The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-09-21
For the Register.
Circuit COurt-.Public Speaking
-.FarcicaI Meeting, &c.
CLARKsBuRG, Sept. II, 1868.

| .r .CLARkSBURG, Cept. IL, lCoo.
Wednesday the 26th of September, 1868
] ViiI be remembered as the first sitting q
he Circuit Court for Harrison county, un
Ter the new State Government of Wes
Virginia. In the forenoon the Court organ
| zed-instructing and swearing the grsno
Jury. 1t was understood before dinner tha
he Court would adjourn at noon TO NEE
he next morning. in order to give an op
,nrtunity to Col. E. NJ. Norton and Hon
Jacob B. Blair to address the citizens Of
Harrison.
Al considerable audience was in attend
ance to hear the remarks of these gentle
nen. Mr.. Blair was the first speaker Il
address the audience. and what he failed to
give in argument, he made up in nervous
GESTURE, accompanied by terrible spanking
f the right hand. 1t may be that he ia
lifted man,-comprisng in a great measure
I'll the elements of true greatness; it may be
that be is profound thinker, logical rea-
'oner, and has become wonderfully enIight
ned since he has become reconci.td TO the
Presidents course, but IL can't see it be
was blind aud deaf to the Presidents policy
when the hour came to act, but when meas
lres were carried without his aid. be now
sets up terrible howl in endorsement and
.dvocacy of all that that has been done and
to be done Alas co. Mr.. Blair, he comes
% the mourner's b Ach too late, and is found
wanting It is geared by his friends that
ls visit to Harrison county done him more
larm than good.
Col. Norton was the next speaker. He |
commenced in calm, dispationate manner |
frankly giving the people his antecedents,
md telling them what they might expect II
hey elected him to Congress. He does not
leal in party sophistry, or stoop to low Gun
ling, or deal in deceptive argument de
lad nothing to disguise from them he was
For sustaining the Government. aud putting
1own the rebellion at any cost, in order t.
secure to posterity name under free and
United Government. He had stood by the
Cove nment Of West Virginia in it's saddest
hour of need, with his strong arms to de-
end, and his money to aid in its establish
nent This speech was argumentative,
clear and convincing, and gave entire salts
faction. At the close of Mr.. Norton's speech.
IN announcement was made that meeting
would be held Immediately, TO appoint del
,gates to the Moundsville Convention to
candidate for Congress. The
Meeting turned out to be a ridiculous farce.
After two or three attempts to get man to
preside over its deliberations, Father Hay
nond assumed the responsibility of the
chair. ltwas no new thing for him, he hav
ng presided over farcical meetings before.
Elisha O wens, man of great mental caIibre,
made suggestions often, as did Yankee Barns,
another gentleman ofgreat political influence
% the county, and between the two, aided
oy very clever J. P. of the county, sue
,eeded in appointing four delegates from
Zach magisterial district to attend the
Moundsville Convention. When the an
louncement for the meeting to convene was
made, all of the audience, with the excep
ton of eight or ten men, left the Court
.oom. In this small assemblage, the most
face [ observed was that OF the
Hon. Jacob Beeson Blair. 1t was easily to
We seen that the meeting was got up at his
and the power to appoint dele
rates to the Convention being lodged with
The President of the meeting, and he being
, Blair man he would see that none other
would be appointed. Is it possible that
,uch base humbuggery is always to rule the
rec citizens of Harrison county. 1t is time
he people Of our county were awake to
such pretended expressions of their senti
nents and choice. Such frauds as few
individuals in Clarksburg have been in the
habit of practicing upon them, in the shape
# packed meetings, to send delegates 70
lot for them, ought now to cease.
VOTER