Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-10-18
Indlctment-Agalnst NJ. M. Dent.
.a4f trgiii-Hntf"i4;i -
HIS vINDICATION.
70 lie People Of Nonongaiia Cousty !.

HHr
To The People Of AonOnyalid Courty:
FELLOW CITIZENS: A Bill of Indictment
was found against me, at the late term of
the United States Court for the Western
District of Virginia, held at Wheeling, for
nisdemedhor, (as have been informed by
the Grand Jurors from this county, based
upon letter written by me to Wylie a..
Oldham, Esq, a short time since. So soon
as received this information notified
the U. S. Marshal, Mr.. Norton, that I tcGs
ready to obey his orders, and received for
reply, that as soon as he TeeGUed The edpidS,
I should hare ths pleasure Of being MS guest.
have since written 10 the Clerk of the
Court for a copy OF the Bill, in order that
might know the specific charge against
me, but have not yet received an answer.
The finding of this Bill against me has
given rise to various false reports in rela-
ton thereto, which my duty (not only TO
myself, but to you who have manifested so
much confidence in me heret0fore) re-
quires me to correct by placing the facts be-
fore the public, in order that you may de-
eide for yourselves whether I am guilty or
not guilty of the grave offence with Which
! am charged, and also Of giving you the
opportunity for correcting any exaggerated
reports that may be in circulation.
l shall premise my statement, in order
to fair understanding of all the sircum-
stances of the case, by explaining who Mr..
Oldham is:
He is lawyer, residing ut Mounlsville,
Marshall County, Va, twelve miles below
Wheeling, on the Ohio river. Last year
he was the Assistant Elector in this Con-
gressional District for the Douglas ticket,
and once during the Presidential canvass
addressed the people of this county at the
Court House in an able aud telling speech
of. over two hours All the Union men in
the district. especially in this county, were
in favor of his election to Congress-the
Bell men expressing their desire to concede
to the Douglas men Congressman, on Rc-
count of their gallant stand for their tick
ct in this State, in spite of all induce
ments to them to coalesce with their
former allies, the Breckinridge Democrats,
and vote for the same Electoral ticket for
President. Looking to the future organ
ization of parties after our difficulties
were settled, desired to maintain the
organization of the National Democratic
party douglas wing) as nucleus for a
party in the future, and wrote to Mr.. Old
ham telling him our desire in this coun-
Is, to call Douglas Convention and
nominate him for Congress. To which
he replied in a letter, dated Nov. 26th,
1860, in which he said he Sneper thought Of
such a Thing as 6eing a candidate for Com
greiS, and could not eoneei1s Of any eoRlGind-
fiOn Of coRtihgeaeies stvltieh fU0UEf induce him
to do so-that fke secession of tie DeleSdies
from PIygind at 3GltiRiore tcGS caused -6y a
difersnes Of opinion on the preliminary or
gdRization Of thc CoaUSatioH, : and NOT on any
difference Of opinion about the principles Of
the pGrlst-dnd that he lookedto speedy re-
union of tbe tro. rings of, the party IN this
State. Last spring, Mr. Oldham participa-
ted in the Convention at Fairmont, which
nominated DIR. Kidwell for Congress.
When the Ordinance of Secession was
passed, DR.. Kidwell, believing in the right
of State to. secede fromithe Federal Gov
ernment, declined TO run. Since that time
have heard nothing of Dir. Oldhamis po-
sflion ON the questions. which agitate the
country, except that during the intense ex-
citement which perYaded this section of
the State after the attemptof the Confsd-
crates to establish camp at Grafton, that
excited Uniouists of Moundsyille deprived
him of his Ere arms but that, although
they compelled many persons to take the
oath to support the Constitution of the
United States, such was their respect
for Mr.. Oldham, he was not required
to take the oath. / was informed at
Wheeling that Mr.. o. was under, the ban
or suspi ION, owing TO his former friend
ship aud intimacy With Charles W. Rus
sell, Esq, who, understand, is now rep
resenting this District in the Confederate
Congress. saw Mr.. o. during the ses-
sion of the late Convention, but did not
have any conversation with him on the
subject, aud still do not know what are his
views. k1eic him to be high minded
aud honorable gentleman, and supposed
that he was, probably, man with South
ern sympathies, and believed that war
could not restore the Union but l gave
him credit for too much prudence, good
sense aud honesty to believe that he would
be guilty of any act which would make
him traitor to the Federal GoIernment,
or that Virginia west of the Alleghanies
should take part with the South in a aodr
with the Federal Government. In order
to contradict reports to the contrary,
will also state that Mr.. Oldham is now at
his home, in Mouudsyille, attending TO his
own business, and has been ever since the
commencement of the difficulties in the
country. s.
With these views aud feelings in regard
to Mr.. Oldham, during the early part of
last month, Upon arranging some old pa
pers at my residence, discovered card
of invitation to my Wedding (which oc-
cdfred the year previously addressed to Mr..
oldham and wife, which by some oversight
had never been sent TO him, aud consider
ing him one Of my special friends whom
did not intend to treat disfespectfnIly in
any way, Immediately and without any
premeditation wrote him the following
letter
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