Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-01-16
SnEPHERDsrOWN CORRESPONDENCE.
The Radicals on Runpage- Our Delegates
gone to Wkeeli"g- lVhat they tntcud doing

The Radicals Ran,page- Our Delegates
gone to Wkeeling- lThat they intc,d doing
there.
SuErHERDsTowN, VA, Jan. 10, 1866.
One would have thought that tho radicals
Of this county would have been satisfied with
DISTINGUISHING nine;een-twentieths OF the cit
liens thereof and not followed in the wake of
Sumner, Wilson & Co, advocating negro suf-
trace and negro equality, but Il prominent
member of that party boldly announced, a
few days ago, that he was in favor of every
negro, who could read, having a right tovOte
and to serve as jurors, enjoying all the privi-
leges Of loyal citizen, and AZ the same time
asserted that he would allow no white man,
who could not read, to vote. We would adj
wise him to touch this subject lightly, as
many of those who carry OH the West Fir-
ginia government here cannot do much more
than read, and that badly. We were aston
ished 1T the announcement Of such doctrine
by man claiming to be a Nirginiau 1--WE beg
pardon) a West firginiau, mUuntuinecr,'
who, according to the State motto, Is always
free" but it is in keeping with that vud.ciive
spirit which they manifest in their trausac-
tions at law and in their business intercourse
with the best citizens Of this neighborhood;
for it is notorious here, that in every civil
case tried it has been decided against the party
opposed to radicalism, however strong the
evidence may have been in his favor. But
let us trace out the logical sequence of the
doctrine above announced. by giving all
negroes (who can rcad) the right to vote and
serve on jurics, they declare their mental and
neoTaL e4uoIdy aeiM themselves, and, of
of course, equals i'll law and by parity of
reasoning, equal sOclaiiily, fit companions for
themselves aud families, and this being their
acknowledged status, they are entitled
to full fellowship with them, viz: to hold
Office and enjoy equal rights and privi-
legcs, legally and morally, with white
men, who can read. Those, who can
not read are not as yood as a negro, and that
party, by DISTINGUISHING nineteen twcntieths
OF the citizens of this county, virtually declare
they are not equal to the negro. Again,
the negro being thus i'll full fellowship cannot
| be deprived OF the privileges arising from So
cial equality, AID must be therefore admitted
as companions 20 their daughters, and if they,
in obedience to the teachings of their fathers,
should prefer an cGo-SLin for Il husband, there
is no law to prevent it, and practical amaga-
NATION, true niscegcnatiOn follows. This may
| shock the sCnsibllties of your readers, but it
Is the tCJicdL sequence of the doctrine now
taught and endeavUred to be imposed upon US.
Is there no help for us? Have our people so
-'A N@S'SA"'SN 10 W ll'lhuu SUM lC'iSlIII5S'
May we not hope that the old Roman theory,
that ''whOm the gods wish to destroy they
| first make ma - is true. Revenge aud mad
ness are characteristic Of the dominant party
and must lead to the destruction of our social
fabric and fair country.
Orr Senator and Delegates have gone to
Wheeling To SIT in the Legislature that meets
on the 9th inst, and We can expect nothing
/ but radical laws and destructive measures
| from that body. The Governor of Maryland
has spoken, and the Governor of West Virgin
ia will copy his recommendations, as every
| thing that has been done in this region, has
| been copied from our neighbours Legislatures
and from the example Of her judge and 9TH
civil officers.
Among the first acts Of the Legislature will
be the passage of ''tcgistratiOn Law" as
they are afraid the ''Test OATH" V i'll not
stand the test Of law, to enable them to ca .ry
before the people the odious amendment to
the constitution proposed by the last LcgsIa-
turc, which read as follows That no one,
who, since June, 1851 has sustained, cuunte-
| nanced or been connected with the re-
| tcllion in any way shall be citizen Of this
State, vote or hold any property therein. =
Woe be unto that man that Was true to his
State and his friends, and his principles in the
d .rk hour OF our country's history!
MORE ANON,