Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-04-25
NlFleder.lNcsurt Jaries.'

! The editor of the kanawha hepuoiican, 10
his paper of the 18th, publishes an account Of bis
prescription by Mr.. J. T. Martin, United States
Marshal, Ion account Of his advocacy Of Native
American principles. He.was summoned to at
tend the Court at Wheeling as witness, land in
vited by Mr. Wilson, the Deputy Marshal Al
Charleston, to serve as juror at Clarksburg.-
He was in attendance at the latter place during
the whole term Of nine days, and not being call.
ed at the close to receive his pay, Mr.. Wilson
enqnired the reason. Mr.. Martin replied that he
was informed the editor published paper advo-
eating the principles of the Know Nothngs,or A.
merican party, and "they" had determined not to
| permit any one known to belong to, OF sympathi-
zing with that party to serve on their juries; and
accordingly his name had been expunged from
the list To explain what Mr.. Martin meant BY
the remark that "they" had determined &C., the
Republican says sit was understood at Clarks-
burg that in consultation upon our case, the U.
S. Attorney, the Marshal, and Major Watts, the
Deputy for Stanton, decided to carry out this
system Of prescription" The Republican fur
ther says: 81 e...,,-
owe deem it an act of sheer justice to the
public to notice the fact that we not the only
one subjected to the Guillotine at Clarksburg.-
"Ihey' applied IL to The venerable patriot, Major
Wagner, OF Mason, the hero of Craney Island
the chief actor in one of the most brilliant and
heruice exploits in the war of 1912. He was on
visit to his sister, the venerable Mrs. Sehon, of
Clarksburg-he was suspected of being men,
Der of the American party, and he. too, was ex-
cuded from the jury. The feelings of the hoary-
headed patriot, honored and respected by all who
know him, must be wounded by those Upstairs
clothed with little brief authority, because no ia
of the opinion that Americans ought to rule A
merica. {i''G'r
at was always pleasure to the lamented Mr..
Points, the predecessor of Mr.. Martin, to place
Major Wagner on the juries, that he might,
in small and humble way, show to tho old pat.
riot the gratitude of the country. his valor in the
late war and that of his father in the war Of the
Revolution, had defended on the battle field
Mr.. Points was a Democrat as we'll as Mr..
Martin, but he had soul, noble and generous
he was. in his humble measure. the representative
of a government intended to impait. equal rights
and exact justice to all-not the petty tyrant Of
party. f' 7@
"At Wheeling the same prescription for opinions
sake was carried to much greater extent. Some
fifteen gentlemen, who had been summoned on
The jury, were rejected because they bsRcged to
the American party-and this Jeffersd Mar
tin, the small iunctonary of the Pierce Admin
straton, was heard publicly to declare shat no
man belonging to the Know Nothing, or Ameri-
can party was fit to bea juror, or for witness in
Court of Justice
ave cannot close this brief statement without
the remark that we have it from the most respect
able and reliable authority, that Judge Broken.
brvugh condemns. in unqualified terms, the course
pursued by the executive department ofhs Court
Upon reaching home Mr.. Wilson resigned his
office. In his letter to Mr. Martin, he says:
81 am free to acknowledge that earnestly ap-
prove of the principles and objects Of the Ameri-
can party, aud fully endUrss their platform, and
consequently come within the rule which you
have indicated, but which cannot consistently
aid you in carrying out, believing, as do, that
every american citisen not laborlng under le-
gal disqualification, has right to a participation
in the benefits of the government, regardless Of
his political opinions or associations"
The Clarksburg Register, aDemocratic paper,
on the other hand, complains that there were ton
many Know Nothings upon the juries, but admits
tina. it was without the consent of the Marshal,
who discharged some "whose position was too no.
rous to allow the deception to be longer maintain
ed" In regard to our townsman, Mai. Watts,
we can hardly think he was member of the
Clarksburg caucus, as he took with him TO that
nl,ce from Stauuton one or two Jurors who will
support the American ticket.