Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-07-31
Letter from Mr.. A. 8. Proctor.
2 ~ l1 QUAKER BorroM, Ohio, !
July l2Ih IHhh

Mn. LEETE: Dear ,Sr:-
.r.rl. 49,. In your issue of Jul,
10th, in speaking OF the sad misfortune 10 Mr.
8. @. johnson and family, you use the follow
ing language; "Lnst winter whe Chnrles vii
gus, and some other public spirited men made
AN effort to establish road along the Ohio river
they were lit upon by the Rim Van Wrinkle meI
as enemies to the public interest"
believing this language TO be calculated to
mislead such as may not be fully acquainted
with the nature OF the controversy relative to
the River Road last winter, aud as placing in q
false position those who opposed the change in
u, location of the road, proposed by Charles
Wilgus and Others, in petition presented Ia
the county Commissioners, and as made in the
survey OF the viewers appointed for that pur-
pose. ! ask the privilege of making n correc
ton through your columns, such as shall coun.
teract the wrong impressions your article is cal.
,culnted 10 make; and as cannot suppose you
10 be actuatcd by bad motives in the premises,
doubt not you will grant me the justice Of be-
ing heard. ..r
And, first, think the epthet-"Rip Van
Winkle neutrality-suspicious., and uncalled for,
especially, when applied indiscrmnately to n
large class Of your fellow citizens, TO whom
Charity, that common bond of bro herhood up
en- W hich you often largely expatiate, and de-
cent delre Of modesty, should prompt YOU TO
accord equal honesty of motives for action, and
an equally candid, deliberate. and rational con-
sideration OF the matter with yourself.
Again 1t is not true that those men were "iit
upon as enemies to the public interest" |
hoppen to have had the best possible opportu.
nifty for knowing the views and motives of those
opposed to the change in the location or the
road. No man, either publicly or privately
called in question the honesty of the motives of
any of those in favor OF the change, to my
knowledge xcept as regards Charles Wilgus
and possibly one or two more, and in his case
only because his words and actions, apart from
mere advocacy of change, gave the people Just
ground, as they conceived, 10 consider and
treat his object as rcprehenSibe one. We
honestly, and we think very wisely, so far as
this locality is concerned, opposed the change
as not being in accorda nee with the public in
tercSt and we have been, and still are, willing
to sllow that you and others were equally hon
est in pursuing diIereEt course.
The Impression that would naturally be made
by your article, upon mind unacquainted with
the facts, is that those who opposed the change
in the location of the road, we've hostile TO good
roads and bridges, or at least to the expense
and trouble of making them.
Now, sir, this is n very unjust-a very false
impression, and o"e to which you ought not to
have given currency. At any rate, the men,
with whom am acquainted, and | believe
am familiar with the views Of all those who
actively opposed the change in the road, have
avowed themselves to be in favor of the best
roads possibly to be had, and their acts will
compare favorably with those Of any other
clnss of men, no matter how lofty their prelen
sions, or how loudly they may boast of their
'.public spirit" No. sir, the men opposed TO
the change are men of truth. and tli ink it not
in accordance with gcntlemanly courtesy that
their veracity should be impeached, even by in
situation.
Whose duty was it TO see that the bridge in
question was safe? The Supervisors first, and
sll other men in the district equally next. But
if all the public spirit, and love of good roads
ore to be found with road removal men, why
did they not see TO it, that this bridge was made
and kept safe for public trayell
Now, friend Leete, think it is not worth
while to go to throwing stones. That the peo-
pie generally are too negligent about their roads
is unquestionably true; that the roads both on
and of The river need greatly to be repaired, is
equally unquestionablc and if by fair argu.
ment and generous appeal, you can stir up The
people 10 the making of good roads, you will
become public bene(actor, and be entitled tC
lasting gratitude, But opprobrious cplthcts
and unjust insinuations towards any Class o
your fellow citi zens cannot result in any good
am sir, yours, A. S. PROCTOR.