The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-10-25
For the New Era. :"
THE SITUATION REVIEWED.

oee'oN-
len Union, to considerable degree, as it
deyotes a "leadern of more than a
column in length in its last issue, by
way Of criticism upon my political
course, and then offers some miserable
] apologies for the manner in which the
peoples money has been squandered
and misapplied by many OF the radical
officials of this county. 1t disproves
none of the facts set forth, but seeks to
create false impression in regard to
nv notice of retaining a Physician at
the Alms-House. It is matter of small
Importance whether this physician IS
radical Or conservative, in politics. But
II is a consideration for the voters of the
county to look to, when the Board OF
overseers pay three hanadred dollars for
4 service that would be rendered for
,h;nety. I think it would be more like
Justice to employ physician for ninety
1 or a hundred dollars, and use the re-
Emaining taco hundred to pay honest
&claims due to men of both political par
lies. The plea of ineXperience' on
he part of the Overseers is not suf-
Il lcient for the plain facts have been and
ire now before them. I again insist,
with many others, upon knowing what
has become of the levy of 1868, made
expressly for that purpose As tax
payer, think it but fair to make the
inquiry, without giving offence orsheW-
ing any disposition Of a mercenary'
character.
The Union charges me with being in
consistent, but in this it is certainly
mistaken. Ny views ut the beginning
Of the war were the same during its
continuance, believing in the Consts-
stitution and the enforcement Of its
laws, cooperating with the Govern
ment in whatever measures it deemed
necessary for a successful termination of
the war, and the maintainance of its SUI
premacy and when the editors of the
Union charge that the Emancipation
Proclamation "struck me on the shins,"
it shoots wide of the mark-as it did not
in the least affect me.
Again, Mr.. Editor, who were the first
to oppose the Government in this
county after the surrender of Gen. Lees
army? Were they not radicals who
had hand-bills printed and sent over
the county, calling a meeting Of the
Union men, to devise measures for the
purpose of driving paroled rebel soldiers
from the county, contrary to the eX-
pressed terms of their paroles, granted
by Northumberland Grant, with the
approval of his Chief,
Abraham Lincoln, thereby attempting
/ a serious blow against the dawn of re-
turning peace, that we all so much de-
/ sired in our county. ! was solicited to
take part in those proceedings, hut de-
clined, upon the ground that the Govern
ment had made such disposition Of these
men as it thought best. | being law
abiding citizen was willing to acquiesce.
After falling in their effort to drive the
rebel soldiers from the county, they
then, in order to seek revenge sent
notices throughout the county for all
Union men to make out list of DAM
ages sustained during the war, which
they intended should be paid by those
citizens who were Southern sympa-
thizers. Now what was the effect OF
thiso A great many of these men never
lost dollar, for it is clearly visible that
many of them who were scarcely able
to own even good horse at the begin
ming of the war, now possess comfort
able properties. Yet, in the face of this
many of them have instituted suits for
amounts ranging from .fre hundred to ten
and fifteen thousand dollars, that they
allege to have lost by the rebels. How
they could have sustained so much
damage, l, for one. am not able to see.
La these suits they have 50 far met with
but little success,-even in Court COM
posed almost exclusively of men of their
own party, where many of the jurors
are often interested in suits Of a similar
character. Is this Inconsistency, in not