Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1865-12-05
srEruERpsrowx. Dec. 9Th. 1863.

Sometime last summer Gov. Foreman. hay
ing been informed by his ''lcga! advisers, -
certain well known iuformers III this place,
that the "Common Council Of the Corpora
ton Of SherherdstoWn," were elected under
the Code OF Virginia and was composed,
mainly OF dis!oyal men, and that their places
were wanted for loyal persons, Immediately
declared all the Offices vacant although Hon.
Judge Bulch had directed the Council to
proceed to discharge their duties or he would
have them prosecuted as Il nuisance and com
mandcd Sheriff flush to order Il new election
under the laws ofWest Virginia, which, in
the course OF time WAS done, and the 10Th
November, was the day banned, but on the
night OF the 9th, the "Iads' (do not put it
rats held Il meeting in the room OF tie
''chIcf JUSTICE and upon counting the
"noscs,' not enough were founI, sufficiently
'loyal,' who could spare the time, from their
other numerous duties, to fill the Offices.
and so tie ''corporation Of Shepherdstown"
died from an attack Of radicalism.
The Board Of Supervisors have gotten into
another suarl with Gov. Foreman about the
land tax, in which, as usual, when incom-
potency and madness rules the hour. the 1eo-
pie, the Taxpayers, are made the sufferers. 1t
seems that the Governor had duly commits
sionei' one Mr. Greca1rood, ca very suggcs-
tive name,) to ~rc>valUe the land Of Jchc!son
County from the books OF 1886, those Of 1859
having mysteriously disappeared, doubtless,
rs 4 partial reward for his valuable services
in conducting, during the late war. m~arauding
and raldlng parties to the residences Of pcuce~
ful citizens and arousing them at the hour Of
midnight and searching the houses from gar
ret to cellar, and sometimes carrying off I'M
offending persons and having them confined in
loathesome prisons for imaginary offences
verify, "the labourcr is worthy of his hire
and 'thc bread Of Il labouring man is sweet"
But to make out a sett Of Land Books, re-
quired more ability than he possessed, so he
selects his imam Friday fresh from the land
OF wooden nutmegS and not Ito the manor
born and the union ortwo such heads, made
confusion worse confoundci," and crcH the
Board of Supervisors had to say the work
was SO ja3!y done and had 50 .laGny cyrorx
in it, that it wouldrot do, and after paying a
big price for the JoL threw it aside and applied
to the Governor to allow them to adopt
the book OF 1859. But he tells them, if the
work was not done well, he can not help it,
as SOM $4,000 OF the taxes have already been
paid in, and the people have no redress, I'M
less the Legislature will give Il remedy. So,
citizens Of Jefferson, will it always ue, as long
as you are part OF West Virginia, though,
you may complain loud and deep. Unsuc-
cessful revolutions, like high waters, Will
bring out the drift and the current will
carry it along. Plant tools will always be
found TODD the dirty work and ''crook the preg-
nant hinges of the knee, that thrift may 1ol-
low fawning."
The reply of Mr.. Chapline to Mr.. Dow
neys notice OF contest is a unique thing in
It's way, and resembles very closely, in its
style and strict veracity, the works of two
well known travellers, bearing the names of
Baron Munchausen and Lemuel CULVER.