The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1867-03-07
Letters from the People.
FROM WOOD COUNTY.

structures upon the action of the Senate
in the case of Capt. G. J. Stealey, in re,
fusing to confirm his nomination as AS
SCISSOR for the First District of West
Virginia, beg permission to add few
remarks to those so well made by your
self; and in doing so promise to say
nothing that would in the slightest
degree wound the feelings of his success
sor, or those of his friends. 1t so hap
pens that have been made familiar
with a few interesting facts Isl relation
to the carly history of the great strug-
gle through which the country has but
recently passed-facts touching the
conduct Of Capt. Stealey, at that most
important and interesting period in
the history of West Virginia-which
will tend to satisfy your readers and
the whole country that very gross in
Justice has been done him, as well as
that the grave Senate of the United
States has most most effectually stulti-
fled itself by it's action in his case. If
Il understand anything at all in
regard to the rules adopted by the ma
iority of the Senators, as those which
should govern them them in their action
upop nominations submitted TO them by
the President, one of them was, that
any man who had faithfully served in
the Federal army, and had been honor
ably discharged therefrom, and had since
maintained his integrity as true Union
man, should be confirmed in the posi-
ton to which the President had assign
ed him; provided, always, of course that
he was in other respects duly qualified
for the place. Now, assuming this to
be, as | honestly believe it to be, the
ground occupied by the majority OF the
Senate at the opening of the present SEES
sion, beg to submit u few facts that L
think will tend to illustrate the truth
of my opening remarks.
I shall have occasion to speak OF
others beside Capt. Stealy, who were
his compatriots in the early struggles
of the war, in and about Clarksburg
and Harrison county. The Hon. John
S. Carlile was ut that time resident
and citizen of Harrison county. The
Convention which met ut Richmond In
1861, and which adopted the ordinance
of secession, had among its members
very many who stOutly and resolutely
opposed the suicidal act. Mr.. Carllse
was chosen rs the onion candidate for
that Convention against powerful odds,
and only by the extraordinary efforts
of few gentlemen, who had promptly
taken their position as unionists, IN the
face of large majority of their fellow
citizens of Harrison county; and.promi-
nent among these, because among the
most active and energetic, was ). u.
Stealy, afterwards and now Familiarity
known as Capt. Stealy.
As an act of justice to Mr.. Carlile, l
NAV he permitted to remark en- pdssdnt,
that 40 Jealous was he in the Union
cause at this period, that it required
the most prompt and energetic action
of his friends to save him from the ten
der mercies of his and the Governments
embittered foes Those who censtitu-
ted the small body of his and the Gov
ernment's friends were connected
with Captain Stealey, and their
place of meeting was at the
house of Mr.. Carlile, the hour
twslre O'Clock at night. Associated with
Capt. Stealy at this time were, Samuel
Walker, John C. Vance, W. l.. Hursey,
and John J. Davis. This was the little
band of good and true Union men who
were the nucleus around which formed
the gallant body which preserved the
town of Clarksburg from the invasions
of the rebel forces and thus prevented
that waste of life and destruction of
property which but too plainly marked
the course of the contending armies III
the late terrible strife.
1t is but Justice to the names above
introduced, to pause here, and reflect
for n moment upon the debt of gratitude
the people owe to them and to all 9TH
ers, who, like them, stepped out boldly
at the very beginning of our troubles,
and did what they could, without fee or
reward, and even at the hazard OF great
personal danger to themselves. to pre-
serve the peace and quiet of the commu-
mites in which they lived, and the lives
of the people around them. And, when
il il remembered that these men have
never wavered in their devotion to the
Union cause, and in all proper efforts to
secure to the whole people the free and
full enjoyment of those nights and lib
critics guaranteed to them by the great
charter of our liberties, the Constitution
of the United States, who can fail
TO see the gross injustice done to some
of them by the very men who claim
TO he par ercellence the loyal Union
men of the county. The loyalty OF
Captain Stealey, and OF Others VINO
have been made to share like fate with
his, has been tested too severely, and
been too thoroughly proved, to suffer
in the estimation of right-thinking men,
by any such action as that had i'll his
and the cases of others. by the Senate
of the United States. He and they
have smelt gunpowder in dangerous
places. while those who would inslnuate
a want of confidence in their loyalty
we're feasting and fattening upon the
Injuries of wealth, amid the quiet and
peace of home and friends. ThOse men
who. like the bloated Chandler, OF
Michigan, thought "blood letting
would he good thing for the country,
were always careful that not drop
shOnlu HON lTOlu ava "Hy
such good" purpose. While the gallant
heroes and noble patriots, who fought
the battles of the country ard endured
the privations and fatigues of ardrous @
campaigns were thus employed, these
,rarriors in peace were rolling in chariots
and plotting in secret their ruin and
DOWNFALL. None have been able to es-
cape the censure of these Senatorial he
roes and warriors, and Of course none
need be surprised at their action in any
given case. When the popular pulse
shall have thoroughly cooled down and
the people shall thus be enabled to look
upon the scenes that have but recently
transpired around them, and at the ac-
tors in those scenes, without prejudice
and passion, theu, and not until then,
may those who have accomplished much,
and aided inlaccomplishing more for the
good of the country, hope to receive
their just reward. Z. j.
PARKERsBURG, March l, 1867.
From MARSHAuL COUNTY