The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-05
U,ssvarramtabze Interference.

I1kVUf1ttHtIOtc 1UtCyyeTSUCCs
The military yoke, which so long OPP
pressed the people of this community, it
seems, has been removed only to give
place to one more oppressive and tyran.
nical. In days gone by, when the mill
tary ruler sat upon his throne and gov.
erned the people of this community with
rod of iron, rs it were, the people were
wont to expect and have some little sec,r>
Hy in their private places of abode. But
alas! how things have changed; the
sanctity of home is no longer regarded,
and no man, high or low, can longer en-.
| Joy the quiet Of his home, even on the
Sabbath day, without fear of Interrupt
ton, and we are finding the civil reign
of our city even more despotic than the
military.
Every good citizen had hoped that
when our temples of justice were again
opened, and peace again shed upon us
her benign influence, that this people
would be allowed to enjoy the rights and
privileges accorded to every commune
ity; in short, had expected to "worship
God under their own vine and fg-tree,
with none to modest or make them
afraid"
Every lawabiding citizen feels the
necessity of good government, and cheer.
fully acceeds to the duties imposed by
such government; but does good citi.
zen, one that has the interests of the en-
tire community at heart, wish our mu-
nicipal authorities to intrlrde upon the
privacy of our Individual homes? If so.
we may have our doors thrown open at
any moment, and the quiet of our homes
violated, in their enthusiasm to keep
Our city orderly and quiet. Let lis ask if
there was ever any good accomplished
by such uncalled for interference on the
part of such authorities? We assert
that there was not. Are the municipal
authorities Of this city created for the
purpose of going around to peoples pri-
| waite residences, on a Sabbath morning,
and entering there without extending
| to the inmates the common decenciee
due to every man, for the purpose Of
| finding out If some one is not getting
shaved, or doing some other necessary
business on the Sabbath? We think not;
and if that is the intention of the present
incumbents, we think they mistake the
wishes of constituents.
On last Sunday morning, gentleman
of this city went to the residence of q
colored barber, for the purpose ofgetting
some clothes which the colored mans
wife had been washing for him, and was
accompanied by a friend, who insisted
that the colored barber should shave
him; he having returned home the even
ing before too late to get shaved. The
barber at first refused, saying he had
nothing but An old razor, which was in
bad order; but finally he said, as an ac-
commodation, he would do the best he
could. He accordingly went to work,
and finally succeeded in hoeing, rather
than shaving, the individual; and just
as he had finished the operation, the
door was pushed unceremoneously open
and in stalks the honorable Mayor, ac-
companied by Mr.. Daniel Snyder, who
orders the entire posse to appear at the
Mayors Office on Monday at 10 O'clock.
The parties appeared ten minutes before
the time, and was informed by the May
or that the trial was closed, and the ne
gro must pay the fine or 60 to jail Fin.
ed and condemned, because he had done
a favor at his own private residence,
without asking or taking compensation
for the same!
We are of the opinion that the hon
orable Mayor rather overstepped the
bounds of propriety, at least, when he
entered the private residence of the col
ored barber and fined him 50 for shaving
a person on Sunday. If we are not al
lowed to perform friendly act for