The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1864-12-21
Joseph Barker.

pocrlte and rebel agent, formerly OF Salem,
where, he on one occasion said 1T got too
hot for him to stay" now, We believe, of
Manchester, England, where he again pre-
tends to preach the Bible, is again in this
country, bearing ''peace address, as he
claims from the people of Great Britain
and Ireland" to our government. Since
leaving this country he is understood to have
been in the paid employ Of the jeff Davis
dynasty, Notwithstanding he is citizen Of
the United States He came to this eoun-
try, We believe, in 1852, and settled at
Akron, Summit county, where he immedi-
ately declared his intentions to become a
citizen. Theu in 1857. at Mt. Vernon,
Knox county, where he then lived, he took
out his naturalization papers, and in conse-
quence, to-day owes sworn allegiance to this
country. He is now here in the direct in
t.rest of the rebels, paid by them for his la
Dor and efforts in their behalf, and therefore
tn a intents and purposes, traitor. Why
does not the Washington government put
him un Ter arrest. try him for treason, and if
found guilty, shoot him or hang him like
they would any other traitor spy from Dixie
direct.
This 'Joe Barker" is we'll known in this
community. He lived here long enough for
the people to find him out, and many of
them know to their sorrow that he is a
scOundrel from the top of his head to the
soles Of his feet, inside and out-sc0uMdrel
all orer. He claims the Western Anti-Sla-
very Society of this place cheated him out
of thousand dollars, when, in fact, he
tried to cheat them out of like sum, and
had not their treasurer been too sharp for
him would have done it.
He never did anything in his life without
pay, and large pay, too, and it is not likely
that he would come all the way from Eng
ests Of jeff Davis, without being paid torit,
Notwithstanding he was ever so much a
traitor at heart, hims If.
The President refused him an audience.
He should have done more than that; he
sheuld have arrested him for traitor and
disposed of him accordingly.
A good many of our readers will recollect
this Joseph Barker, as the person so effec-
tually used up in discussion with Elder
Jonas Hartzell, formerly of Hopedalc, this
county, held in Salem, some years since. -
1t was believed by many that this discussion
was the means of converting Rev. Barker
to the christian faith, for in a short time af-
terwards he renounced his infdelty and his
abolitionism, and eudeavored to be follow
er of Christ
This Barker done a. much towards build
ing up in6delity and abolitionism in this sec
tion, and around Salem particularly, as all
the other abolitionists aed inlidels combined
who perambulated this country. While en-
gagged in that kind of work, his warmest
friends and greatest applauders were those
who had the management and control of the
Salem Republican. His efforts about Salem
caused that neighborhood to embrace al
most unanimously infidelity and abolition
i'm. They were also the means Of placing
the Salem Republican on firm foundation.
But Rev. Barker has seen the error of
his ways. die has embraced the religion of
Jesus Christ, and rcnounced his infdelity
and abolitionism. And like all converted
sinners, he wishes to make amends fol his
former bad conduct lie now wishes to do
all the good he can, and he thinks there is
no better way of doing that good that he
feels incumbent upon him now to do, than
by going to those places where he taught
his netarious doctrines of aboitionism and
in6>lelity, and proclaim to the people "the
unsearchahle riches Of Christ" There is
certainly nothing wrong in man doing that
kind of work.
But our friend of the Republican wishes
to prevent Mr.. Barker from coming to Sa-
lem, where he formerly done so much evil.
He wants the President to arrest him, and
have him hung, if necessary, to prevent
him from again coming to Salem, and telling
his hearers what every honest man believes,
and all history proves that no man can be
an abolitionist without being an infdel; and
for the people of that section to renounce all
such heresis as infdelity and abolitiouisn,
and embrace the "religion of Jesus Christ ;"
The editor Of the Republican is fearful OF
the effect such visit from Rev. Barker to
that place might produce. He is fearful
that it might be the means of converting the
in6aels Of Salem from the error of their
way, and embrace the Christian doctrines of
the gospel. That section abounds with that
kind of men, aud if they should be con-
verted under Rev. Barker's or an other
man S preaching, to Christianity, his main
support would be gone. He is fearful OF
Rev. Barker's influence on that account. -.
IIe wants infdelity and abolitionism to still
abound in that section, for so long as they
control, he will be supported in publishing
his inidel and abolition doctrines; but lei
his readers once embrace the doctrines oil
christianity-for he knows that no man ca r
be christian and an abolitonist at the
same tlme-and large amount of his sup,
port would leave him. 1t is only the fear o.
the effect that one of Mr.. Barkers discour-
ses in Salem at this time might have upor
his business, that causes the editor of tht
Republican to abuse and villify his old frient
and former patron. AS long as Mr. Barker
remained an infdeland an abolitionist-
hecould not be one without being the othel
the Salem Republican and the Anti-Sla
very Bugle, could not find language strong
enough to praise him; but when he renoun
ces his in6delity and his abolitionism, anc
becomes Christian, then the Salem Re
publican cannot find language strong enough
to denounce him.
For our part we are glad that Mr.. Barker
has seen the error Of his way; and VIC hop
that he may in the future labor with NOR
zeal to build up the doctrines of yhristieni
ty than he did in the past to scatter the evi