Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-08-18
tFor the Spirit of Jefferson.
PRACTIGAL SUGGESTIONS.
iuAGERsTowN, AUGUST 70, 1868


Mr.. EDITOR THE best way to reach tho
soundest portion OF the disfranchised in j ef-
terson county, take it, is through tho col
umns of the ,Spfrt Of Jefferson, your very
daslling and determined journal Aud l ain
sure. auy of your readers will pardon me fort
making some suggestions touching their po-
litical disabilities, and whatever future remo-
dy or comfort they may have. With you, as
elsewhere, the Presidential campaign is about
to open aud IN the additional election OF State
aud county officers, each purity has an increased
inceniive=to energy and labor. As a jour
naiist you well know that the leaders OF the
Radical party throughout the country are
nearly desperate. anticipating the certain do
feat OF Grant aud Go4fax. aud waiting in inn
patience, ike Mr.. Macawber, for something
to turn up to their assistance. To secure the
electoral vote of those States which they have
in handouts already, is political necessity"
with them. aud as under the excuse of 'fnIil
itary necessity" during the war. they will re-
sort to any measure, no matter how vile and
ioexcusable, to accomplish their eud. OF all
these States, there is none in which the Rad
ical party are more desperate than IN West
Virginia, for they are sbreWd enough to mark
the signs of the times, aud they know as well
as you and [ do, that their end ia nigh aud
in which their fellows in Maryland nov sleep,
ii not one more full OF vengeance. They
therefore will hold on to their present power
with frightened clutch, viii resort without
scruple to any mems to retain that power.-
Change aud revolution are taking place about
them, and they shut their eyes avoid the
uuwelcome sight while they rush on in their
viiainy. You may prepare yourself then,
for still further dIslranchisement aud political
outrages. Ii is in connection with this wish
to make a suggestion TO your people. Let
each aud every qualified voter under the
State constitution, make application to be
registered, and also to Cast his vote on the
dav of election. If he is rejected ut either
application. let him note down and preserve
the names of the registrars and of the judges
of election, with the names OF witnesses to
give evidencept lris application and rejection.
Let HIM demand at the time, OF the registrar
or Judges, or both. the cause of his rejection.
Let the reasons they assign be preseryed.-
Let him, still further and apart from this,
collect testimony showing the malice or cor
rupsion of these officials In the discharge of
their duties Let record of these things
be preserved aud what then Tho day of
relief and OF remedy is at hand. D;slran
chised Marylandcrs were once as you are, but
SASrN'SH1S
who perpetrated these outrages, and in every
county suits for damages have been institu-
ted, aud the guilty parties are being made to
pay the penalty OF the monstrous political ty-
ranny they once exercised. Deep and con-
tritc is their repentance, but it will not avail,
for aside FROM all State laws, the Common Law
establishes their liability, and juries who
know the outrages they committed fix the
penalty This is one way to reach these peo
pic, aud it should not be neglected. Do you
answer that you have no remedy. Perhaps
not now in tho present constitution OF your
judiciary and your juries. But these wrongs
must end. and that speedily. BE prepared
for the change. We were once bound like
you, but freedom came to us as a surprise. A
revolution swept over the State, aud now,
from governor to constable, there IS not an
Office in all Maryland, executive, Judicial or
legislative, held by Radical. Maryland has
indeed been reconstructed, and 50 will bo
West Virginia. 1t may not be through the
same instrument, for your Executive has not
the sagacity OF Gov. Swami, and is too blind
to see or too stupid TO read the handwriting
ON tie wall But it is written there never
theless Look beyond your borders, Mr..
Beall. and note the changes. Are they not
great aud universal? Are not the Radical
leaders in Washington and elsewhere cha
erined aud astounded, and is it any wonder?
Not ouly in the North, but does not the 90
600 majority for Stevenson in Kentucky, no.
tify us that she will be almost unanimous for
Seymour. And just think of it-Forest aud
Ouares. and others, presenting memorial
to the Tennessee Legislature, 6Brownow's
creatures. asking for the removal OF all po-
litical disabilities. And the Legislature have
the memorial under respectful consideration
There's another straw. Is Brownlow beeem-
ing converted, this Legislature oiviiized?-
Surely there is yet hope for Boreman and his
crowd. All this, sir, means but ono thing
change, political revolution. I think the
cloud is breaking, Let your people beready.
Let your registrars and judges of election be
warned. If they do their duty honestly, and
with proper regard for the rights Of their
fellow,eitizens, they will not regret it Ii
not: if they prefer the course they have been
pursuing, when the day Of retribution comes
they can expect no pity nor exemption at the
hands of those they aro now prosecuting
PosT BELLUM.