Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-02-13
THz sSuasazor rHE .aprR1r."

When this paper was about being resumed
last Fall, after more than four years suspen-
BiOo 1--WE found our loved county of Jefferson
Slaimed by the new State of West Virginia.
We Investigated this claim, to the best of our
GbihsSr and found it based upon the most
aimsy grounds imaginable. We found that
some few individuals, taking advantage of the
terrible times Of the war. had procured leg.
islation, from the t'restored government
Of Virginia" sscccipg to the transfer of our
county 20 tlts Jew State, upon certain condo
tiOnS-cCAditions that have never been COM
P'ied With to This day and that at pretend
cd cleetiou-the holding of which was never
heard of outside the election precincts of
HarPers Ferry and Shepheristown-the
only two places where polls were opened, or
attempted to be opened, some ninety -one
prisons, with unparalleled arrogance, voted US
sway from the mother State to the glad EN-.
braces of the western concern, whose Co
vernon, without further ado, without waiting
for the fulflment of the terms provided by
the Constitution in such cases, Immediately,
that IS to say after the surrender of the Con-
Tolerate armies, showed the restored 60
vsrnment," and all other governments, to one
eide, and put the county under his own ju-
riSdiction. From the day of our resumption
% the present time, We have devoted our COL
umns to expositions of this monstrous wrong.
We have shown that the people of the coun-
y opposed this annexation; that the law of
che " restored egislature"-whose power we
have denied, had never been complied with
In vitality essential points; and that the Con-
Stitution had been violated in the most pal
pable manner; and we have brought down
on our heads the mighty wrath of all the per-
petrators in this Infamous act by our denuu-
Citations of their treacherouS conduct, and by
eur denials Of the right of West Virginia,
under the Constitution, to exercise jurisdic-
tion Of any sort over US. We have nothing
to take back. Our only regret is that we
have lacked the ability to present our wrongs
and injuries in clearer lights. We intend to
stand by our principles-to treat this county
as still in the old State until the Supreme
Court decides that it has been rightly and
legally transferred. We have had no con-
fdcnce in the Houses of Representatives
Their hasty action; innpelled by the lash of
their furious, Pennsylvania driver, shows no
disposition to treat any question with becom-
ing dignity, or with any respect to the Consti-
tuition. or with any regard to the opinions of
the people-at least, in the case of this
county, they acted upon the faIsest reports
and the weakest arguments; disregarding the
wishes of more than three>tourths of our vo-
tiers, the unanimously expressed opinion of
the Richmond legislature, and setting at de-
hanee the Plainest provisions Of the Supreme
law.
We do look to the Senate with more hope;
but even that formerly conservative and
statesmanlike body has evinced so much of
ihe partizan and so little of the patriot, that
our faith in it has been wonderfully skaken.
If the iniquitious bill should pass the Senate,
We will turn to the President. In him is our
trust lie has shown himself wise, magnan-
imous and just towards the Southern people
thus far, and we cannot believe that he will
allow Congress to permanently fasten the
CALLING chains of West Virginia around this
CoHnty Of Jefferson.