The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-01-28

have selected different roommate.
We will not say that the story about
. crowd Of ruffians fogging him at
Catlettsburg, G is false, but we do think
it bears about the same relation to lie
that taking q carpet-sack bears to thiev-
ing. As he is casuist enough to make
distinction in the latter case, he will
probably be equally successful in the
former.
The statement that BURNS acquitted
him Of felonious intent, is contradicted
by his own history Of BURNS conduct,
when the property was missed. BURNS
then "insisted that he (FERGUsoN) had
taken them" &C., &c. Weare further
informed by gentleman who has never
been indicted for GRAND LARCENY, that
BURNS described to him this interview
with FERGUSON had after the theft, and
that BURNS declared that in the inter
view he had expressed his belief in FER
GusoN's guilt.
1t may be that everybody who knows
him "knows he will not steal" but If
this be true we can assure him that his
acauaintances are fearfully limited. We
have vet to meet the first man who laid
claim to the knowledge which he as
sures us is had by "all who know him."
and we have conversed with many per-
sons from that section in relation to the
matter
If "Boyd county, Kentucky, is an
ultra copperhead hole" and his enemies
"knew they could convict him there"
why would those same parties interest
themselves to procure his pardon, as
he intimates they did, The truth is
that Boyd county, Kentucky is mot a
copperhead county, that he did know OF
his indictment, and that the pardon was
obtained at his personal solicitation. Tho
latter fact can be substantiated, by a
gentleman now in this city, who saw
FERGusoN's letter to Judge RICE urging
him to intercede with Governor BRAN
LErrE to procure the pardon which F.
now claims was gotten without his
knowledge.
But whatever may be his tergiversa'
tion, one fact is clear; he has not de-
MED the theft. He leaves us to infer
t he possibility ofhis innocence from his
intoxication, but we confess to more
confidence in the integrity of sworn
Kentucky Grand Jury, than in the hon.
esty of JIM FKRGUsoN's drunkenness.
That drunkenness aggravates the Of
fense, 10 q principle to which we would
refer him, if he desires to avoid the re-
sponsibility on the plea Of inebriation.
In rino reri'as is . maxim which time
and history have approved. Men when
drunk do what they would when sober
if they dared, and if tipsy thieves are to
be held guiltless, every rogue in the
land will multiply his yillainies and
plead unconscious into1icstion as an
excuse.
But it may be that drunkenness is set
up as evidence of innocence. Booty,
therefore guiltless, perhaps is the argu-
ment. Really the gentleman must have
little confidence in his character for
honesty when sober, since to acquit
himself he adduces the fact of his in
toxication. He might have committed
the act when sober, but see, he was
drunk he was not himself; his whole
character was changed and his acts were
not controlled by his own voition but
by Ironton whisky. Having lost his
self.control be became, for the first
time in his life, honest. If this be the
chain Of reasoning he desires pursued,
We admit that it proves his honesty in
his caps, but its damaging effect npon
his integrity when sober, is too mani
fest to need discussion.
We shall not question the sincerity
Of General HARRIS motives in moving
for An investigation, although his
ready championship of the accused sug-
gests that he will expect, as he knows
he may yet need, some similar service
at the hands of his injured friend. FER
GusoN will certainly prove ungrateful
if he does not reciprocate, when occa-
sion arises, as it probably will arise, the
kind attention now shown him by the
hero of the Mrs. SURRATT affair, now
declared by the Supreme Court to be .
murder.
As committee Of investigation has
been appointed in this case, we desire
to suggest that its work be thorough and
searching. If this committee really
means business We shall be glad to fur
nish the names of reliable witnesses.
who, We are informed, will not only
substantiate all We have stated, but
will contradict almost if not quite all
the material assertions made by Mr.
FERGUSON or Saturday.
II, however, the whole thing is mere
whitewashing arrangement, then the
less parade the better. Do not spend
time and the public money in the osten-
sible preparation of a report which is
already determined upon. Overrule the
finding of the Grand Jury, blot ont the
guilt which Copperhead Governors
pardon has already shislded, assure the
public that your confidence in the "loy-
al, &c, gentleman from CabeIl" is un.
diminished, and let the people know that
! the investigation which An innocent man
would seek, and which yoa oaghi
49, - E~1 = p