Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-02-06
To The Editor Of the Spectator"

Eve have been informed that Mr.. RICHARD
MAUzY, a man living in this place" took occa-
sion, In the last issue of his paper, to comment
in regard to petition which he had learned
was being circulated in this vicinity; and that
he further made bold to hurl his thunder
bolts (Jove like) at my devoted and unprotected
SELF
First, Eye Editor saith that twas chosen
! by the Freedmen to act as their judge In the
Freedmans Court" Further he saith that
since the soldiers left mo Freedmen have been
mistreated. Again he speaketh and says, Gin
regard to the petition, 'Sthe petition was not
shown to the citizens of the town, but taken
some distance into the country" Again he
afhrmeth that petitions secretly circulated
should be brought to light" And there he
asketh, feelingly, upon what representations
were the signatures of the signers obtained
And then he again asketh, with touching ten
us, that the public may know and that they
may stand justified .? He further appealeth
to somebody, and saith, as gently as the dew
falls upon the blushing Rose, are not the citi-
zens peaceable quiet harmless" Further he
saith, with Roman dignity, when we desire or
need them, we will ask for them ourselves
In referring to the petitions already received
at Washington from other portions of the South
| the Editor Of the Spectator uses this Ian
gu;a1ggee;
such petitions to the President, as spoken of in
the above Dispatch under the name of Union
men, are not, In truth, true Union men, but
trlfing characters who have gotten into some
positions which they do not deserve to fill where
they can exercise "a little brief authority, and
desire to retain them, and, do so bring reproach
upon better citizens by assuming to call them
selves Union men.
+ koo %1o&F llorf
upon the Editor of the Spectator, after care
fully perusing the article in question, and asked
him if he vouched for the truth of the assertions
contained in the article, or was he simply IN
formed that the assertions embraced IN the ar
ticle were true. He replied that he did not
vouch for their truthfulness, that he received
Information that the assertions were true. This
statement is given in justice to myself and the
Editor
| now pronounce all assertions relating to my
self false, including the alleged fact that [ was
chosen by the Freedmen as their Judge in the
Freedmen's Court. [ except the fact Of my
originating that Petition" and / assert the
fact that there is nothing in that petition that
will induce any i'll feeling avhaterer between per-
sons Of different political sentiments. And [
further remark that no person has imbibed such
impressions; nor has any former Confederate
evinced any interest to see the petition, except
the Editors OF StauntOn. May Allah preserve
them. At least if such desire has been man
ltested, 1t was not to me.
With reference to the application of the term
'tEfing character" to the signers Of petitions,
in the paragraph above quoted, [ will say that
the Editor disclaims any intention to apply the
offensive term to the signers Of the petition
IN a1y possession. Hence there is nothing to re-
ply to or controvert The Editor has killed
himself mot literally, however, thank Heaven
with his own hand, and it only remains for the
disconsolate mourners to assemble, with fearful
eyes, around his grave and scatter freshly culled
flowers thereon-retire remembering his many
virtues and sobbing in the fullness of their
hearts.
Twas thine own order gave the final blow,
And helped to give the wound that laid him low;
So the struck eagle, stretched upon the plain,
! Viewed his own feather the fatal dart,
And winged the shaft that quivered in his heart"
And-that's all