
ment before him, and pay over such sums as might
appear to be due from me to the county. For some
reason, satisfactory TO the Court, the settlements
OF previous years, running back to 1910, Mr. Bell
was ordered 10 embrace in his report, and he ac-
| cordingly did SO. At the close of Lewis Way
lands Term there was a balance IN my favor OF
SlU4 w, aud tine oterms Immediately proceed
ing my election as Sheriff under the new Constr
tuition, there was large aggregate balance IN
favor of the county. which, was properly, as be-
fore stated, retained by me as the Treasurer, un-
til drawn. upon the order Of the Court 1t could
not have been legally placed any where eise.-
Had defaulted my Securities weferesponsible TO
to the county. This balance made up large
part of the $6304 ,04, so imposingly paraded be-
fore the public by sJustice" in his communication
The balance due from me to the County, OF
81. constituting part OF the Sb3O4.O4, on
account of the levies of 1852. was in my hands as
Sheriff under the new Constitution, and as held
as all other monies of the county, subject TO It's
order, and was thus held till the arrangement, by
which Mr.. Bell became the Treasurer. AS soon
as he determined by settlement, the balance inmy
hands, paid to him on the 9th of March, 1854,
$5500,00 including interest, and was permitted to
retain SS04 "A to meet outstanding claims, all OF
which have, | believe since been discharged
The poor rates and Railroad Tax have always
been promptly paid at the proper time. An order
was made at the last Court fora settlementof the
present years Rail Road Tax, and it too, will be
paid when the proper time arrives.
"Justice," whether through ignorance, or with
a motive, will not pretend TO say, charges that
the deficiency of S630404 in the county Treasu
ry had to be supplied by assessment against the
people. This is not so, and such an idea never
before entered the brain OF any one. There was
no deficiency in the Treasury to be supplied.
was the Treasurer, and as such, the money was
in my hands, always subject to the order of the
county, and all orders were promptly paid when
presented. The records of your court will show
that no levy was ever made TO supply any def
cheney occasioncd by my short comings as SheT-
if. Had failed to meet the orders as they were
presented, the remedy was speedily and sure a
ganst myself and official securities. My secu-
rites have as yet, manifested no uneaslnesS, and
So long as they are quiet, would suppose
the people have but little cause of complaint.
| trust that shall not again be forced before
the public in vndication ofmy official conduct al
though the reckless and nsidious character ofthe
assaults already made upon me, leave little room
to doubt something else will be raked up at the
eleventh hour, when it will be too late 10 reply to
it. can only throw myself upon The good sense
and right Judgment Of a generous people, with an
abiding confidence that they cannot be imposed
upon by anonymous scrbblers, who are unwilling,
even when requested, to send forth their charges
and unfair insnuations under thesanctlon Of their
names.
P. S.-Just as had closed the foregoing para
graph and was about 10 conclude this card, let
tor was handed me from friend in distant part
of the county, enclosing secret hand bill, not yet
shown to many, procured with great difficulty by
nv friend, and no doubt intended to be scattered
by thousands over the county, at late hour In
the action As prophesied in the paragraph "a
bore, the insdous sappers and miners are at
work the baltic is not 10 be fought on an open
field, man to man; but by sly sneaklng tricks and
dishonorable stratagems, dscrditabe to any cause,
and disrepuable 10 those who meanly degrade
themselves. so far as to become actors in the pro-
pagation of falshood under the garb of truth.
And now fellow citizens, allow me TO introduce
49, tba nf the spcrCf UnnH
bill: and second, the no less honest countenance
of its distinguished and honorable author. In the
last Stanton Spectator an article was published
over the signature of Justice" in which, as you
will remember, certificate Of the Clerk of the
County Court was contained, together with some
strikngy acute and fair comments by "Justice"
himself. In the same paper | requested sus-
pension of public judgment until could have the
opportunity to reply to the piece Justice" of
the character of whose communication had heard
Justice" however, as artiul as ''Oily Cannon"
resolves to head my reply, by publishing, in the
form of Secret Hand bill, all of his article as
printed in the Spectator, ,cith few addenda
which my reply could moi reach; and of which |
never should have heard not even whisper but
for the watchfuness ofmy friend. The additions
to the article as printed consist Of two long para
graphs the first giving false and garbled statement
of nv controversy with the Clerk of the County
Court. which is now pending in Court; and Of
statements made by my friends in respect TO that
controversy and the second referring to my col
lections on accounts of the poor rates of 1855
these additional paragraphs being snugly dovetail
ed to the original as published, and all, original
and addenda honestly and aobly placed in solid
column. over the August signature of ''Justlce"
Inst ne il ...Justice" had said publicly and before
an honest world all that he was saying in the
secret hand bill. And to give "Justice" the APP
nearance of keeping honest company, immediate
~ nnder the SIGNATURE comes the genuine letter
Of Col. Harman, as published in the Spectator.
No doubt the cunning author of the secret hand
bill said TO himself as lie was scrlbbng awat&
"Good easy souls, the people are-theyW never
know where truth ends and falsehoOd btgiBs.. 1t
will puzzle the smartest OF the thick, heads 10
gness--Pll nut them together 50 craftily, land
So, with pleasant chuckle, he launched his sus-
ric;ors S .n1er black plratlcal flag of false
bood and sends it forth on its urny .,....,sslon An
ANONYMOUS signature even in public newsPafe', ;.
where what man says is open to the scrutiny OF
all readers, and subjects the author OF pleceto
nersonal accountability if he goes too far in what
he saws is. at least, but the cloak of coward be-
meath which he. carries dagger to stab an adver
cary But what will an honest and high minded
nennle think of the man who skulls through the
bushes and dark corners of the county. under the
same ANONYMOUS cloak--ouly little broader and
lonuer-the more effectually 10 hide the detormlty
ofhis purposes. E
And now. fellow citizens, who IS the author of
"Justice" and the secret hand blu Justly feel
inc myself deeply aagrieved by the publication Of
such tissue Of sly destinations and false charges,