Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1865-10-19
20 Che Public.

sion which the conduct of the Governor Of
West Virginia, and Through him) the active
interposition of the military authorities Of the
United States in the affairs Of the said County
have made upon the public mind beg leave to
submit the following candid statement of their
acts and motives, and of the purposes of those
they represented in the said movement.
Whilst under ordinary circumstances, the
people of this county would have yielded in 81
lence to defeat of the project of sending Dele
gates and Senator to the Legislature Of Far
oinia. and also of casting their votes for rep
resentative of the 9TH Congressional District OF
that State, which they still believe it was their
right to do; yet this particular case has been
surrounded by so many fictitious circumstances
of supposed guilt and even infamy, that their
self-respect, and the ends of truth and justice
demand that they should vindicate themselves
from the grave charges preferred against them.
Happily for them nothing but a simple mar
rative Of facts is required to make that vindi-
cation complete.
A meeting of the citizens Of this County was
held in Charlestown on the day above named
to receive thereportsof committee selected by
previous meeting to take into consideration
and report upon, the Federal and State relations
of the people of Jefferson. The meeting was
composed of gentlemen Of all shades of pohti-
cal opinions as to the issues involvedin the late
unhappy strife. Among those present, and ac-
ting as one of its secretaries, was an officer of
rank who served with honorable distinction in
the service of the United States in the recent
war, and who, having become citizen of the
County, feels a commendable interest in its af-
fairs. Resolutions were passed acquiescing in
the result of the bloody contest just closed,
pledging those who were either active supper
tiers of the cause of the Confederacy or SYM
pathizers with it, to faithful and honest main
tanance hereafter of the government of the o.,
States, and applauding, with the utmost cordi-
atty, the liberality magnaminity, and general
policy of his Excellency the President of the
United States in the restoration OF the author
ity of the National Government over those late
in arms against it, An elaborate report, en-
bracing careful collection of the facts, and a
collation. of the acts of the Assemblies of the
two Virginias in relation to the controversy be-
tween them for jurisdiction over the people and
territory of Jefferson County, was made to the
meeting and the resolutions appended to it were
unanimously adopted. Among them the fol-
lowing preamble and resolution were adopted /:
Whereas from careful examination of the
law of Virginia, made by counsel, and reported
to this meeting, it appears that in strict accor-
dance with law, an election can regularly and
peaceaJly be held for a member of Congress, a
Senator and two Delegates to the General As
sembly of Virginia, in pursuance Of the Gov
errors Proclamation, ordering a general cleo
ton, Therefore,
Resolved, That committee Of seven be APP
pointed by the Chair charged with the duty of
taking all proper steps and making all neces-
sary arrangements for holding said election on
the day named in the Governors Proclamation,
the same being on the 18th day Of October
next"
These proceeding were ordered to be pub
lished in the newspapers of this County with
the request that those of Berkeley County and
the papers of Richmond would copy. They
were alsosubmitted, with an explanatory letter,
| to the Governor of Virginia, with view of G.
Letting an expression of his opinion as to the
propriety of holding. the intended election.
H On or about Tuesday, the 27thsof Septem-
Iber, a small company of Federal troops were
-Iltransferred from Cumberland to Charlestown,
by order of Major General Emory, and rumor
Immediately connected this movement with a
design to prevent the contemplated election.
At the request of those having charge of the
necessary arrangements for the election and
who were led to believe that, through false rep
reservations, Gen. Emory had been impressed
with the opinion that disturbance Of the pub
lie peace, and possibly, violation Of the laws
of West Virginia, were designed by the people
of jefferson, gentleman, a member of one OF
the committees appointed under the resolutions
of the meeting of the 23d of September, trans
united the published proceedings of that meet
ing to the General, accompanied with a noteoi
enquiry as to whether he had deemed it to be
his duty to interpose the authority and power
of the military to suppress the proposed cleo
ton All further proceedings were suspended
until his wishes should have been made known
tous for it was everywhere and by everybody
conceded that, upon an intimaticn from any
quarter of nopposition to the election thatcould
result in any breach of that public tranquility
which the people of this county somuch desire,
and which they have so constantly since eclose
of the war, labored to promote, the election
ought to be, and without the least hesitation,
would be, Immediately abandoned.
b Gen. Emory, with that gentlemanly courtesy
for which he is distinguished, promptly answer
ed the enquiries propounded, and informed us
that the troops were not sent with any view to