Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-09-20
For the Spectator


Nessrs. Editors In sending you the report
of the meeting held at my place on Sunday last,
it is perhaps due to the persons present there to
state, that owing to the advice of certain judi
cious friends, / have suppressed certain resolu =
tons that were then and there passed, as they
reflected strongly on the deceased, but | will re-
serve them for future use, should it be necessa-
ry. DANIEL DOWNEl.
At a meeting of the Catholics of Staunton,
Augusta County, Va, held at the house OF the
Rev. Daniel Downey, Sep. 18th, 1859, John
B. Scherer, Esq, being called to the chair, and
John Beck appointed secretary.
The Chairman having briefly explained the
and said:
4r. Chairman: -"The dangerous nalady that
am subject to, is the sole cause why | have
delayed SO long after my acquittal in Oharlottes.
vile, to make the due acknowledgements, and
advert to the exciting subject of my grievances.
AS my health is now partially restored, l wish
to begin at home and lay my complaints before
you, the members of my late congregation, as
you know the whole matter, can give indis-
putable testimony, and act as you may deem
advisable. You all know that have received
unmerited abuse, and bad treatment from Ger
tain persons, who should rather have protected
me and my house from reproach, and who, after
Mullins death, die all in their power, by crafty
and false statements, to excite the public mind
against me, and to bring all the prejudices OF q
Protestant community to bear on me {; but there
was too much honesty and love of truth among
the Protestants to be long deceived by such a
lewd set. There are too many noble, fearless
and liberal minds in old Augusta County for
falsehood to succeed in its evil designs against
innocence. have many other matters to settle
but they will be brought before other audiences,
perhaps before certain Tribunals"
Mr.. Downey having concluded, the Chairman
then read the following Resolutions, which after
proper examination were passed unanimously:
Moved by 81. D. Noon-Seconded, by VIM.
Whooley: That by the full, free, and honorable
acquittal of the Rev. Daniel Downey of the
murder of VIM. Mullins, by the unanimous YER
dict of jury of Albemarle County, that county
has stamped an everlasting character OF liberali-
ty, unbiased honesty and justice on itself, has
given good name to the whole State OF Vir-
ginia, to bigots everywhere valuable lesson,
and proclaimed over the world that Catholic
Priest, when upright and on the side of morality
and injured innocence, need not fear the Crimi'
nal Courts of old Virginia.
Moved by Robt. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. by Thos.
Hargan: That we view with deep indignation
the conduct of those base Catholics, who did all
in their power to excite the liberal portion of
the community against Mr. Downey. We think
such persons should be Stunned by all good
Catholics Of eosry class.
Moved by E. Roach-Seconded by M. Qnin-
Ian That we admire the skill and ability with
which Robt. L. Doyle, Esq, Mr.. Downey's Law
yer, conducted his case from the time he took
it in hand, and we give him our warmest thanks
Moved by John Gear-Seconded by Thos Bar
ret: That the very honorable acquittal OF Mr..
Downey, has been q sourCe Of unspeakable JOY
to us, and the unblemshed character that be
maintained through the whole ordeal entities
him to the admiration and profound respect OF
every pure minded pirtuous Catholic Espe |
cay when we consider, that Mr. Downey sus-
tanned an intensely severe prosecution from Gen.
Hartman, the Prosecuting Attorney, who left no
hole or corner unsearched for charges against
Mr.. Downey, yet this same General Hartman
gave him an excellent character both here and
in Charlottesville, and actually defended him
from some false charges that some OF Mullins
female friends wished to fix on him.
In view of these facts, and of many Others too
numerous to be now mentioned, we are sorry and
grieyed to see that Mr. Downey Is not exercising
his clerical functions as usual.
After the usual thanks to the Chairman the
meeting adjourned.
il SOHERER, Chairman,
JOHN BECK Secretary.