Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-10-02
cLARKsBURG, FRIDAY, OCT. ., 1857. z
The M. e. Church and ourself.

peloIe the pupilcs through our Columns.
But we cannot refrain from publishing
the following letter. in orderato meet the
charge it contains, it being the rst.tangi-
BILE form in which an objection has been
made TO the course pursued by the Regis
ter in regard to the subject MATERIAL
though we are informed that the objec-
ton has heretofore been privately urged
against US.
We defy the world to point to single
sentence we have ever said against the
Methodist or any other Church. On the
contrary, we have steadfastly sought to
encourage them all. without making even
the distinction we have felt. It is true
that some two or three years ago We pub.
lished a series of articles written by friends
Of the Northern and Southern branches OF
the Methodist Church respectively. which
discussion was commenced by friend Of
the old Church; and we also had con
troversy with the greatest rufian in or
out of any Church in Northwestern Vir-
GINA, growing out OF a wanton newspaper
assault upon US by him. But. as in both
cases the controversy was commenced by
friends and members of the old Church.
we have not been censured by the fair
and honorable portion of its members.
who were aware of these facts.
The present cause of complaint is cer>
tainly strong one. A public meeting
was held in the adjoining town of Booths
vile, where no newspaper is printed, ex-
pressing the views Of those who held it,
in regard to the Northern branch Of the
M. E. Church. It's proceedings were
sent to us for publication. which we did
without one word endorsing its senti-
ments, bat we did correct some errors into
which its holders had fallen. This is what
is alluded to in the letter below. and is
the head and front Of our ofense-noth-
ing more. H..
1t seems to US that things have come to
a pretty pass, If the press of this country
is to be so effectually muzzled that it can
not publish the proceedings Of public
meeting. held in public place. in open
daylight, without bringing down upon
the head Of the publisher the maledictions
Of Of all who do not think with those who
held the meeting. We have conducted a
public newspaper for about nine years
have published the proceedings of oil
kinds OF public meetings. whether we
agreed with the sentiments of them or
not, and have never before been held re>
sponsible for the sentiments Of them. We
have even published the proceedings OF
Know>Nothing meetings. but our Demo-
cratic friends did not take us to task for
the sentiments therein expressed. or cen.
sure us for publishing them. 1t has re-
NAMED for others to complain of our keep
ing our journal in the legitimate channel
OF afnewspaper, by publishing all transpi-
ring events. If such efforts to sti1e the
the freedom Of speech and the freedom Of
, the press were successful, our whole coun.
. try would soon become subservient to
place, power and prejudice.
To carry this principle step farther
If one man kills another, we must not
publish the fact, because, forsooth, por-
ton of the community do rot approve Of
the murder 1t is parallel case! A
public meeting was held-we published
its proceedings. BY request, without one
word endorsing its views, and We are cen
sured for giving publicity to the fact that
the. meeting sOas held. although we had
no more to do with it than the man in the
moon.
We can oniS state, in conclusion, that
in regard to this matter. ne have follow
ed what ws conceive to be the plain path
of our duty. as the publisher OF public
newspaper, and until We see differently,
shall continue the same course. ..
SEPTEMBER 10th, 1857.