Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-05-06
An Accommodating Judge on the
ERatern Shore.

Eastern shore.
Perhaps some OF cur readers will re.
member Judge Pitts, of Aceomac County,
who came on here with Or. Watson, the
Senator from the Eastern shore, at the last
meeting of our Legislature. He claimed
then to be loyalist and was, of course,
anxious to be all right with the powers
here. The following document read few
days ago in Congress, shows that his anxiety
extends in two directions, and that he is
just as anxious to be thought well of in
Richmond. The document is addressed to
the General Assembly of Virginia at Rich
mond, and is a reply to citation to appear
and answer the charge of s'treason to tue
Confederate States
The Judge believes in the Union, and he
likewise believes in state rights 10 other
words, he is halfway secessiOnist. He
deprecates the wrath of the rebel leaders
in this way
"Now, if those who know rne best en-
dorse me and are satisfied with me as their
Judge, why should my loyalty to my State
be questioned and my course investigated
when all hands and eyes aud hearts should
be engaged in guarding the welfare of the
State, and restoring peace and prosperity
to a once happy and prosperous Common
wealth. Can it be for any other purpose,
though unknown 10 the General Assem-
bly,, than TO CRAFTY the spleen and envy of
my enemies and reyilers, most of whom
are cougregated now in Richmond and
Norfolk"
This is one side of his character. Here
is the other:
81 incurred their displeasure here be.
cause could not go the lengths for seces.
sion they did, and the establishment of
camps on this shore, which had no other
effect but TO fill the pockets of certain ia
Torites aud waste the means of the State.
also opposed their ridiculous boosting of
bravery and proves before the enemy ap-
/ peared, aud their inglOrious flight in adj
vance of his earliest movements. These
and like causes have incurred their dis.
| pleasure, and learn some have said in
! viIed the Federal forces here, which Is
utterly without foundation; never in NV
lite having done so, or anything of the
| kind but they are glad to have any means
OF turning the indignant gaze of the public
from themselves to any one or anything
else. have bitter and malignant enemies,
who would do anything to PROSTATE me.
l The move IN the convention was made at
the instigatiOn OF "A personal enemy, who
had not the manliRess to assume the re-
sponsibiiity, but got another 10 do the
work for him. These things would not
complain of nor name, but for the advau-
tage they are taking of me in my absence,
whom they know it is impossible for me to
make my defence. l Go not DEFY that /
was for the Union, and did all could in a
proper way to preserve it, not that loved
the North more, but from my devotion TO
the Constitution and my whole country,
and ardent affection for my native State OF
Virginia and the whole South, when saw
or thought saw sheir destruction pend
ing. If erred in this it was an honest
error of the head, not the heart, and
trust in the just rulings of wise Provi-
dence my Vpprehensions may prove un-
founded
In conclusion, be says:
81 have been guilty of no act of disloy-
atty to the government and defy any proof
and however persons inimical to me may
excite suspicious against me by false ac-
cusattons and innueudoes, know Gag
retute them all if can but have AN oppor-
tunity to do so, and therefore ask that the
proceeding against me be dismissed, OF
that it be postponed till the condition Of
the country will enable me to make my
defeace."
} The Judge possesses an accommodating
conscience. Like the frightened sailor nj
sea be cries in the same breath-"Good
LOrd!' "GOod DeyilI'