The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-07-13
For the Register.J
The Patriotism and RuHanism Of the
Fourth I'm Hancock.


American Democracy, ought scarcely to
aspire to the semi-historic eminence' i'm
Splied by this publication in your columns
But the events of the lest Fourth, in this
county, contain text from which many a
Wholesome moral might be drawn, that
will as we'll serve to awaken and enlighten
the public, as if preached from events OF
far greater moment.
Some weeks ago, upon consultation
among some of the most respectable gen
tlemen Democrats OF New Cumber-
land and vicinity, it was resolved to hold
a quiet little social Fourth of July cele-
bration and picnic in Cuppy's grove,
near that village. Accordingly, sub
scription papers were sent out, commit
tees of arrangement appointed, and
speaker, J. II. s. Trainer Esq, Of Steu-
benville, invited Following this, some
week or ten days, came an announce
ment of picnic to be given by the
members of the Union party so-called'
| Gas Mr. Lincoln with jocose gravity entl-
| tied it) at place about mile from Cup
py's grove We do not say that this lat
ter picnic was projected with any I'M
lust purpose of interfering with or head
inc off the democratic celebration, for
doubtless it would have been held with
out any dishonorable motives of party
emulation to promote it. But we do say
this, that no sooner was it announced, as
it publicly was from the first, that the
Democrats were to have a celebration,
than there commenced a regular sys-
tematic attempt, upon the part OF tie
rufian element that adheres to the domi-
nant party in the neighborhood, to pre-
vent it. Reports were everywhere cir
culated that the returned soldiers OF the
county had banded together for the pur-
pose of making raid upon the assem-
bled Democracy, THEN wives, daughters,
and babies, in case they had the alarm
ing audacity to meet TO eat jim crackers
and drink lemonade, and hear the Dec
laration read, on day belonging so en-
clusively to the Union party so-called.'
1t was currently circulated that the Rev.
Jas. Pomeroy, of New Manchester. a no
torious politician and office-seeker, whose
very best friends never blamed him with
carrying a greater burden OF scrupulosi-
ty or honor than is barely requested to
preserve the position and emoluments OF
a nowadays preacher, had gone on a spe-
cial mission to Wheeling, toprocure the
services of company of soldiers to come
I'D and "clean out the butternuts." Then
again, it was reported for fact, that the
Democrats had postponed, indefinitely,
their celebration, And divers other
falsehoods of similar intent and purpose
were invented and handed about by our
good honest Union men so-called," with
an ingenuity and industry that would
provoke the envy Of the most eminent
good honest men in this wide land. Nor
we're the manly and patriotic endeavor5
to prevent the celebration confined to
naked threats anil falsehoods These
could neither deceive nor deter
The spirit of ruffianism had been
duly appealed to openly and
audaciously, by men Of this country
whom we could name, and who, to the
extent Of their power, are as real despots
as ever tyranized over Libby Prison or
piled the lash on Mississippi planta-
ton. Violence was openly invited, and
under the patronage ofleading abolition
lists of Hancock county, the following
acts of high-handed outrage took place ).
Mr.. Trainer, the speaker invited, came
ND on the train which arrives at McCoy's
Station at about 6 o'clock i'll the morn
ing. On his arrival at that place, being
unaccompanied except by two OF his
little children, he was met by a crowd
of half dozen or more rufiians, whose
villainy (under the promptings referred
to) had been so alert and Jealous as to
rouse them from bed and 10 cross the riy-
er at this unusually early hour Mr.
Trainer, Immediately on stepping on the
platform, was halted, and with many in
suits and threats, and very large dis
play of that kind of hycna courage that
ruffians display when the power is all OF
their side and a detenceless victim in
their grasp, ordered to return home. Mr.
r. had no chance. He was much within
their power as has ever been any brave
Union hog, when compelled To lay down
his musket at the feet of his equally
manly and law-abiding rebel captors =
Accordingly, he started to walk back to
Elliott's Station, about mile below, TO
there await the $50 train down All the
way down he was logged by tie insults
and taunts of the contemplate ruifilns
who follownd him with their cowardly
outrages until the train departed
Whilst this little side scene from the
huge living drama that might he emit
tied The beggar GU Horseback" was be
ING enacted, word came to this side of the
river of what was happening on the
other. Immediately Il skifi load Of men,
who had assembled e. hear NJ. Kramer
started over to his reici lhry were too
late, however, aud arrived 1T Elliott's
Just in time to see the train leave 1t Is
| a coincidence, by the way, that may in
tcrest the curious in such matters. that
immediately on the landing of Mr. It's
| friends the dauntless mob who had so
fearlessly bounded after lone gentle
man, that had the care II $50 helpless
children on his bands, betook Themselves
away, at speed remarkably III contrast
with what they came.
Nor were these the only exploits of ruff
iianism on the Fonrth in lIancock-
There was settled plot and conspiracy
to break up and prevent the celebration
proposed by the Democracy. Another
select band, headed by fellow whose
character may he gathered from his late
comrades of the 18th West Virginia, who
kicked him out of the army with dis
honorably discharged opposite his name
on their otherwise honored roll, had sta
toned themselves on one of the principal
roads leading to the ground, and there
engaged themselves i'll the congenial
| l.. I'm. Of l,