Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-04-04
For the Register.
WEST MILFORD, Harrison CO.. Va.
An al ,oeE

April Cd, 1865.
To the Editor Of The Cla,ksJurg Register
DEAR S'R:- Having consented to be.
come candidate for detection to r. seat
in the next House of Delegates of Virgi.
MIA, it is due to the people Of this county.
as we'll as myself, that my principles
should be fully understood. Having can.
vassed thIsSCOunty once or twice before, l
shall content myself with the belief that
Lhe re are but very few men in this county
who do not distinctly understand my views.
both in reference to the internal policy OF
this State, and those questions of national
policy which constitute the basis Of party
dl>Iirction in the government. But. sir.
recent developments have satisfied my
mind that we have in our very midst auo
Their and new organization. whose plat
form of principles has not, as yet, been
| placed before the country in any tangible
| form, and which is creating great excite
mcnL and commolion among our people.
Il l. necessary, therefore. that those whose
conf lence and support | am seeking.
should know my position on that suI jet.
But AS exp CT to canvass the county be-
tween this time and the election, | shall
| tot attempt to discuss the subject moan
the subject OF Know Nottingham through
The medium Of your paper, but content
myself at present by saying that | am not
Il member of any secret societv, and that
| am opposed to any secret Political organ.
iza'ion, without stopping to inquire arler
the object or end 10 Oe accomplished; be.
cause, TO attempt to accomplish any obs
Ject, be 1t eyer so important TO the inter
est OF the people, by secret conclave. tt
my mind would be incompatible with the
institutions Of a republican government
where The people are the government, anC
every man being part and parcel there
of, has a right to be consulted as to al
matters apPer'ainIng 10 the government Of
rights Of the citizens. The principles .
the new Order not being made public. We
cannot SO fully meet them. The ostrnSi.
bIe object. however. seems TO be to pro,
scribe foreigners and Rom n Catholics IS
puciaily, from holding office in the govern
menL. Now, sir. | am free to say in adj
! vance, that have no affinity for Cathol
cism, in the least, but 1 differ with the
new Order as to the proper means to bt
employed to defeat Roman Catholic, for
cigner, or native born citizen who may
seek 10 hold Office in our government
! Let every man who asks an Office OF trus
or profit be arraisncd before the people
where lie can have an opportunity TO de
lend himself by full and free discussion
and ne people, who, in my opinion. al,
The ohly proper tribunal 10 pass judgmen
upon the qualifications, merit and dcmeri
OF Office seekers, like SO many Jurors, viii
hear and determine, and at the ballet boz
render such verdict as in their wisdom
their safety and prosperity require. Why
sir, to prescribe citizen or cut him short
in the enjoyment and free exercise Of hi;
rights and privileges in any wise, by Sc
cret Vaccinations. on account of his reli-
gious faith or otherwise, would be. in my
opinion, treating him with far less forbear-
anee than it is the policy OF our laws. both
organic and municipal, to treat an indivd-
uaI charged with the highest offence
known to the pennal code Of the country
Ii matters not how hcinous the offence with
which a man may be charged, the consti-
tuition and laws of the country guarantee tc
him full! and fair trial by jury of twelve
men.
Sir promised not to discuss this sub
ject through the paper, and will, there
fore, desiSt, believing that l have said
enough to give you and the readers Of
your paper a clue to my position on the
subject OF Know Nothingism.
Very respectfully, yours,
A. S. HOLDEN.