Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-07-02
OUR BIG SHOW.
What Becomes Of the Money

Balance in part an immense amount of evil.
And even in the radical party, SO far as re-
lates to Its national organization, there may
possibly exist something to commend it to ia.
vor, however difficult it may be to discover that
something. Like all other parties that have
originated, lived and died, there is gross iu>
consistency between its professions and its
practice. But whatever may be said Of the
radical party as national party that is good,
1t ia very certain that in some localities, its
existence is as fatal to the welfare aud pros
perity Of the community, as is the admins
tration of strichnine to the physical organiza-
ton. 1t is poison as deadly 10, its effects
upon the material progress Of the country, as
that which is emitted from the fangs of the
rattle snake is fatal to the human system, and
the remedies which have proved eficaciOus
for the latter, would utterly fail in its applica.
ton to the former. Nothing can touch it
without contamination, and any intercourse
NTH it breeds the strongest passions to in-
dulge.in every conceivable variety of iniqui-
Is, from the stealing of the most va!ueless ar
ticle to the preparation of the most kcinous
crimes that elicit the condemnation of the
laws Of God or man. This deadly type Of
1Odicalism is that which afflicts the unfortu.
nate people of West Virginia, and which has
perpctuated its existence by the most outra,
'rsOus frauds that the inventive genius of TIE
principlcd and base could suggest. In all
6 relations to the public in this State, it has
SpTn restitution Of morals and dcpravi-
principle that should bury it beneath
pnappeased opprObrium of an indignant
outraged people, and furnish for its ad-
Rents and advocates n prison more loathe-
onO than the black-holc of Calcutta. And
Ahas it to plead in-extcnuution of its Vi
jon of all the rights with which humani-
vested? Nothing but the inordinate
e:Of its leaders for the possession and re-
q of power and plumber. The forego-
general and preliminary. We now
the discharge Of duty which de-
pom Us as Journalist, and arraign,
ore the bar of public opinion, the
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Of Jefferson county. And first, we open with
the declaration that they have forfeited the
confidence Of the people, and rendered them
selves just subjects of criticism, in uuncces-
sarily squanderiug the peoples money, by
bestowing contracts upon irresponsible par
ties. The proof of this lies in the fact that
during the year 1866, after ice Chapline had
succeeded in procuring permanent location
OF the county seat at Shepherdstown, the
ROor1 IF Sunar,-isor- ,!,o,, o,;-,;rr. o,ra-.,.I
E'commmittee to advertise for proposals for
the erection of jail, description and the
dimensions Of which accompanied the adver-
tisement- Numerous proposals were submit
ted. among them one offering to build the
Jail for 81 600. y bargain was struck, and
the appropriation made, and for while the
work went braveIy, but not rapidly on. The
contractors had overcrorPed themselves, and
1t became necessary to apply for relief \
compassionate Board s. mpathized with their
condition, and, another 81, 200 was voted for
their benefit, although the building had pro,
gressed but little beyond its foundation. This
enabled the contractors to put in few more
stone, and few additional trowels Of mortar,
but 1t was not long until there was another
application made for relief. Generously the
Board of Supervisors came to the rescue, and
$1,000 more went out Of the county treasury
and found its way to the pockets of the con-
tractors, OF stuck to the fingers of soma of
the county officials. And yet the county
prison had not reached that state Of compile
ton necessary to place it beyond the demand
for an additional thousand-making in all
sere1l Mowsdnd GoNurS OEc would think
that such an excess of appropriation over the
contractors price, would secure the rcopIc OF
the county from ATTY further acquisitions for
all time to come. Not SO, however after
this liberal expenditure of funds, to provide
which enormous assessments are made upon
the property Of disIranchjscd citizens, it is
discovered that the Jail is ans; for the accom-
mediation Of the criminals Of the county,
without the erection Of wall, which will
perhaps entail another expenditure Of 5000
ot the peoples money. There is bat one
theory upon which We can account for this
conduct of our county officials. Feeling that
their crimes merit the sevcrcst punishment.
they expect at no distant day to become the
occupants Of this Jail, and they rant to make
1t as comfortable and imposing as possible
To provide for their future comfcrt, the couu-
~ IS fGred, TANED, TAXED, until the
groans Of the victims are beginning to drown
The reyclries Of the immaculate IN :hcir car.
nival OF corruption. Oh, yc guilty ones,
your fate is written, and the finger of destiny
points to your eternal condemnation.
Now, in behalf of oppressed people, we